Jackson Hole...
- Thread starter skibunni
- Start date
skibunni":3g3t9tf2 said:
Welcome. Hope all is well on "Earth." :wink:
skibunni":3g3t9tf2 said:
That was discussed a bit here.
skibunni":3g3t9tf2 said:
Don't mind me, but I moved your topic over here to the Western section where it stands a better chance of receiving a response.
Jackson Hole is one steep hill, that's for sure. It deserves its reputation in that regard.
Disregard the hoo-haa over Corbet's Couloir, and instead seek out many of Jackson's lesser-known steeps. The Hobacks are popular, but they're so immense that their popularity doesn't matter much.
Ski the tram first thing in the morning, then move on to other lifts once the lines for the tram grow excessively long. Pay close attention to exposure and elevation to find the best snow.
Hope for fresh snow. In my experience, Jackson's due-east exposure and low base elevation does much to rot the snow, especially in late winter/early spring, if there hasn't been a dump lately. The low-elevation Hobacks suffer especially so in this regard.
In that event, don't be shy about taking a one-hour drive over Teton Pass via Driggs, Idaho to get to Grand Targhee, where the snow is more plentiful, drier, and at a higher elevation, even if the terrain is not as steep. For a bit of in-bounds sidecountry, hike up to Mary's Nipple and ski the northwest-facing steeps between Fred's Mountain and Peaked Mountain. If you're willing to road-trip it a bit farther, Big Sky and Bridger Bowl are within 3 to 4 hours. Bridger happens to be one of my favorites, but the best goods there are via hiking "The Ridge" a few hundred feet above the lifts. Of course, there's always Snow King right in the town of Jackson Hole if you're looking for some diversity closer to home.
Speaking of Teton Pass, if you've got the requisite snow science skills, some of the best easily-accessible backcountry options are located on the Pass. However, it's also one of the most slide-prone areas in the U.S., so make sure that you stick to lift served unless you really know what you're doing.
The town of Jackson Hole has a lot to offer, beyond the tourist meccas like the Million Dollar Saloon. Après-ski at the Mangy Moose in Teton Village, however, is almost a requirement. You'll have a ball.
I suggest you read this FTO thread from last year when considering your booking: http://216.250.243.13/discus2/messages/ ... 1078257186.
I also wrote an Inside Tracks guide for Jackson Hole: http://webpages.charter.net/tcrocker818/jackguid.htm .
I also wrote an Inside Tracks guide for Jackson Hole: http://webpages.charter.net/tcrocker818/jackguid.htm .
NHpowderhound
New member
Bunni from the Jay forum?
((*
*))NHPH
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*))NHPH
Here's a piece I wrote last year about a couple lesser known spots at Jackson Hole:
http://www.snowjournal.com/page.php?cid=doc785
http://www.snowjournal.com/page.php?cid=doc785
Mark Renson
New member
I certainly agree with Marc regarding Corbett's. You can see Corbet's from the Tram. I avoid it because I'm a wuss and it also turns into a zoo and a long wait to drop in there. I'd rather spend my time skiing. Do indeed take a Tram ride to at least look at it, though. Every skier should at least see it in person even if it is from the Tram.
The Hobacks are half the size of the State of Rhode Island. Watch for the moose at the bottom.
As for in-bounds for powder/good snow, a few memories are as follows:
* Bird-In-Hand is a good bet during/after a storm.
* Alta Chutes. #0, #1, #2 get all of the hype, but when you get past #2 the snow gets better even though it ain't as steep. There are some good off-map tree shots once you get by these, going off of the skier's left of Pepi's Run into Laramie Bowl.
* Grand is a huge McTrail ... but off of the skier's right of it are some very nice off-map tree shots that go into Laramie Bowl.
* Skier's right of Bivouac (Cheyenne Bowl) is known as the Bivouac Woods where great snow could be found. It is not on the map.
* Don't miss "T3" - that's Tower 3 Chute. Also, there are several off map tree shots known as the Mushroom Chutes between T3 and Thunder that empty into Cirque.
* Toilet Bowl is to the skiers right of Paintbrush and is not on the map and is worthwhile - it's between Paintbrush and T3.
* Radiation Woods is not on the map and has great skiing ?. But I forgot where exactly it is. I suspect it is to the skiers right of the Casper Triple between that lift and this new gondola they have.
* Rendezvous Bowl is the obvious bowl off of the Tram and is not secret and gets tracked out in a hurry. But do indeed ski it as the aura and the views off to Gannet Peak are wonderful. They often have a route marked off with green circles on 'boo to "guide" the "not exactly experts" down this. Important to remember if there are non-experts with you who want to share in the fun of the Tram ride.
Do indeed go to Targhee. You can get a bus ride to it with a lift pass in "The Village". The Village is what locals refer to the base area of the JH ski area. Chief Joseph Bowl has a few hairy spots, but other than that, The 'Ghee is a laid back powder mountain that gets much more snow than JH.
Mangy Moose is highly recommended and has good dinners for a great price. Do indeed go to the Cowboy Bar. It is somewhat touron (not that I'm one of those :roll: ) related, but also fun. The Virginian has cheap pitchers and is where real live cowboys go to have a few.
The Hobacks are half the size of the State of Rhode Island. Watch for the moose at the bottom.
As for in-bounds for powder/good snow, a few memories are as follows:
* Bird-In-Hand is a good bet during/after a storm.
* Alta Chutes. #0, #1, #2 get all of the hype, but when you get past #2 the snow gets better even though it ain't as steep. There are some good off-map tree shots once you get by these, going off of the skier's left of Pepi's Run into Laramie Bowl.
* Grand is a huge McTrail ... but off of the skier's right of it are some very nice off-map tree shots that go into Laramie Bowl.
* Skier's right of Bivouac (Cheyenne Bowl) is known as the Bivouac Woods where great snow could be found. It is not on the map.
* Don't miss "T3" - that's Tower 3 Chute. Also, there are several off map tree shots known as the Mushroom Chutes between T3 and Thunder that empty into Cirque.
* Toilet Bowl is to the skiers right of Paintbrush and is not on the map and is worthwhile - it's between Paintbrush and T3.
* Radiation Woods is not on the map and has great skiing ?. But I forgot where exactly it is. I suspect it is to the skiers right of the Casper Triple between that lift and this new gondola they have.
* Rendezvous Bowl is the obvious bowl off of the Tram and is not secret and gets tracked out in a hurry. But do indeed ski it as the aura and the views off to Gannet Peak are wonderful. They often have a route marked off with green circles on 'boo to "guide" the "not exactly experts" down this. Important to remember if there are non-experts with you who want to share in the fun of the Tram ride.
Do indeed go to Targhee. You can get a bus ride to it with a lift pass in "The Village". The Village is what locals refer to the base area of the JH ski area. Chief Joseph Bowl has a few hairy spots, but other than that, The 'Ghee is a laid back powder mountain that gets much more snow than JH.
Mangy Moose is highly recommended and has good dinners for a great price. Do indeed go to the Cowboy Bar. It is somewhat touron (not that I'm one of those :roll: ) related, but also fun. The Virginian has cheap pitchers and is where real live cowboys go to have a few.