Nobody likes a 3 a.m. alarm.
A few people may tell you otherwise, but trust me, they’re probably lying. Sure, I entertain alpine starts as often as the next outdoor enthusiast, but only because they are the precursor to fresh powder, empty trails, and tall summits. Egregiously early alarms are a tribute for a later reward—but not something that you enjoy. Such was the case on this early morning in August, on the day we ran the Teton Crest Trail.