It doesn't get much more "Outdoors" than this...

One of my best friends and roommate at A&M is turning 40 this Spring. To celebrate, he wants to climb Grand Teton this summer....and he wants me to join him, haha!

We already have the climb booked with an outfitter up there (Exum Mountain Guides.) It is a 4 day deal, where we train/practice for 2 days and then spend the next two days getting to the summit.

My friend is making a family trip out of it with his wife and kids staying in Jackson. Instead of paying $400/night for a hotel room just for me, I would love to just tent camp. I am too late in the year to get a spot at any of the national park campgrounds. I'm also having trouble finding anything available close by at any of the private campgrounds.

I've looked into "dispersed camping" in the national forest...but I've never done that before and it makes me a little nervous to get up there without a spot reserved.

Just wondering if anyone has camped in the area before...or have any other ideas?

Thanks!

Well...I looked back today and saw that 2 tent sites opened up at Colter Bay campground. That is about as close as I can get, unless something at Jenny Lake opens up, which I now have an alert set up for.

Still open to any other suggestions!

If you have a spot locked up at Colter Bay I would stick with it to be safe. I never did any dispersed camping near the park. My wife and I would camp in the Hoback Canyon area (e.g. Hoback Campground, Kozy Campground) and we frequented the Bridger-Teton National Forest south of Jackson when we lived up there. The Shadow Mountain Dispersed Camping is popular and if you get there in the mornings you'll usually secure a spot from what I've heard. Exum is a great outfit and I'm sure that will be a great experience. I do not think there is a more beautiful area of the country than the Grand Tetons.

Can camp in the national forest, just get there in plenty of time before dark to find a spot. It isn't too hard. I have also gotten a a back country pass, but it does take a while to get into the back country if you plan on coming out daily. I have spent a few nights in both.

If you are worried about it just book the Coulter