Jackson or Aspen?

[jimmywilson69]

The other thing with Jackson is unless your skiing the backcountry or want to do some inbounds hiking, it's not that big. No doubt, the lift served terrain is awesome and probably my favorite in the US next to the Alta Snowbird combination, but their actual lift served terrain I'd guess is under 2k acres.

never really thought about it like this. I've only been there once, and there were lift served skiable lines everywhere. Didn't feel that small to me, but when you think about say Vail, yeah I guess it does kind of seem "small". Obviously a relative term.

 

[jimk]

Jackson Hole's been crowded for my last two visits too, but they were in 2018 and 2020. I've low budget stayed at Motel 6, which was pretty good for basic place. It's now called southtown motel, not far from bus stop to ski resort. Bubba's BBQ is not far from it too, and pretty good and relatively inexpensive.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

the super8 and the motel6/southtown are def the budget spots in jh

right on the bus route but i personally hate not having a car on these trips

 

[jimmywilson69]

I stayed at the Antler Inn. Similar no frills place right on the bus stop route.

Also, if you haven't been, snow king is legit. definitely look forward to skiing there again when I get back to Jackson. especially now with the expanded terrain. 2 block walk from downtown to Snow King.

Landed in Jackson, grabbed a ride to town, dropped our stuff at antler inn, walked to snow king and was skiing by noon. booted up skied and then booted off and walked back to hotel and took a nap before dinner.

 

[crystalmountainskier]

I've been to Jackson Hole once and plan on returning next season to give it another shot. My issue with JH the only time we visited was the unbearable crowds. Now our trip was over the covid season when lifts were restricted at the time but each and every lift on the mountain throughout the 5 days of our trip had a minimum 45 minute wait. It was brutal.

With the exception of the tram, JH hasn't had a lift line for ~3 years.

 

[jimk]

With the exception of the tram, JH hasn't had a lift line for ~3 years.

wow, good to know. I guess this is due to ikon reservations?

 

[crank]

Last year, first week of Feb. Often no tram line at all and longest was only 2 trams wait.

It was actually the least crowded I have ever seen it. This year we are targeting the second week of Feb. due to other commitments. Not sure where we're going yet but JH is easy and likely.

My friend is camped out at the Super 8. He used to stay at Motel 6 and was upset when it changed and his rent went up from $60 a day to $100.

You can do close to 4K vertical of mostly steep, ungroomed skiing from top of tram - not really that much hiking unless you really want to.

 

[jaytrem]

With the exception of the tram, JH hasn't had a lift line for ~3 years.

You around on the 31st? Would love to say hello.

 

[jaytrem]

Landed in Jackson, grabbed a ride to town, dropped our stuff at antler inn, walked to snow king and was skiing by noon. booted up skied and then booted off and walked back to hotel and took a nap before dinner.

I did something similar and tried to do the opposite on the way out, almost missed my plane. The powder was really nice and only a few people skiing it.

 

[Smellytele]

Day off option at Aspen we have enjoyed.

Iron Mountain Hot Springs ~ Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Iron Mountain Hot Springs mineral hot springs pools in Glenwood Springs on the bank of the Colorado River. Enjoy mineral hot springs pools, casual dining.

www.ironmountainhotsprings.com

going there one evening on our trip to glenwood springs

 

[Tonyr]

With the exception of the tram, JH hasn't had a lift line for ~3 years.

That is good to know. My one and only trip to Jackson was during the first week of February in 2021. The Tram line each day during that time period was over 2 hours long, it was crazy.

 

[machski]

At Highlands, Highlands Bowl needs a decent amount of natural base to really get full open. But a lot of the rest doesn't need a ton of snow, like JH's terrain does. Unsure what Hero's would need, it is most DD Gladed so should hold snow well. But as its new lift served terrain (was available via snowcat previously), not sure what they need to open that up fully.

 

[Zand]

Re: lines at Jackson

I was there for a week in Feb 2020 and Feb 2021. Both times during really good weather stretches...no huge powder days but solid depths and good weather. 2020 before COVID other than obviously the Tram and then maybe a few 5 minute lines midday at Thunder and Sublette, everything was ski on. 2021 during the height of COVID restrictions, Thunder and Sublette were consistently 20+ minutes all day and even stuff like Teton and Apres Vous would get lines up to 10 mins, and forget about the tram at 25%. I'm sure my first week in 2020 was a lot closer to the norm, except obviously it can be a total zoo there on powder days.

From a cost standpoint, I've been to Jackson multiple times and Aspen never. There's a reason for that...$.

Agreed with whoever said the inbounds stuff at Jackson almost skis kind of small. It's a pretty narrow resort with one base. Really only 5 or 6 true pods of skiing. If you're willing to hike, it gets a lot bigger. I miss it like crazy, really need to get back there.

One of these years I'll get to Aspen.

 

[raisingarizona]

How dare you not go to Snow King (at least for some night skiing)!

Snow King is a seriously rad little town hill.

 

[Zand]

Snow King is a seriously rad little town hill.

It looks tiny when you're driving around town but it has the same vertical as Mt Snow. And the pitch is amazing top to bottom. Feels a bit like Plattekill but even bigger. I always do a half day there when I first arrive in Jackson as I usually fly early and get there in the early afternoon. Perfect place to kill a few hours.

 

[AdironRider]

Only problem with Snow King is the conditions are usually shit comparatively. The new backside terrain should ski a little better, although not as steep.

 

[ss20]

Ok... I think I'm going to do JH... subject to change still! Seems like Aspen's forecast is trending down and JH's is trending up. JH $500 less total for my lodging than Snowmass (doing like .75 ski vacations a year now, I splurge and do the whole slopeside condo thing). I feel like even in the worst 10% of scenarios Jackson is guaranteed 3 feet+ and at least some of the real good terrain will open up. Although I will say, I hope to spend a decent amount of time on my carvers this vacation! It's just nice to be someplace... different!

Next question... is Snow King worth a day when it's less than 90% open? Haven't looked into what that costs but I'm figuring $80ish for a day ticket? Would definitely spend that $$ if most of the terrain could get opened up. I know it's not nearly as gnarly as Jackson but I hear it's still steep.

 

[raisingarizona]

Most weekend warriors from coastal urban locations get their asses whooped skiing at the Vill. I'm a half way decent Dad skier and I'm sure as shit not in good Vill ski shape. So yeah....terrain yada yada but I'll bet you a hundred bucks that most posters in this forum would probably be better off skiing elsewhere. Check out this guys first lap in this edit at Snowmass. It looks awesome and enjoyable, epic even for a weekend warrior from New Jersey. This footage was probably from this past week.

 

[raisingarizona]

It looks tiny when you're driving around town but it has the same vertical as Mt Snow. And the pitch is amazing top to bottom. Feels a bit like Plattekill but even bigger. I always do a half day there when I first arrive in Jackson as I usually fly early and get there in the early afternoon. Perfect place to kill a few hours.

It's one of the most continuous steep pitches in the country. I've never skied it on a deep day but I really wish I had. It often skis like a pretty good PP day in Vermont.

If you can be on the summit just after the sun sets and the lights turn on in town it's magical. I've done that by skinning up in the dark.

 

[BenedictGomez]

going there one evening on our trip to glenwood springs

We went there once when we were staying at Vail. Kind of a neat experience I'd recommend, but not sure I'd do it a second time.