First timer's guide to Jackson Hole

[jaywbigred]

Okay folks, I ran a quick search and couldn't find anything in terms of suggestions/where to ski once at JHMR. We leave Thurs. AM early from Newark, staying at the Hotel Terra (a new hotel) in Teton Village, and lift tickets are included, so we are wedded to skiing at JHMR, no need to discuss Snowking or Grand Targhee. Also, we have a pretty good idea for meals and apres ski activities, my buddy has been to JH a lot in the summer and knows the restaurants, bars, etc...(or so he says)...

So what I am looking for are some suggestions regarding the mountain and its areas, lifts, trails, and so on. There are 4 of us going, 2 couples, and the ladies are both good skiers but also somewhat easily intimidated. We have been up front with them that mountain's reputation is for steeps, and I think they are mentally prepared for it. Any suggestions for where they should ski?

My buddy is a good skier too, strong and fearless, without necessarily possessing the most refined technique. He has been skiing his whole life though.

As you guys know, I like bumps first, but know that JHMR isn't necessarily a bump mecca. That is fine, I am open to (almost) anything. That being said, I'd prob wuss out on anything with mandatory air, and anything considered a "no fall zone." Put another way, I'll be skiing the used pair of K2 Public Enemies I picked up at the beginning of the season, and the DIN on the demo bindings only goes up to 10.

That being said, I did not book a trip to JHMR to ski pussycat blues the whole time.

So given that we will probably be skiing as a 4 person group 50% of the time and as 2 person pairs the other part of the time...

Where should we boys concentrate if it snows?
Where should we go as a big group if it snows?
Where should the ladies go if it snows?

Where should we boys go if it doesn't snow?
Where should we go as a group if it doesn't snow?
Where should the ladies go if it doesn't snow?

Also, can anyone recommend gladed areas?

I guess I am mostly worried that, given the size of JHMR, without some planning, we may not hit some "can't miss areas" unless we have a plan in advance.

Thanks for any advice! VERY excited for this trip!!!

 

[Puck it]

Go to Epicski and look for posts by Bob Peter's. He gives a great discussion and tours of the mountain.

 

[4aprice]

I thought you were going to Park City in March or are you taking 3 trips this year. Enjoy Jackson Hole.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[dmc]

Where should we boys concentrate if it snows?
Where should we go as a big group if it snows?
Where should the ladies go if it snows?

Where should we boys go if it doesn't snow?
Where should we go as a group if it doesn't snow?
Where should the ladies go if it doesn't snow?

Also, can anyone recommend gladed areas?

First of all - there are no glades at JH - only trees...

Steep chutes are great after snow... Paintbrush, Tower Three, Hoops all off the thunder chair.
Alta chutes and other unmarked under the Sublette chair.. Across the Cheyenne bowl is the Bivouac woods which are really nice too...
Hobacks are GREAT for wide open untracked if you work a little... normally don't open immediately after a dump...

If it doesn't snow head for the trees... Or go OB. OB at JH is incredible.. Easy access but use caution.. Every time I've been there certain aspects were really unstable..

Basic rule is - the harder terrain is to the left and the easier to the right - looking up the mountain... There's more groomers and lodges looking up and right...

 

[TrailsEndChazyLake]

Thunder Quad: Ski Paint Brush and Tower 3 Chute
Tram: Take Rendezvouz Bowl to Tensleep to Expert Chutes and if I remember correctly you can access Paint Brush and Tower 3 Chute from there also.
Tram: Just do laps any way down.....the ultimate 4000' of black diamond skiing maybe anywhere.
Tram: Rendezvous Bowl, Rendezvous Trail to the Hobacks
The Hobak's are some of the best in-bounds powder skiing anywhere when the snow is great.
Sublette Quad: Alta Chutes, Bird in Hand, Pepi's Run, are all Awesome.
The ladies will love the Bridger Gondola.
You have to be a very strong expert skier to ski the Tram at Jackson Hole,,,not for the weak!

Ski the shaded sides of the mountain for the best snow Alta Chutes, Tower 3 etc.....This mountain can scare you!!!!!

Be careful
:beer:

 

[dbking]

JH might not be considered a bump mecca but it will have A LOT of moguls. It hasn't snowed enough to fill them in and it doesn't look like too much weather happening this week. The Snow Gods have been angry.
When you get there, find a local. And don't tell them you got ANY suggestions from the New England Skiing forum on the internet.

 

[jaywbigred]

I thought you were going to Park City in March or are you taking 3 trips this year. Enjoy Jackson Hole.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

Alex I actually have 4 trips total out west this year...Got a $3000 airline voucher from a family friend who couldn't use it (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) but it expires in mid-May. So we did Utah (PowMow and Snowbasin) in January, and then JH in Feb, Park City in March, and Beaver Creek & Abasin are up for early April.

Its hurting my pocketbook but its kind of a once in a decade sort of thing, I guess. We also didn't go out West last year, so maybe I can justify it by saying I am cramming 2 years worth of Western trips into 1 year.


DMC, thanks for the info! I don't think we will be heading OB though...trees, not glades....lol. Sometimes one's inner gaper just won't die.

Puckit, I found the 2nd guide by Bob Peters http://www.epicski.com/forum/thread/78941/updated-steep-skiing-guide-to-jackson-hole

But not the first...do you have the link?

 

[jaywbigred]

Woops, maybe I found it:

http://www.epicski.com/wiki/jackson-hole-guide-to-skiing-jackson-hole-mountain-resort

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[dmc]

Tram: Just do laps any way down.....the ultimate 4000' of black diamond skiing maybe anywhere.

I ride the Tram but only only first thing in the morning and when I hit the Hobacks.. But thats just me... and my friends..

I'm just not into the lower mountain terrain..

 

[dmc]

DMC, thanks for the info! I don't think we will be heading OB though...trees, not glades....lol. Sometimes one's inner gaper just won't die.

there's some easy OB/slack country options.. Rock Springs is easy to get to and won't get you into too much trouble.. You can hire a guide and probably have a great time!

You can also climb up above the gondola and hit the stuff up there pretty easily..

 

[4aprice]

Alex I actually have 4 trips total out west this year...Got a $3000 airline voucher from a family friend who couldn't use it (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) but it expires in mid-May. So we did Utah (PowMow and Snowbasin) in January, and then JH in Feb, Park City in March, and Beaver Creek & Abasin are up for early April.

Wow all that and the Greens and Pocono's too, I'm insanely jealous. Hopefully I'll catch up with you for a couple of bump runs in between trips. Those Cleo bumps you liked last year were skiing well this past weekend. Have fun.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[TrailsEndChazyLake]

We only road the Tram 1x per day also,,but we did not have top to bottom great conditions,,,,the Hobak's were wind and sun crusted and were not good,,,we just stuck to the shady sides of the ridges where the snow was best.

 

[dmc]

We only road the Tram 1x per day also,,but we did not have top to bottom great conditions,,,,the Hobak's were wind and sun crusted and were not good,,,we just stuck to the shady sides of the ridges where the snow was best.

Thats pretty common at JH.... Hobacks get ugly.. Exposed areas get crusty and thin...

 

[Philpug]

Two words for Jackson Hole...

Bob Peters.

 

[Puck it]

Alex I actually have 4 trips total out west this year...Got a $3000 airline voucher from a family friend who couldn't use it (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) but it expires in mid-May. So we did Utah (PowMow and Snowbasin) in January, and then JH in Feb, Park City in March, and Beaver Creek & Abasin are up for early April.

Its hurting my pocketbook but its kind of a once in a decade sort of thing, I guess. We also didn't go out West last year, so maybe I can justify it by saying I am cramming 2 years worth of Western trips into 1 year.


DMC, thanks for the info! I don't think we will be heading OB though...trees, not glades....lol. Sometimes one's inner gaper just won't die.

Puckit, I found the 2nd guide by Bob Peters http://www.epicski.com/forum/thread/78941/updated-steep-skiing-guide-to-jackson-hole

But not the first...do you have the link?

Can't find right now but will look at my links. I found them but the links are broken. I will PM him.

 

[jaywbigred]

Woops, maybe I found it:

http://www.epicski.com/wiki/jackson-hole-guide-to-skiing-jackson-hole-mountain-resort

Thanks for the heads up!

Can't find right now but will look at my links.

Puck, see above. I think I found the complete guide. V. comprehensive. Bob obvi knows his chit. I loved his thread I read a few weeks back with all the Corbet's stories.

 

[Puck it]

Puck, see above. I think I found the complete guide. V. comprehensive. Bob obvi knows his chit. I loved his thread I read a few weeks back with all the Corbet's stories.

There are a couple more. I pm'ed him about the broken links. Will post thgem when I get them.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I would add the Cirque Bowl which is also accessed from Tensleep Bowl. I suppose checking out Corbet's on the way down the ridge and peering over the edge is a must see. Moran Face was a fav, skiers left off the Casper Bowl lift past the last trail down is the traverse. Not extreme at all despite the rating, start heading down either just before the big boulder or go over the top of the boulder for some nice easy open snowfields.

There is this one black diamond trail called Beaver Tooth on the bottom of the mountain we always ended our day on. Most have never heard of it, it's always been listed on the trail map and most even have a hard time finding it on the trail map.

Warning regarding suggestions. Paintbrush is a fairly wide, straight, short trail but is very very steep. Tower 3 Chute is like a steep funnel at the bottom, very dificult and Alta Chutes are also very steep and not very wide.

If you go up the tram and it's a nice day taking a break at the Rendezvous Warming hut offers some awesome views. JH is a great place to challenge yourself with a healthy dose of commen sense.

Aplogize if I missed it but are ya staying out at the Village or in Jackson?

 

[dmc]

JH is a great place to challenge yourself with a healthy dose of commen sense.

yeah - just don't regret not trying something on the plane ride home...

 

[Puck it]

Toilet bowl is next to Tower 3 chute and just as steep and gets less traffic. Tower 3 can get pretty skied off if it has not snowed. BW are great and less sun exposed. The Hobacks are great if it snows or has not been warm since the last snow. I liked Cheyenne Gully. Saratoga bowl is worh it if it has snowed recently also. Bob Peters did pm me back. I will post when I get to work.