Located in the heart of Grand Teton National Park, the Climbers’ Ranch is operated by the American Alpine Club to provide mountaineers and their families with overnight accommodations without the congestion and time limitations of public campgrounds. For many climbers, the Ranch has become a very special place. This web-site is not affiliated with the American Alpine Club, but was created and is maintained by private individuals who love the Climbers’ Ranch, to provide web-based resources for Teton climbers and hikers. We hope you will find it useful. Welcome to our site!
!!WORK WEEK SIGN-UP IS CLOSED — MARCH 31, 2013!!
Photo by Robert Hyman
RANCH COMMITTEE CHAIR HONORED AT ALPINE CLUB ANNUAL MEETING
“The Climbers’ Ranch is not merely a collection of old log cabins, or just another lodging facility in Grand Teton National Park. After 43 years, the Climbers’ Ranch is the shared project of several generations, a cherished tradition in the life of the American Alpine Club, and an extension of our heritage in the Teton Range dating back to the early years of the last century. It is the unique contribution of the American Alpine Club, and the mission of the Climbers’ Ranch, to provide a place where a community of climbers forms every summer in the heart of the Tetons, drawn by a common spirit from throughout the entire country and abroad. Providing for and preserving that community, if we do it well, reveals our highest purpose, which is to assure that the Climbers’ Ranch always remains a welcoming haven of serenity and happiness for everyone who visits there.” — from Bill’s acceptance speech
Annually since 1976 the American Alpine Club has awarded the Angelo Heilprin Award “to that person who has, in the opinion of the citation committee, shown exemplary service to the club. The purpose of this citation is to recognize those who have worked to maintain and strengthen the organization and thus further its ability to serve its fundamental purposes.” This year’s award goes to Bill Fetterhoff, long-time member and more recently chair of the Ranch committee. Bill has led us through the administrative hurdles of our lease with the National Park Service, has undone bureaucratic tangles, and has represented time and again to ourselves and the public at large the friendly, cooperative, and committed community that is the Teton Climbers’ Ranch. Well-earned! You’ll find Bill at Work Week, and in the alpine of the Tetons and the Adirondacks. Say hello and thanks.
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RANCH STAFF–HAPPY NEWS
GTCR manager Philip Swiny and assistant managers Debbie and Gary Bunten have been offered and accepted reappointment for summer 2013. With the on-going tasks multiplying by the year, this is a great boost for the Ranch in providing continuity and familiarity. As all who have visited in 2012 know well, they make a fine team of thoroughly competent and ever warm, cheerful, and helpful presences.
Philip Swiny—GTCR Manager
Philip is originally (sort of) from New England, but has lived and worked all over the country. He grew up spending a great deal of time outdoors with his family, and has continued to do so as much as possible both professionally and recreationally ever since. He began leading youth conservation programs in 1999, and started managing similar programs in 2003. This seasonal employment allowed for extended climbing trips, primarily in warmer southwestern locations. In 2006 Philip combined his interests in education and climbing and began working as a rock guide, mainly in the Red Rock of southern Nevada. Philip is joining the AAC staff as Manager at the Grand Teton Climbers Ranch for the 2012 season and is looking forward to meeting and working with more of the ever growing national and international climbing community.
Debbie and Gary Bunten–GTCR Assistant Managers
Debbie and Gary joined the Grand Teton Climbers’ Ranch staff as assistant managers in the summer of 2012. Long time visitors to the Tetons, their passion began twenty years ago when they first visited the area. It’s where they first learned to climb, which was a perfect addition to their penchant for the outdoors. Their love of backpacking, hiking, and cycling has led them on many national and international adventures. Gary recently completed a career with an electric utility company. Debbie has a diverse background that includes dance, fitness, and administrative work. They are excited to be associated with the American Alpine Club, and feel that being at the GTCR, where they have visited so many times in the past, is a dream come true. Both are originally from Georgia.
John Clegg–former Manager John Clegg is serving in consultation and support.
2012 Interns–where are they now?
INTERNS 2013
Andy Edwards:
Born and raised in Minnesota, Andrew found it took a road trip through the mountains to inspire him to climb. He’s coming to the Ranch after working in the graphics & publishing industry for the last 8 years. A well-timed work transition has given him the opportunity to work at the Grand Teton Climber’s Ranch for the 2013 season.
He spends much of his free time climbing at the crags of the upper midwest, and has made several more trips west to hike and climb in the mountains. He’s excited to spend the summer here, and hopes to get in plenty of climbing and hiking on his off days.
Eric Fernandez:
Eric grew up camping and road tripping around the west with his family and was instilled with a love of the outdoors and travelling at a young age. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, and first started climbing while attending school there in 2009.
He has worked in the hospitality industry for the past 11 years in many roles, and loves spending time around the dinner table telling stories and sharing laughs with friends new and old. A year of travelling in 2012 and his first visit to the Grand Tetons rekindled his love of wild places. He couldn’t be more eager to take a role in the Alpine Club, live and play in the Tetons, and meet new friends from around the world this summer at the climber’s ranch.
2012 Interns–where are they now?
Casey McCoy, 2012 intern, has returned to college in Pennsylvania. And he has returned to us a fine video about the Ranch, which you can view below.
Coll McMillan looks forward to helping his father with construction on their house in Panama while taking a year off before heading to college in North Carolina.
New Video about the Climbers’ Ranch
Casey McCoy produced and filmed an excellent video introduction to the Climbers’ Ranch before returning to college. Check out Casey’s nice work.
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Photo of the Month
Last year’s All Star paint crew volunteers finishing the last wall of the last building in an astonishing two days (a new world record).
Robert Hyman, AAC and Ranch Committee member, has been coming to the Ranch for over 20 years. Robert was recently interviewed by Chad Hagan for Alpine Times. Read all about his Ranch and Highpointers experience at http://alpinetime.blogspot.com/search?q=Robert+Hyman
Winter is fast approaching which means the snowstick will be going up soon. For some reason I like to wait until the ground needs to be cleared before assembling the thing each year.
It also means I’ll begin making regular trips out to shovel roofs. I want to thank my buddy Jack Bellorado at Teton Pines Cross Country Ski Center (www.tetonpinescrosscountryskicenter.com) for once again outfitting me with some sweet touring skis. If you get the chance, stop by the center and thank Jack and his crew. Then ski out to the ranch and enjoy the quiet solitude of the place in winter. It’s magic.
My best to all. And watch for me on the webcam!
John Clegg