Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming
The history of skiing in Jackson Hole and the Mountain Resort near Teton Village in Wyoming is one of great wonderment. Believed to have first been skied by the famous fur trapper, John Colter in 1806, the Jackson Hole Mountain resort was then a meeting place for trade negotiations for the white man and the native people of the area. Today it is a thriving resort with so much to see and do. Wintertime skiing is by far the most exciting for many thousands of tourists, all wanting to try the new lifts, the fine slopes and enhance their vacation experience with the spectacular views.
Jackson Hole Resort Listings: (add your listing)
Ski Jackson Hole/Snowmobile Yellowstone
Enjoy world class skiing in Jackson Hole and snowmobile or snowcoach tours in Yellowstone. Also in Jackson Hole-sleigh rides, dogsledding, off trail snowmobiling ane more!
(800) 969-7159
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming, is by far one of the foremost skiing destinations in the state, famous for its Teton Village and a wealth of history that began in the early 19th century and a meeting began white man and natives. In fact, the resort has two main runs, one called South Colter and the other called North Colter, both formidable ridges that have delighted skiers for over two centuries.
It all began back in 1806 when an expedition was created by John Hoback, who toured the area by himself. In fact, the Hoback River was named in his honour by his guide and friend, Wilson Hunt. Interestingly, even today part of the resort bears his name too. By the 1820's, French Canadians named the mountain range, the Grand Teton, including the specific peaks called the Three Breasts, now known as Grand Teton, Middle Teton and South Teton. For thirty years the area was the main transportation route for trappers. By 1925, skiing was used in the valley area where the current resort sits and in the 1930's the Teton Ski Club was born. Runs and lifts were installed just around Moose Creek. Then rope tows were put in numerous current run spots that exist today with the first skiers being a park ranger in 31'or 32'. Jackson Hole is first used for Olympic ski training by Betty Woolsy in 1936, and a year later the Jackson Hole Ski Association is formed. Jackson Hole Ski Club is formed in 1939 and decades later in 1964, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort was under construction in the Rendezvous Mountain area as picked by the head of the Jackson Hole Ski Club. In 1967 the final of the World Cup downhill was hosted at the resort. In 1992 the lifts were upgraded from double to quads, and in 2000 the construction of varied buildings and other amenities in the new Teton Village began. In 2007, the old aerial tram closed and construction builds on a new and larger version that can carry up to 100 people is replacing it in 2009.
As time passed ridges, mountain areas and runs were named after all the famous people who had discovered them, skied across them or even lost their lives there. In the end most of the known features were named, making it easier to navigate in the backcountry and for ski patrol and rescue people to find injured or lost skiers. Strange names were used like Cook's Knob (Ray Cook, former manager of the mountain), Bean's Beanery (rock that a trail crew member found and skied off – Pat Bean), Veto's Tree (a tree that saved the life of a Chicago man), Femur Ridge (a ridge that was jumped by a teenager resulting in a broken femur), Crabtree Rock (a rock hit by the ski shop owner, Jeff Crabtree, resulting in two broken legs), Horn's Hole (a depression skied into by ski patrolman Rick Horn), and so many more.
The current resort is found at Teton Village, just northwest of Jackson Hole. It opens from December to April. The resort now consists of two mountains – Rendezvous and Apres Vous with over twenty five hundred acres of skiing territory and a full vertical drop of some four thousand feet. Another three thousand acres exists for more experienced backcountry skiers through the backcountry gate system. Each day some fifteen thousand skiers are taken up the mountains every hour reaching runs that consist of beginner (10%), intermediate (40%) and expert (50%). In fact, there are a total of 116 trails that are officially named which are covered in about four hundred and fifty nine inches of snow each year or thirty eight feet.
The facilities at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for skiers includes 12 lifts – high speed gondola, quads, triple chairlifts, double chairlifts and a magic carpet. There is a sports school offering lessons, private lessons, video type evaluations, guides, camps and racing clinics. A special kids only school is found near the Bridger Gondola, catering to kids from 6 months to as old as 17. The Bridge Center contains a sports shop for apparel, demos and rentals, a cafe and the sports school. However for those unfamiliar with anything to do with the skiing wonders of the resort, a special guest center is on hand to handle queries.
Hungry skiers do not have to go far to find a feast. Restaurants, bars and cafes offer excellent foods, some with deck views of the mountain and others catering to more exclusive dining arrangements.
For dates, details, and pricing, visit the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort website.
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