No one who has ever seen a picture of the Grand Tetons of Jackson Hole, Wyoming will ever forget the dramatic, majestic rise of those lofty heights… and no skier has ever seen them and not felt a certain longing at skiing some part of that range. Grand Teton itself rises to an amazing 13,770 feet – over a mile and a quarter above the valley’s 6800 foot elevation! It’s impossible to spy that sight and not be overwhelmed and impressed at the grandeur. Jackson Hole may just be the ultimate destination for ski vacations to Wyoming.
Jackson Hole Mountain resort’s 2500 in-bound acres are full of bowls, steeps and deeps. Sometimes they even groom the 500 inches of pristine powder snowfall that the mountain receives per year! How big is it? Are you sitting down? Jackson Hole offers an inconceivable FOUR THOUSAND feet of vertical drop (actualy 4,139 feet, but at that point, who’s counting?) They get an average of 459 inches of snow, and incomparable backcountry access, to the two distinct mountains that make up the Tetons. Experience wild, untamed terrain as well as rolling, wide-open groomers. See wildlife and nature like you’ve never see it before!
The other mountain, Grand Targhee Ski Resort, enjoys over 500 inches of slick, light, dry and magical powder! Grand Targhee is located in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. The base is at 8,000 feet, and in the Teton Mountain Range, 42 miles west of Jackson Hole. Grant Targhee also consists of two mountains – one enjoying 2000 vertical feet, while the other gets a 2419 foot vertical drop. Fred’s Mountain is set up for more conventional skiing, with 63 trails over their 1500 skiable acres, and a 2.7 mile long run! Peaked Mountain has only 9 trails, and offers 1000 acres of Snowcat skiing. Neither of these mountains is the place for beginners.
A third option is Snow King, which opened in 1939 and offers night skiing. Snow King is conveniently located right there in the town of Jackson. Snow King is a lot of fun for the entire family, and a great place for beginners of all ages to learn to ski.
The fun doesn’t stop there, though. Explore with snowshoes, or a dog sled. Rent a touring snowmobile, (with or without the guide) and get to vistas that few others will ever see!
If you’re the adventurous type, the backcountry is incomparable! You’re able to hire a backcountry company to take you for the day or even overnight, to see and ski the Jedediah Smith Wilderness Area and Grand Teton National Park. Rent a yurt and stay up on the mountain, where you and your party will be the only ones leaving prints in that incredibly dry, light powder! Tips up, lean back, and glide through chest-high powder! That’s a rush and a memory you’ll likely NEVER get anywhere else! The terrain is widely varied, so even beginners will be able to enjoy the excursion! In backcountry, you’ll find steep mountain ridges and precipices, low-angled powder bowls, chutes and pretty much everything in between. The guides will see to it that you have an awesome and safe Jackson Hole ski vacations!
