Petzoldt's Ascent of the Grand Teton Turns 100

In 1914, when he was just 16 years old, Paul Petzoldt climbed Wyoming's Grand Teton in cowboy boots. His friend Ralph Herron went with him.

The ascent didn't go according to plan, and while they succeeded, it was by the narrowest of margins. Indeed, they nearly died.

To be clear, this wasn't the first ascent of the "Grand," but it had a huge impact on mountaineering education in America. Petzoldt went on to found both the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and Exum Mountain Guides, one of the nation's oldest and most respected climbing schools and guiding services.

Later, Petzoldt was approached by a would-be climber who wanted Petzoldt to guide him up the mountain. The tourist paid Petzoldt $100. The deal was sealed.

Petzoldt was now a mountain guide.

Kyle Leverone recently penned an excellent article for the Jackson Hole News & Guide on Petzoldt and Exum historian Kim Geil, who is writing a history on the legendary guiding school.

On July 25, at 7 pm, Geil will deliver a lecture at the Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum ( 175 E Broadway Ave Jackson, WY 83001 ) about Petzoldt’s first climb of the Grand.

"There will be a video of Petzoldt talking about that first climb, and a set of photos from that day will accompany the video," Leverone noted. "A collector from Idaho named Ron Yates found the photos from Herron’s camera and will be selling them, but before he does that, he is sharing them with the public for this presentation. Geil says this might be the one opportunity anybody ever gets to see these photos."

For more information, visit this page .