The Tetons

Early Americans called them Teewinot, or pinnacles. Later, French fur trappers named them the Tetons. Today, these jagged peaks spear the skyline of Eastern Idaho.

They are the youngest of our mountain ranges, formed less than ten million years ago when the earth's crust pulled apart along a massive fault line. The east side of that fault dropped away abruptly, forming the valley called Jackson Hole in Wyoming. The west side rose skyward, creating the peaks we know as the Tetons.

It wasn't the scenery that attracted early explorers to the area. It was money. Early in the 1800's, fur trappers spread across the country searching for beaver. They found plenty on the west side of the Tetons in the valley they called Pierre's Hole. While the trappers were focused on getting rich, they did pay some attention to the scenery. Lonely Frenchmen compared the mountains to the female anatomy. They called the peaks the Tetons.

Long before those Frenchmen named the mountains, Native Americans called them by another name -- Teewinot, or pinnacles. For centuries, early Americans crossed the mountains in search of game. Near one pass the ground is littered with black, volcanic rocks called ignumbrite. Early craftsmen chipped away at the rock with antlers, creating crude, but effective tools.

Real Video: Watch geologist Rob Young demonstrate how antlers were used to make tools.

Today, the Tetons are a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts. Climbing, hiking, fishing and rafting are just a few of the attractions. In the winter, deep powder draws skiiers and snowboarders from around the world. Truly, the Tetons are a year-round playground.

 

Links:

Grand Teton National Park web site
Grand Teton National Park
Plan a Visit to Grand Teton National Park
Visiting the Teton Valley
Idaho Public Television's "Outdoor Idaho: In the Shadow of the Tetons"