Snowboarding : Jackson Hole
I heard this is THE place to board if you like powder. Gotta get there soon.
Jackson Hole is a valley in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It is located in west-central Wyoming, and gets the name "hole" from early trappers who primarily entered the valley from the north and east and had to descend down into the valley along relatively steep slopes, giving the sensation of entering a hole. The valley is named for David (Davey) Edward Jackson, a mountain man who trapped the area for beaver in the early nineteenth century. Though used by Native Americans for hunting and ceremonial purposes, the valley was not known to harbor year round human settlement prior to the 1870's. Descriptions of the valley and its features were recorded in the journals of John Colter, who had been a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. After returning to the Rocky Mountains, Colter entered the region in 1806 in the vicinity of Togwotee Pass and became the first caucasian American to see the valley. His reports of the valley, the Teton Range and of the Yellowstone region to the north were viewed by people of the day with skepticism.
The valley is formed by the Teton Range on the western side and the Gros Ventre range on the eastern side. Grand Teton National Park occupies the north-western part of the valley encompassing the much of the Teton Range as well as Jackson Lake. The town of Jackson, Wyoming, is at the southern end. Between them lies the National Elk Refuge, home of the largest elk herd on earth. The Snake River threads through the entire valley from its headwater in Yellowstone in the north to the mouth of the Snake River Canyon at the southern tip of the valley. Blacktail Butte is a prominent landform rising from the valley floor. The average altitude of the valley is over 6,500 feet.
High altitude and steep mountain slopes on all sides of the valley often causes calm winter nights to be very cold, as radiational cooling from snow-covered ground creates cold air near the surface, which then slides down into the valley due to its higher density. In 1993, this effect during an already severe cold snap plunged the morning low temperature down to -56°F or -53°C in the valley, officially recorded by the National Weather Service. The state record low temperature was also recorded in the valley at Moran at -66°F in 1933.
The only incorporated town in the valley is Jackson, sometimes also mistakenly called Jackson Hole itself. Other communities in the valley include Wilson, Teton Village, Moran Junction, Hoback, Moose (Moose Wilson Road, Wyoming), and Kelly. On the west side of the valley, Teton Pass crosses the Teton Range providing access to Victor and Driggs in eastern Idaho and Alta, Wyoming on the western side of the Tetons. Numerous elk use the valley as grazing range during the winter, and sleigh rides are offered to tourists. The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King and Grand Targhee Resort ski areas, and nearby Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks are major tourism attractions throughout all seasons of the year.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Just 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Jackson, Wyoming is the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort at Teton Village, Wyoming. It is named after the Jackson Hole valley. The region is served by the Jackson Hole Airport.
The ski area partially covers two mountains. The runs are 50% expert, 40% intermediate, and 10% beginner. Apres Vous Mountain is deemed intermediate difficulty while Rendezvous Mountain has Jackson Hole's famous advanced terrain that includes bowls, glades, and chutes, as well as 4100 vertical feet of skiing, the greatest continuous inbounds rise in the United States.
Jackson Hole's previous tram was retired in the fall of 2006, rose 4,139 vertical feet to 10,450 ft (3,190 m) elevation. Other lifts include an eight passenger gondola, high speed detachable and standard quad chairlifts, triple chairlifts, and a double chair. Construction began June 2007 for a new 100-passenger tram expected to begin service December 2008.[1]
Jackson Hole is home to many of the world's best freeskiers as the terrain is considered to be some of the most challenging in North America and the world. In addition to the massive amount of skiable terrain in bounds there is an even larger area to be explored off piste or out of bounds. These areas are only to be accessed through marked gates and should only be skied if one is of expert ability and properly equipped with avalanche safety gear. The terrain has not only attracted the best skiers in the world but also one of the leading ski film companies, Teton Gravity Research. Jackson Hole is also home to one of the most famous expert ski runs in the world, Corbet's Couloir.
In addition to skiing, there are many other outdoor activities in both the winter and summer. Nordic skiing, dog sledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, balloon rides, paragliding, fishing, hiking, biking, and climbing are only some of the activities visitors and year round residents enjoy at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.