Happy Thanksgiving and welcome to another wonderful northern season.
The first snowfalls kicked off the ski season, but mild weather still abounds and most slopes remain barely covered. Be sure to watch for rocks and other hazards that still cut through the snow. Pick up the pace on your beater skis and while you wait, tune in your right pair for maximum performance once the weather calls for it with a solid foundation.
On December 1, Skinny Skis will host an Avalanche Awareness Night at the Arts Center. Enjoy information, food, fun and prizes as industry experts give a refresher course on backcountry safety and adverse conditions.
Starting December 15, the Masters Clinics begin another season of advice and guidance. Learn from local experts. This is a great opportunity for casual skiers who want to learn more or masters who want to refine their technique. Register online at JHNordic.com.
Do you ever want to run? Dust off your race skis at the Targhee Tune-Up Skate Race on December 3. Opening of registrations soon.
Skis need a little love to really shine. It’s easy to put wax on your skis and call it good in the middle of the season (and even easier to throw them in a back corner and forget they exist during the warmer months). But if they haven’t been properly stripped, tuned and waxed in a while, you might be surprised to learn what you’ve been missing.
Be sure to take the time to get them back in top condition before the best skiing arrives; If you don’t have time to do it yourself, consider getting them adjusted by experts, who will be happy to help you glide through the snow like you haven’t in years.
Trail Creek Nordic Centre:
Trail Creek is open for business. Located at the base of Teton Pass, Trail Creek offers 15 miles of high quality trails over exciting terrain. Most of the trails near the hut have been groomed, but conditions remain slim and grooming will be limited until there is enough snow accumulation to prevent damage to equipment. When the grooming begins in earnest, it will take place seven days a week, so keep your fingers crossed for more snow.
The pass costs $20 per day. Contact the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club for more information on season pass pricing.
Grand Targhee is well known for its excellent snowfall, and this year is no exception. Although the classic trails have not yet been set, all trails are now open, with equipment rentals available. It’s a great place to start your winter. Buy your pass at the ticket office.
Groomed on Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends.
Thanks to Friends of Pathways, skiing is already available at Cache Creek. Snow cover is still thin, so hikers are advised to keep to the side to maintain limited snow cover. Dog walkers: your dogs must be leashed around the trailhead and remember to pick up poop.
Groomed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays depending on the conditions.
Teton Pass offers several early season skiing opportunities. The higher you go, the better the snow. According to the last report, Philips Canyon Trail offered downhill skiing on shallow snow.
With 7.6 miles of groomed trails, Teton Canyon is a great place to ski all winter, but especially early in the season. Be sure to purchase a Teton Valley Trails and Pathways sticker to support their grooming operations throughout the valley.
Groomed Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Four miles east of Victor, Idaho, Southern Valley Nordic is now open and is a great place to go skiing quickly near town. The snow may still be a bit thin, but the parking lot should allow easy access. Sorry, dogs are not allowed.
Grand Teton National Park
Although official grooming hasn’t started in Grand Teton, the snow has piled in and many higher elevation trails are now skiable. some already contain bits and pieces from adventurous members of the community.
Pioneers, your successors will bless you if you make lanes conducive to two-way traffic.
The warmer weather provides great opportunities for hybrid biking this week in interesting and varied terrain – snow, dirt and grass. Please be aware of soft, limited snow and do your best to avoid trail damage.
The Grand Targhee singletracks are now all open for the new season. Temperatures in the mild 20s will make for a comfortable ride.
Trail permits are required. $20/day
Cache Creek is the premier groomed singletrack in the Jackson Hole area, and the only free singletrack around.
Remember dogs must be leashed at the Cache Creek trailhead.
Many cycle paths in the valley remain open and are a great way to exercise while waiting for the singletrack to open for the winter. Check FriendsOfPathways.org for more information on local cycle routes, many of which are available year-round.
The valley is home to a number of excellent Nordic runs, many of which will open soon.
The following is a comprehensive list but highlights some popular trails in the area and what they offer so users can be ready to ski as soon as the snow arrives.
Bridger-Teton National Forest and Teton County Public Trails
Offering some of the best terrain the valley has to offer, and free to boot, the public trails in the National Forest and Teton County are a great starting point for beginners and a mainstay for experts.
Just southeast of town, Cache Creek offers great skiing a short drive away. The main part of the trail is 2.5 miles and will be groomed three times a week.
Eight miles south of town, Game Creek offers a tranquil skiing experience across the mountain from Cache Creek. For wildlife enthusiasts, Game Creek lives up to its name. Dogs must be leashed for the first mile of the trail.
Perfect for a quick ski around town, the High School Fields Trail sits between middle and high schools. A gentle loop just a few miles long, it can be a great place to get your blood pumping.
One of the most popular ski resorts in the valley, the levee is located along the east bank of the Snake River, accessible near the bridge. Flat and maintained regularly, it’s a great place to get in touch with the local Nordic and canine communities.
Closed to vehicular traffic in the winter, the Moose-Wilson Road is an excellent, popular ungroomed trail, with long, gradual climbs and slides, and fantastic views along the way. It is certainly more than a glance.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton combines scenic views with beautiful groomed trails. Everyone should try them at least once in their life and don’t forget to take a great shot.
Trails are groomed twice a week from Taggart Trailhead to Jenny Lake and then to Signal Mountain for a total of over 14 miles of groomed trails. There are also a host of ungroomed (but excellent) trails; check online maps for details or just keep an eye out for signs as you drive.
Trail Creek Nordic Centre:
With a great diversity of terrain containing some of the best ski areas in the Valley, Trail Creek is groomed seven days a week and is regularly used by many school Nordic teams throughout the Valley. If you want to ski like the pros, there’s no better place to be. $20.
Teton Pines Nordic Center
Offering 10 miles of relatively flat groomed trails, on-site rentals, lessons and many other services, Teton Pines is a short drive from Teton Village and a fantastic place to experience Nordic skiing for the first time. $20.
Shooting Star Nordic Center
Just steps from the base of Teton Village, Shooting Star is a prime location for Nordic skiing and a change of pace from downhill skiing. Offering 15 kilometers of trails (groomed daily) as well as on-site rentals, dog-friendly skiing and a Nordic shop for any gear you may have forgotten at home. $40.
Snake River Sports Club
The Snake River Sporting Club offers 8.2 miles of hilly trails south of town. $50.
These trails and many more are listed online at JHNordic.com. Including trail maps, descriptions, dog access, driving directions and daily grooming reports, it’s the best way to learn about Nordic skiing in the valley.
Welcome and have a good season!
