This triathlon was inspired by the Grand Teton Picnic. It is a loop that primarily follows the perimeter of Death Canyon. The bike ride, starting in Jackson, follows the multi-use path to Moose onto the Moose-Wilson park road to the Phelps Lake trail. The bike ride is followed by a swim along the northern edge of Phelps Lake. Then, hike through Death Canyon, past Albright & Static Peak, down to the Alaska Basin, and over to the Death Canyon shelf - passing rock, meadows, wildflowers, lakes, and more - eventually coming back down the other side of the canyon to the lake, where you swim along the southern edge to get back to your bike. The bike ride back to Jackson completes the loop, going south on Moose-Wilson, past Teton Village and Wilson to town. Technically, because it is a loop, the bike ride can be started anywhere along the bike path, so long as that is where you end.
Although similar in distance and vertical gain, the Perimeter differs from the Picnic in that it does not traverse any technical terrain, it is a loop, and it takes place in the more solitary Death Canyon.
The link to the following blog post describes in greater detail the rationale behind this route: https://www.elliekroeger.com/writing/the-perimeter-aka-til-death-do-us-part
Directions:
- Bike ~17 miles from Jackson to the Phelps Lake trail off Moose-Wilson Road
- Walk 0.7 miles to the edge of Phelps Lake
- Swim 1.5 miles along the north edge of Phelps Lake
- Walk ~30 miles around the entire perimeter of Death Canyon, through the Alaska Basin and over to the Death Canyon Shelf, before descending back down the canyon to the lake
- Swim 2 miles along the south edge of Phelps Lake
- Walk 0.7 miles back to the road
- Bike ~17 miles back to Jackson on Moose-Wilson from the other direction, past Teton Village and Wilson, completing the loop
Variations:
- Option to tag Albright & Static peak to increase the vertical gain (closer to 6.7k for the day if you do not)
- Option to do it in reverse because it is a loop
- Option to start anywhere along the bike path, as long as you complete the full bike loop on the way out
