![The north face of the Grand Teton with the approximate route of the North Buttress Direct drawn in red. The photo was taken from somewhere between Teewinot and Mt. Owen while on the Grand Traverse route a week earlier. [Image] Justin Bowen](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/grand-teton-north-buttress-direct-1.jpeg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
Finding a new route on the Grand Teton: the North Buttress Direct (5.10+ R)
Justin Bowen’s dream came true this past August when his research confirmed that a potential route he’d been eyeing for years on the Grand Teton’s north face had somehow remained overlooked by other climbers. He enlisted his friend Mark Jenkins to make the first ascent of the North Buttress Direct (5.10+ R, 14 pitches). Here is his story of their climb and the realization of a long-held fantasy.