Powder Day!
January 3rd, 2009Posted in Skiing in the Tetons
The Tetons finally got a decent snowfall without the winds that have ruined the snow for much of the past week. Jackson and Grand Targhee both reported about a foot of fresh snow this morning. After a holiday week plagued with lift closures due to avalanches, high avalanche danger, and high winds, both resorts were able to open all their lifts and satisfy the pent up demand by both locals and vacationers for the great skiing the Tetons are renowned for.
This being a holiday week Saturday, the great morning snow report brought out a big crowd at Grand Targhee. We got in the lift line early enough to be on about the 23rd chair to the top of the mountain. Since the winds had been blowing hard for days from the south, we headed north in hopes of finding deeper snow where the winds might have blown snow onto the sheltered north facing slopes. We picked a long and fairly steep fall line run and enjoyed making first tracks in delightfully soft and deep snow. The snow report this morning was an honest one, there was indeed at least a foot of snow all over the Ghee. On a later run, we found the best snow on the mountain to be down lower on north facing “Six Pack” where the snow was unbelievably light and at least knee deep.
With so many hungry for powder skiers there today, the powder disappeared in record time. I didn’t mind though, I was very happy to see so many happy skiers having a great time. We kept searching for scraps of powder until 1 0′clock.
I had to cross Teton Pass in the afternoon and was surprised to see quite a few backcountry skiers daring avalanches on both sides of the Pass. Avie danger at that elevation was rated as “considerable” all day. I hope the skiers were extra careful and that all of them made it home safely. I would have discouraged anyone who asked me about skiing in the backcountry today. I even wore my avalanche transceiver while skiing inbounds at Targhee this morning.
Here it is just the third day of the New Year and both Targhee and Jackson have received over 200″ of snow this ski season.
Leave a Comment