Why We Climb: From Clarks Fork to the Grand Teton @WyomingPBS
Why We Climb: From Clarks Fork to the Grand Teton  @WyomingPBS
Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
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Wyoming is home to some of the most challenging and breathtaking vertical landscapes in the world. In this episode, Wyoming PBS travels from the sheer limestone walls of Clarks Fork Canyon to the iconic jagged spires of the Grand Teton to explore the past, present, and future of mountaineering in the Equality State.

In this video:
👉 New Frontiers: Join a team of veteran climbers as they establish "M11," a massive 21-pitch route on Buffalo Horn Spire, honoring the late Bobby Model.
👉 The Pioneers: Discover the history of Paul Petzoldt and Glenn Exum, the legendary climbers who rejected European guiding styles to create a uniquely American "School of Mountaineering."
👉 The Next Generation: Follow two local Jackson residents, Tait and Luke, as they undergo rigorous training with Exum Mountain Guides to summit the Grand Teton under grueling early-season conditions.
👉 A Lesson in Bravery: Meet 7-year-old Bennett, a "mountain climber, scientist, and explorer" who reminds us that the spirit of adventure—and a little bit of dilly-dallying—is what keeps us heading toward the summit.
👉 Whether it’s the 2,000-foot slabs of the Yellowstone Plateau or the famous "Friction Pitch" on the Grand, witness the camaraderie and courage that define Wyoming’s climbing culture.

#WyomingPBS #Climbing #GrandTeton #Mountaineering #ExumGuides #ClarksForkCanyon #OutdoorAdventure #Documentary

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Chapter Markers
0:00 - Introduction to Clarks Fork Canyon
1:03 - The Geology of the Yellowstone Plateau
2:11 - Team Free Ascent: The Strategy for a 2,000ft Wall
3:26 - Conquering the Hardest Pitch
4:03 - The "M11" Project: Establishing New Routes
5:30 - North America’s "Alps": Rare Limestone Formations
6:44 - Summiting Buffalo Horn Spire
7:18 - History: Paul Petzoldt, Glenn Exum, and the 1930s
7:51 - The Leap of Faith: How Exum Ridge Got Its Name
8:25 - The American Spirit: Founding a School of Mountaineering
10:12 - Preparing for the Grand Teton
11:37 - The Hike to Lower Saddle Basecamp
12:50 - 3:00 AM: Start of the Summit Push
13:59 - The Empowering Experience of Professional Guiding
14:42 - Navigating the Famous "Friction Pitch"
16:05 - Summiting the Grand Teton
18:00 - Meet Bennett: A 7-Year-Old Explorer
19:57 - The Longest Hike: Facing the Mountain with "Brave Powers"
22:15 - Fatigue and Focus on the Trail
23:49 - Battling Wind and Finding Inner Strength
25:01 - Closing: The Lifelong Journey of a Mountain Climber

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Why We Climb: From Clarks Fork to the Grand Teton

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