Time to visit Grand Targhee
December 12th, 2008Posted in Skiing in the Tetons
The trivial pursuit of business obligations on the East Coast is now past, so the coast looks clear for lots of good turns in deep snow (soon?) and more regular blog posts.
Driving west on I-80 we saw snowmaking going full tilt in the small ski hills in Ohio and Wisconsin and I was reminded of little old Silvermine Ski Area (long defunct) where I was first introduced to lift served skiing (on the shiny white marble surface that passed for manmade snow in the 60’s). I am so glad that there are still some determined skier/business people providing skiing options to the public in places like Ohio and Wisconsin, where the hills are small, but the love of the sport can still be instilled in youngsters having a great time doing what we all love- testing our skills on a winter’s slippery slopes.
After two long days on the highways, the first thing we did upon reaching home was hop into our ski clothes and head to Targhee for our first turns of the season. Unpacking, buying groceries, picking up the mail could all wait when there was still an hour until closing time up at the Ghee.
There were no powder turns to be had, but I wondered if Targhee had hired some new groomer drivers, or had someone come in and do a seminar for there old time drivers? I’ve skied Targhee’s early season slopes for years, but have never skied such rock free groomed trails with so little snow coverage as I did on Wednesday. All the spots where rocks and gravel have always been a problem when the mountain first opens were well covered with soft, edge friendly snow. Every groomed run was pure bliss. Kudos to the grooming staff!
Yesterday I was in Jackson and was dismayed to see the valley and the lower hills so brown. Snowking had a good looking ribbon of white under its Cougar lift and two long white ribbons spilled down mountain from the top terminal of Jackson’s gondola, so I could see the resorts have been working hard to offer skiing in spite of the lack of cooperation from Mother Nature.
Targhee’s 8000 foot base makes a big difference in the early season! Instead of a few dozen acres of skiing in Jackson, Targhee has good skiing on nearly 1500 acres! Year after year, Targhee can be counted on to offer some of the best early season skiing in the West. All skiers would be well advised to file that fact away in their memory and plan on skiing the Ghee when there home hill is brown in early winter.
Leave a Comment