Chillin’ in Alaska Basin – I had purposely planned our second day on the Teton Crest Trail to be one of the easier days because I knew we would still be getting our trail legs under us and because I knew the last two days would be the tougher ones. 

Plus, in a totally selfish way, I wanted to just chill in beautiful Alaska Basin for a while.

After shooting a dreamlike sunrise over Death Canyon and playing around with the wildflowers around Pass Lake, we set out for the stroll to Alaska Basin. 

Leaving Fox Creek Pass, the Teton Crest Trail climbs a few hundred feet before essentially leveling off for a three mile trek across the Death Canyon Shelf. This section offers up some unbelievable views all the way down Death Canyon as well as the Grand Teton to the north. After a brief break right where I had camped in 2014 along the shelf, it was a quick jaunt up Mount Meek Pass before the trail descended the Sheep Steps right into Alaska Basin. 

Alaska Basin is technically forest service land so since it’s not within the national park boundaries, no overnight permits are required. This makes the basin much busier than other sections of the trail, with many backpackers spending a few nights there while venturing up the surrounding peaks.  

We found a pretty epic site right between some of the Basin Lakes and despite it being just a bit too cool to swim, it was a pretty perfect afternoon.