Jackson Hole: one of those rare places that has it all!
By Daniel Melançon
It can be hard to find a place that, in addition to being easy to get to, also has an abundance of snow every single year, terrain as varied as it is challenging and views that are simply spectacular (while also being frequented by some pretty cool people and still having a bit of a wild edge, much like the nature that surrounds it). Well, believe it or not my friends, I think I may have found this very place during my last ski vacation—in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Jackson Hole had been on my bucket list for years until, last January, I finally got the chance to see for myself that everything they were saying out this fabulous U.S. destination was indeed true!
And, let me tell you, this place is tough to beat. How many resorts do you know have sectors as amazing as Corbet’s Couloir, the Hobacks and Grand Teton? Jackson Hole is also as unpretentious it gets. It’s all about the skiing here—nothing more, nothing less. So, as you can guess, you are bound to cross paths with ski fanatics from around the world who have all come to tackle the highest skiable vertical in the U.S. In fact, when you get off the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram, the employee running the lift will leave you with a warning in the form of a chant you’re sure to remember all week long: “If you don’t know”… to which everyone enthusiastically responds, “Don’t go!”.
Jackson Hole is so big, you’ll need more than a week if you want to see and ski it all! And that’s not even counting the off-piste terrain (which, by the way, should ideally be accessed in the company of a mountain guide). And, if you’re thinking about having a crack at a non-stop top-to-bottom run to finish off the day, good luck! You’ll be completely out of breath and your legs will feel like jelly once you reach the base of the slopes.
Even though Jackson Hole is reputed as being a mountain for highly experienced skiers, the ski area also has wide-boulevard groomers such as the Amphitheatre where you can go full throttle carving short or long turns.
Accommodation-wise, there are two locations to choose from: at the foot of the slopes or in the village located about a 20-minute shuttle ride away. Personally, I love the second option because it allows me to experience Jackson in all its glory, with its small streets, art galleries, diverse dining options, souvenir shops, cafés and my absolute favourite, the Snake River Brewery.
I’ll be heading to Jackson again this season! Care to join me?
7 808 ' / 2 380 m
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1571 ' / 478 m
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167 " / 424 cm