I Found a Prehistoric Building on Top of America’s Most Famous Mountain

The Grand Teton is arguably the most iconic mountain in all of North America. Millions of people see it every year, but miss the ancient history hidden at the top. In this episode, I climb this peak, and examine the story behind a mysterious structure discovered there in the 1800's. #ancienthistory #adventure #exploration #ancientdiscoveries #travel

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[Desert.Drifter]

Hey everyone, there are two strange color glitches towards the end of this video. I tried exporting the video multiple times, yet they persist. They are brief, but pay attention to where they are. Strange coincidence? As always, thanks for watching!

[ldalton]

I'm almost 84 now, but a long time ago (1961) summited the Grand on the second attempt. On the first try we were hit by a snow/lightning/sleet storm and took shelter in the Enclosure. It wasn't much shelter, but did cut the wind a little. Our guide from the Exum outfit was the legendary Bill Briggs, who among other amazing things, was the first to climb up there in mid-winter 1971. On top of the fact that he was an incredible climber and skier, Bill's right hip was fused and would not bend. MANY years later, I was privileged to meet him again at the famous hootenanny at the bar in Moose. And now, at about age 92, Bill is apparently still going strong. GOOD ON YA, BILL!

[adamgriss]

More often than not, YouTube is a black hole which sucks away at your attention and at times, intelligence. Then there are channels like this one that spark interest and imagination about the world and the beauty of nature. Thank you.

[kathleenhudson]

I am an 80-year-old woman. It’s been quite a while since I did a long hike with thousands of feet in elevation gain. Seeing this made me want to hike it, but I know that I can no longer do that strenuous a hike. Mine nowadays are much shorter without a huge elevation gain. Thanks for sharing. Just seeing it lifts my spirits.

[TenCJones]

I'm 102 now and I climbed this in 1943 with my mother and my dog Babes. We got attacked by a Peruvian Condor defending her nest. We ate marble berries and Squantom fried in butter. I couldnt do it now of course but I was still actively climbing right up until I was 86.

[steveholt]

As someone who is in a wheelchair 🫡 thanks for making this climb and taking us with you! ❤

[shadetreelife]

I climbed it in 1980 with 3 of my Buddies. Two are gone and the third is almost blind. I’m 71 now and wish I was able to do it again. Such a magical place.

[moetrymwm]

First time on your channel. I lost a friend who was alone in the San Gabriel Mountains over a year ago. They found his remains eleven days after being reported missing. Seeing anything mountain related for some time made me anxious and saddened with memories of my friend. Your video had the opposite effect on me. It lifted me with joy and allowed me to experience the climb with you. Thank you for your mountain wisdom and expertise and for filling me with power. Those vistas were absolutely breathtaking. Bless up and stay safe.

[Big-Chiefin]

The “Vision Quest” theory sounds promising. I’m a Nêhiyaw (Plains Cree, not too far north from this location) and in my culture back in the day your first “vision” had to be intense and therefore sought out. A rite of passage that takes place in your early adolescence in which a medicine man would give you instructions, you’d then get purified in the sweat lodge, and then journey alone to a sacred place, typically on top a large hill, to fast and struggle until the vision came. You’d then tell the medicine man about your vision and no one else as it was a sacred dream given by the spirit world to aid you in your life…
I’d imagine this area in the video to be a place of great spiritual significance. A sacred location with a difficult journey that many young boys were made to climb, but once they returned home, they were regarded as men. Seems harsh to put a kid through that but if you’ve been training since you could walk and talk on how to survive and you’ve grown up around respected men who have all done it in their youth, then you’d be eager to prove yourself a man. As for the women, they don’t have to do this since they go through enough struggle already by having to endure periods and future childbirth 🤣

[rondoodledix]

Your best video yet, I say. That someone was helicoptered out while you were climbing up with cameras and gear says it all. You are such an accomplished mountaineer.

[mikepurswell]

Hey DD,
72 yo Wyoming native here. In the 1950s and early 1960s my dad was a guide and outfitter. He had 3 camps for elk hunting in the Boulder Basin and Boulder Rim area on the southeast corner of Yellowstone Park. He had several men working for him that were Crow. He also had fishing camps in the Wind River Range along Wison Creek and the Wison Lakes. As such, he also had Shoshone, Arapahoe, and Cheyenne. I was fortunate to go into some of these camps as an 8 or 9 yo boy. On one of these occasions, we were taking a break from a very long horseback ride into one of the Boulder Basin camps and looking at the Tetons with binoculars one of the Indians, (a Crow, who had to be 60 or 70 years old) had kind of taken a likeing to me because of a book that I was reading called "The White Indian Boy" and today I think he wanted to take advantage of my interest in his culture and spent many hours everytime we were together educating me. He told me about a very special place on top of one of the peaks next to Grand Teton. He did not say why or what was so special about it, and I never asked him if he had ever been there or not. A year or two later, I asked some of the guys, on a trip into the Wind Rivers, about the place not realizing that these men were not Crow and how awkward it was. All knew about the place but didn't go any further than that. All except one. He said that his grandfather had told of this very special, and verdery difficult to get to place. He described

[KitCarson-lc]

A happy distraction from the anxiety of the ongoing political battles and war news. Your content is always fascinating and your hiking/climbing abilities impressive. thank you!

[amazinggrace]

I love that all your sweeps with the camera are nice and slow so we don’t get sick or miss seeing something.

[Boroffski]

In June 2022, as part of a trip for a graduation present, my youngest son and I spent 4 days/nights backpacking and exploring this area from a backcountry sight at the top of Death Canyon. It was the greatest backpacking trip of my life....
The views of and from the canyons, and especially those of Phelps Lake in your video took me back to that moment and I must thank you for that. 🍻

For those of you that have never been here, this is an area of unimaginably majestic views and awe striking natural beauty. However, it's also a physically brutal endeavor to walk amongst.
I highly recommend that anyone visiting Yellowstone consider heading south and visiting this amazing place. Even if you don't have the experience or physicality to endure the backcountry, the drive through this national park will be one of the most beautiful you have ever driven.

Happy trails to all of you dirtbags out there, I see you.
🏔️🏕️⛰️

[jamessawdey]

Not being able to hike or climb anymore you can’t believe how much I enjoy your videos. I was never at a level as you but I really enjoyed it so much. Now I can hike with you, thank you.

[omega]

Our Family went climbing all over the Rocky Mountain range. I'm 73 and my brother Jim (70) is a World-Class Climber who worked Summers as a Climbing instructor and Guide, taking groups up the Grand 2 or 3 times a week, for the EXUM GUIDE SERVICE in the TETONS, to finance his other expeditions to the ANDES, the Himalayas, and the ALPS. The year I graduated from High School (1969), my brother Jim, (15) at the time, took me (18) up the Exum Route on the Grand for a graduation Present. We went to the ENCLOSURE several times over the years, but it's not on the summit of the Grand, it was about 3, 000 or 4, 000 feet below its summit.
---> In September 1987 the Jackson Hole Gazette featured a headline about my Brother, "CLIMBER HOLDS RECORD FOR FIRST PARACHUTE DESCENT OF HIGHEST TETON, with a picture of him PARAGLIDING on the front page. It was similar to "BASE-JUMPING", except with a para-glider instead of a parachute or BUNGEE CORDS, they become obsessed with finding new places to climb and jump off, but it was becoming prohibited everywhere due the high accident/death rate of the sport!
---> He even climbed the DEVILS TOWER in Eastern Wyoming, at MIDNIGHT, to jump off (Illegally) and he said he Glided 20-40 feet above a cop giving someone a ticket on the highway below, and was not caught, or even seen! He quit paragliding after a friend of his, died in a paragliding accident. Luckily, Jim quit the insanely dangerous sport, before the RUSSIAN WING-SUIT FLYING craze became known and popular! He lived to tell the stories, because he was smart enough to stop, before it stopped him!

[Linsuesaz]

Omg! Drifter, Andrew! Every time I watch your next video it takes my breath away and emotion wells from within and waters my eyes! It’s incredible! I have been to the Tetons once and swore to go back which I will! I was only 12, but it left a permanent mark in my memory from catching a 12” rainbow trout at the base of the dam on the Snake River to seeing the moose grazing nearby when we arrived at the dam at 6:30 am to the cabin we stayed in to the ride on Jackson Lake across the lake to the base of the Tetons. So much for a 12 yr old mind to never, ever forget. I turn 65 next month and my bucket list is full and this is one of them! You have a gold mine here, Drifter, with your channel. The execution in every form is perfection! Your exponential growth of subs in such a short time is remarkable but completely expected! You will do nothing but continue to grow and expose people worldwide to the vast beauty of the American West/Southwest. I too love the desert and mountains equally and am truly blessed to be in Arizona and have the capacity to exist in both Phoenix and Flagstaff throughout the years and seasons past and yet to come! Bravo, once more!

[concepcionkennedy]

In my early 70’s, I sky jumped, hiked, zip lined, and shoot the Colorado River rapids at the Grand Canyon. I am now 76 and the reality of aging crept in. I envy you guys. Thank you for such an excellent sharing of your adventure.

[nancym]

I practically froze with fear when I saw you climbing the final ascent to the structure. I can't comprehend on it's possible to climb something so vertical and slippery looking. I would love to go up and see that but I am not that fearless! Good for you and safe travels! Thank you for bringing us your amazing adventures.
🕊🌎🕊

[patricktipton]

I love this guy. He’s so incredibly dam smart. I am constantly impressed.