Grand Teton National Park:
The New Millennia Hikers at 10K With No O2

Prelude to the Hike: Two Days in Jackson Hole

Having become reluctantly older (and presumably somewhat wiser), the Boys approached this trip a little more cautiously. Hiking between 9-10K feet... up where the air is a little thinner... challenged the elite hiking force from the Adirondacks to give their pre-trip training and gear-rationing a little more thought.

On Tuesday, August 12th, the Boys headed off to Jackson Hole for two nights of brewskies in cowboy bars... err... acclimation and then 5-days of backpacking in the Tetons. As they approached trail-head day, each of the Boys had their own pre-hike agendas: "g" had completed over 100-hours of kitchen detail as he prepared four dehydrated dinners for eight... High Altitude Joe was prepared with Ativan Therapy to mask his fear of flying... Marshal Wallis set the group's western tone by donning his Black Bart Hat purchase in the Grand Canyon the previous year... Whiskey Tottin' the Retired Guy had his walker all greased and ready to roll... Steve the Bionic Knee had packed his Ronco ZX-95 Titanium Rocket-Hinged Type Knee Brace and was ready to rock.... Gotta Have a Towel for all of that High Altitude Perspiration Larry planned to iron-man his fear of flying by traveling with his personal psychologist/coach (Dr. Co-pay Jim)... AXE had successfully organized the Oscar's smoked, cured and vacuum sealed cheese and meats for backcountry lunches for some of the Boys... and... Mike from Wisconsin... geez... who the heck was this guy Marshal Wallis invited?