TRIP REPORT: A Spring Saturday

From Spring Skiing To Tacky Singletrack

By Stio

Saturday May 28th, 8:20 AM

Biking by a friend’s house on Friday night I asked, “Are you skiing tomorrow?” “You see those bags over there?” he said, nodding toward the back corner of his garage. “That‘s my ski stuff. It‘s bike season, man.”

The tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain (elevation 10,449’) at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort made its last run of the winter on Sunday, April 3. The closing of the Village at this time marks the beginning of the end of ski season for many in Jackson. Lift access is over; the snow line in the Tetons starts to rise. Skis get waxed; pants are finally washed and packed away. Skiing is still possible but left mostly to a few adventurers who battle dirt trails and long approaches. That is, until the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. On this day in late May the tram opens up for summer and for a brief moment ski season is back. And if you plan your day right, you can enjoy a rare day that includes a ski session in the morning and your favorite summer activity in the afternoon - all within 20 minutes of each other.

THE PEOPLE:

Brendan Levine, Senior Graphic Designer, Stio

Emily Hoffer, School Counselor, Teton Co. Schools

Danny Holland, Producer, Stio

Mizpah, Trusty Yellow Lab

Brendan, Danny and I pull into the parking lot at the base of JHMR at 8:20 am. The parking attendant promises snowballs and cold brews served all day up top. We are surrounded by folks kicking off flip flops and buckling ski boots - I stomp the mud off my boots from our last day out on Jackson Peak. Everyone‘s pushing for the first “scenic ride“ departing the tram dock at 9:00 am and we‘re on it.

9:10 AM - Top of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

JHMR ski trails are closed for skiing from April to Thanksgiving. So we point our skis out of bounds, following a line of snow under the boundary ropes of the mountain resort south toward Cody Peak.

In season, the trail up Cody is covered in snow. It’s a rockier ascent now, but the tallest peaks in the Teton range are still snow covered and No Shadows and 4 Shadows, two of Cody‘s most popular lines, are calling for fresh tracks. Today’s weather is pristine, blue bird with visibility for miles.

10:30 AM - Top of Four Shadows

We reach the top of Four Shadows, as a handful of other skiers and snowboarders start to clip in. We wait and watch a skier drop into No Shadows and then Four Shadows. Looking back down the trail we can see a line of people from the second tram quickly approaching. It’s time to ski.

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11:08 AM - Top of Powder 8's

We skin up the face of Powder 8’s for a second run. No one has touched this for two months. It‘s untracked wind-buffed corn snow, making for a solid run. Skiers scatter the mountainside, excited for a few more turns before packing up the skis for the season.

12:47 PM - CORBETT’S CABIN

We grab a beer and chat with new friends on the picnic tables outside Corbett’s Cabin. We could have stayed out there all day, but it‘s still early. And there‘s great biking in the valley.

3:22 PM - Cache Creek trail system

We drop Danny off to get changed while Brendan, and I swing home and pick up, our dog Mizpah. The four of us pedal up Cache Creek‘s Sidewalk, cross the bridge at the top of Hagen, and stretch our legs on the bendy singletrack of Putt Putt.

4:12 pm

Even if you fall on your face, you‘re still moving forward.

Victor Kiam

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5:10 PM - BACKYARD Happy Hour

Capping the day with lawn games and a watermelon mint sloshie, we realize that days like this are actually the best season in Jackson. The snow is good, the trails are tacky, the drinks are cold and the sun stays out long enough for ski season and bike season to merge trails in one perfect day.