Jackson: Snow, Avi Danger, and Sun

Yesterday we packed the truck, and once again headed towards the promise of something better… Jackson Hole With the little snow that Utah has dwindling away as high pressure system after high pressure system keeps our winter at bay, Weston and I continue to follow where Old Man Winter has been kind enough to sprinkle some of that white goodness we call snow.

Jackson Hole received about 3 feet last week, and while we couldn’t make it during the holidays due to family and work, we decided to check it out this week.

What we have found is bounty in the way of snow (well by Utah standards) , however we have also arrived during an extremely sketch avalanche cycle. Over 50 reported human triggered avalanches in Jackson alone as the weak facets are not able to support the heavier fresh layer of snow.

We decided to continue in the optimistic fashion that worked for us in Silverton, make the best of what we can ski and enjoy every turn we get, even if it’s just flat pow it’s way better than no pow.

We pulled into Jackson around 4pm and headed strait to the pass. We NEEDED to get out and skin, dig, just play in some snow.

We skinned with Nelson Dog off the South side of the pass, following the heavily use skin trail along the ridge line. It was a beautiful afternoon and we felt lucky to be in the snow and in such a beautiful area.

As if that wasn’t enough, mother nature rewarded our efforts with the bigest bull moose I had ever scene. He crossed right in front of us. Prancing down the slope we were about to ski, as if to say it was his home and he wanted the honors of fresh tracks.

Our special afternoon lead into an after dark descent down to the car and an evening of catching up with good friends Louse and Paul at the Snake Creek Brew Pub.

Today, we decided to head into Teaton National Park to attempt about the only really safe area in the park to ski, Mavericks.

It was spectacular to watch the sun rise and greet the grand with the pink alpine hue.

It was an early start, but with clear skis and about 4hrs of working towards the summit, digging pits, and feeling uneasy, we realized the slope was getting too hot and sketchy, making even this mild angle slope seem dangerous.

After some talk we decided to rip the skins and save the summit for another day. The ski down was fun, but the snow was that spring super sticky mash potatoes mostly found in the late spring months. Not typical of January in Jackson.

What now? Well snow is snow, and with one more day off together till Weston and I go back to our restaurant gigs we are gonna try again tomorrow and see if we can’t capture more of the beauty and fun that we are having here.

~Shaun