An FKT of the Teton Bullseye with Kelly Halpin

Photographer: Christian Adam Athlete: Kelly Halpin Location: The Grand Tetons, WY

An FKT of the Teton Bullseye with Kelly Halpin

Follow BD Athlete Kelly Halpin on a solo, unsupported mission up and around the iconic Grand Teton.

No matter how much water I chugged from the streams, I just couldn’t quench my thirst. I was salt deficient despite my careful planning. The switchbacks heading up to Static Divide from Death Canyon were full south facing and it was one of the hottest days on record that summer. I should have reversed the loop, but that would have meant backtracking on miles I had just run. I had already been up and down the Grand Teton that morning and was committed to the route, but I couldn’t stop asking myself, as many do in these situations, “Why on earth was I doing this?”

Black Diamond presents: An FKT of the Teton Bullseye with Kelly Halpin

I first heard of the Teton Bullseye a few years ago from my friend Ryan Burke. Almost 50 miles long, the route takes you up and down the Grand Teton and then around the massif of the mountain on the Circumnavigation Route. It has trail and off trail travel, scrambling, soloing, exposure, and over 15k feet of elevation gain. Luke Nelson created the route over a decade before and had called it "The Up and Around.” Luke, Mike Foote, and Ty Draney made an attempt in July 2012 but became stuck on the lower Owen Spalding route when they were unable to pass multiple roped up parties. They were forced to bail before summiting. They returned to Lupin Meadows then set off to run and complete the Circumnavigation. Ryan Burke completed the route on September 17th, 2020 in 14 hours and 39 minutes in a supported style. He nicknamed it the Bullseye.

The Bullseye sat on my goal back burner for over a year before I finally made up my mind to attempt it. It was certainly the kind of adventure I loved pursuing, but I couldn’t help being daunted by the mileage on top of running the Grand Teton. In addition, I wanted to do it in my favorite style—solo unsupported— which added yet another layer of intimidation. But facing our fears is how we grow as human beings and by midsummer I was just as excited as I was nervous to give it hell.

I started at Lupine Meadows Trailhead at 6:50 a.m. on August 1st. Leaving too early meant bottlenecking with guided parties on the Grand so I aimed to hit a more open window on the climb mid-morning. I summited in 3:34 minutes—not super quick, but efficient enough to move fast and keep gas in the tank for the long circumnavigation around. I really began to feel the heat of the day as I descended in elevation and began the loop towards Death Canyon. I knew the day would be warm but had also hoped the rain in the forecast would keep the sun off my back. Unfortunately, the clouds never came and I was left to grapple with the summer heat.