Jackson, 2/1-7

Figured I’d provide daily reports as the weather and conditions in Jackson this week are likely to get interesting.

I woke up early this morning to get first tram—that’s a decision that needs to be made before the snow report is published. They reported 8-9”, which seemed accurate, but it was fairly low density, so you felt the ice bumps under the snow. So the first run from the tram wasn’t epic, but at least it got me ahead of the crowds for a few Sublette laps. I realized I needed to find high elevation terrain without bumps underneath, so that meant hiking the Headwall. I hustled to do two laps and put in the first track down both Coombs and Headwall skiers left trees, both perfect boot deep pow. Those were the only photos I took today.

After those runs, Sublette went on wind hold (it never reopened), so I headed to the tram to lap the Rock Springs sidecountry. I got 4 laps in there (the tram line was a 2-3 car wait), all excellent pow, with the snow getting noticeably deeper during the afternoon at upper elevations and creamy snow/graupel at lower elevations. Lower Hobacks (where you exit each lap) improved throughout the afternoon and I found mostly soft turns. I finished the day with one Bridger Gondola lap that was entirely unnecessary—the worst conditions of the day and I was quite tired at that point.

Around 34K of vert including the hiking, maybe 20K of good powder?

The question is what the next days will bring. Lots of moisture and wind, but potentially too much warmth. I’m expecting it to be deep up top, but wind and avi concerns could prevent those parts of the mountain from opening. My sidecountry adventures will definitely stop around midday tomorrow as the snow gets even heavier—heavy on top of light is a bad combination.

Sunday started deep. The snow report said 13” but it was dumping all day and skied deeper. The snow was surprisingly decent quality all morning, even down near the bottom of the Hobacks.

I caught first tram again and the ice moguls were fully gone today. Alta 2 skied well on my next lap, then I went to the Hobacks after my second ride up Sublette as the wind was picking up and I thought the chair might shut down imminently. Top to bottom untracked face shots (today’s only photo is from near the top of the Hobacks, visibility was terrible all day).

The tram line was well out the corral, so I went for the Bridger Gondola to Thunder to Sublette circuit and got one last ride up Sublette until it shut down for wind. Out the gates this time, more face shots and no instabilities noted in the more protected trees that I skied.

At that point, the tram was probably a 70-80 minute wait, so Thunder was the highest altitude terrain I could access. I took two Tower 3 laps that were good, but the groomer back to the chair was pretty brutal with moguls, too many people, and no visibility. I tried to check out the Teton lift but it was down (maintenance), so headed to Apres Vous for a Saratoga Bowl lap that was decent up high but way too heavy down low. That was my call to end things early, with the tram line still >60 minutes. I’m sure Rendezvous Bowl was skiing well throughout the afternoon, but mid-mountain and below was not.

I decided to take today (Monday) off as temps weee only going to increase and I want to use my 7th Ikon day before my flight home on Saturday, when there’s a chance for lower density pow. Lift openings were delayed this morning, and once again, I bet the top skied well, but doubt it was so good below there.