Where you decided to camp along the Death Canyon Shelf for night one will determine exactly how far you must travel to reach Alaska Basin. Regardless of where you start, the trail features open vistas throughout, letting you take in the spectacular views around you. Rushing through this part can be tempting given that every step brings you closer to the Grand!

The scenery changes dramatically as you finally depart the Death Canyon Shelf. Once you pass Death Canyon, the views of Alaska Basin open up. This area is a thing of beauty. The Basin is nestled beneath huge peaks and feels like a lush wonderland.

Camping options are plentiful in Alaska Basin. Most campers choose to camp near Basin Lakes or further on at Sunset Lake. You cannot go wrong with either spot. Camping in the Basin is awesome as you will likely get to see the evening alpenglow on the peaks surrounding Basin Lakes.

Given the large size of the Basin, you may encounter others camping in the area. The spots are pretty spread out, though.

Another plus of camping in the Basin is the opportunity to explore the side trails that depart from the area. One popular side trip is to Static Peak Divide (documented in a separate FATMAP Adventure). This is one of the highlights of the Teton Crest Trail. It'd also be worth it to come back to this area and use Alaska Basin as a base camp, and then explore from there!

Overall, day two is not as long mileage-wise as the other days, but it still packs in the views. Leaving Death Canyon Shelf is tough, but Alaska Basin quickly compensates for the beauty! The trail only gets better as you make your way towards Hurricane Pass and the Grand.