Thursday Ski Recommendations
Temps yesterday reached 39 f, with mixed rain, snow, and string winds with cold overnight temperatures, thus everything- trails and off trail will be frozen.
Recommendations for today is to pick one of the groomed trails, with Thursday grooming. The grooming device (snow cat or snowmobile with grooming attachment) should break up the new icy surface and leave much better skiing terrain.
January 13, 2021 Nature Update
Provided by Cathy Shill founder of The Hole Hiking Experience
Kindness is like snow.
It beautifies everything it covers.
-Kahlil Gibran
Frigid mornings and sunny afternoons dominate the week. Most days begin with a fog layer due to the cold temperatures. By late morning, the heat of the sun burns away the fog as temperatures begin to rise. Always fun to look at valley web cams to get updates: seejh.com/live & JHNordic.com (for GTNP -Taggart) . When the fog layer settles in Jackson Hole, you usually can go higher into the mountains where the sun shines.
Wildlife continues to move to their winter territories. We have been seeing lots of wildlife near the Gros Ventre River as we drive north on Highway 89/191. Make sure to give them space and limit disturbance. Hard time of the year for them.
What do the animals do when the temperatures get so cold? Snow is a great insulator so they use the insulating properties of snow to help them stay warm. New snow and powdery snow contain a high percentage of trapped air among the snow crystals. The trapped air retains heat. It works a lot like our down coats trapping air between the feathers which helps us stay warm.
Species have adapted to use the insulating properties of snow. Larger animals create snow beds to stay warm. You can see these depressions as you tour throughout the valley. Places where they bed down to sleep. Grouse and small weasels’ tunnel into the snow to reach a depth of insulation where they don’t shiver. If you winter camp, a snow cave or igloo will keep you warmer than a tent. Always lots to be learned from the natural world. Observation is the key.
Winter is a special time to visit Jackson Hole. Endless places to explore and fewer visitors during the winter months. As the snow world becomes established, you can put on your skis and go. Most of the valley vegetation will get covered by snow. If close to town, you can’t beat a tour up Cache Creek. It’s a great option if you only have a short amount of time. If in Grand Teton Park, endless options so check out JHNordic.com/trails/ (select GTNP region)
Lots of happy clients!
Thank you so much to the Hole Hiking Team! We had a great snowshoe hike with Belinda last week. She was punctual, knowledgeable and energetic! Her passion for the nature and wildlife was second to none! Would recommend this to anyone traveling to the Jackson area.
Join us to learn and discover about this amazing ecosystem! The Hole Hiking Experience (www.holehike.com) 307.690.4453
TVTAP Winter Trails Challenge Update
| Thank you to everyone who has signed up for our TVTAPs Winter Trails Challenge! After the first 10 days, you’ve logged over 900 miles and raised more than $4000 so our volunteers can keep grooming. Obviously we’ll hit our mileage goal, so look for us to increase the challenge. Nothing like moving the goalpost!!! You can register any time until February 14, but we don’t want you to miss out on any opportunities to win great prizes. Get your team together or register solo today! |
Trail Creek Nordic
Last Updated: 1/13
Soggy Snowballs!
This afternoon all the teams will converge upon Trail Creek and the continuing precipitation, while mostly in the frozen form, will result in mountains of dripping and soggy mittens, jackets, and ski pants before the sun sets today. Hats off to the parents that bring the kids and the coaches that keep up with them through practice. Today is a perfect snowball kind of day.
Today’s grooming was with the Pisten Bully and was more or less three agendas in addition to the grooming of all the play areas for this afternoon’s practices. In agenda 1 the fields received double Pisten Bully passes with double classic tracks, agenda 2 was Woolsey Woods and Moose loop receiving double passes as well although only with a single classic track, and agenda 3 was that the rest of the trails received a single Pisten Bully skate pass.
Looking ahead to the rest of the week things should quiet down dramatically. The teams are off to Soldier Hollow in Utah for the first of three qualifiers which will result in very few youth skiers after today. It is important to note that no spectators are allowed this year although results will be available at Summit Timing. Full event information can be accessed by clicking on the image below.
Groomer’s choice for today is Moose Loop.
Teton Co./Jackson Parks & Rec
Last Updated: 1/13
Game creek and three creek pathway are groomed and in decent shape.
Cache creek and May park are groomed and in good shape. Game creek will be done around 10:45.
Teton Pines Nordic
Last Updated: 1/6
| Sunny days are here for awhile and the skiing will be great! We groom 16km for skate and classic daily. We offer private lessons daily—please call the shop to schedule. We still have a good selection of gloves and hats but have a smaller selection remaining of pants and jackets by Swix and Daehlie. We have a small selection of skate and classic gear in the shop. Our ski/boot/pole sizes are very limited so please call us before showing up to see if we have what you need! Daily grooming, wide corduroy skate ski lanes with well defined classic tracks make for excellent ski conditions. Skate and classic cross country ski/ boots/ pole rentals. . If you want to explore Grand Teton NP and the Jackson Hole area on xc skis, we carry the must have xc ski trail guidebook for our region in the shop: https://www.facebook.com/SkiYellowstone Please call or email Cody for more details: (307) 733-1733 or tetonpinesxc@gmail.com |
Shooting Star
Last Updated: 1/11
Friendly reminder to all Nordic participants that the trails are closed daily until 9am. Using the trails prior to this time increases the odds of severe, even fatal injuries, to you or your dog because of the ongoing daily aggressive grooming combined with the very poor visibility of the dusk hours. That being said, the trails continue to ski great and look to stay that way through Tuesday. More inclement weather (rain/wind/snow) is forecasted on Wednesday, which may likely cause for less than ideal conditions during the system. Next Update will be Thursday 1/14. Enjoy and stay safe on the trails!
Please See the following Restrictions
- Dog Loops & All Nordic Skiing Trails OPEN
- Sled Hill OPEN
- Classic Tracks SET
- Snow Shoeing Loop OPEN
- Casual Walking Not Permitted
Teton Village Pathway
Last Updated: 1/6
Groomed this morning, from Lake Creek Bridge to end of pathway near GTNP South Entrance. Nice corduroy, skate and classic skiers, fat bikers all out enjoying!
Grand Teton National Park
Last Updated: 1/12
Making our way to Jenny Lake this morning in GTNP. The trail conditions are looking good with some overcast skies.
Turpin Meadow Ranch
Last Updated: 1/13
We received about 2-3 inches in the early morning hours and the groomer laid some pretty EPIC CORDUROY with it! Both classic and skate lanes were reset and they look BEAUTIFUL. Our well defined classic track is great in the afternoons with these warmer temps and the skate lane is extra fast in the mornings right now. Our 4 miles of fat bike single track got a fresh groom as well. We will groom first thing in the morning (1/14) again as it is still snowing throughout the day today (1/13). Bring your dog! We groom DAILY!
To help with social distancing and to get you on the trails faster please purchase your trail passes and sign your waivers online in advance. To keep an eye on live conditions, check out the webcams here.
As always, remember to recreate responsibly. Bring a mask as it is required to enter the lodge. Lunch and dinner are both by reservation only.
https://www.turpinmeadowranch.com/adventures/winter-adventures/
https://www.turpinmeadowranch.com/the-ranch/live-conditions/
https://www.turpinmeadowranch.com | 307.543.2000, office
Grand Targhee
Last Updated: 1/13
Cross Country/Fat Bike 15k: XC CLOSED FOR EVENT (Last groomed 1/9/2020, Fat Bike CLOSED.
Trail Etiquette: Please keep your dogs leashed in the parking lot and be sure to clean up after them!
Alta Track
Grooming Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, & Sunday
Last Updated: 1/11
Skate: Set | Classic: Set
Buffed out the skate lanes Monday night. Looking great. The classic track still looks good.
Please do not park in the library parking lot. Please be sure to keep your dogs on a leash and to clean up after them.
Driggs
Grooming Schedule: Monday, Wednesday & Friday
Last Updated: 1/11
Skate: Set | Classic: Not Set
Smoothed and leveled with drag. Skiing should be quite good.
Sherman Park
Grooming Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Last Updated: 1/13
Skate: Set | Classic: Set
Snow got pretty wet today and then received a layer of graupel. Rolling the track smooth things out a bit and gave it some texture. Rolling the track smoothed things out a bit and give it some texture. The classic track had completely filled in and is now reset. Classic track in fair condition. Cooler temperatures overnight should set up the track fairly well.
Teton Canyon
Grooming Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
Last Updated: 1/13
Skate: Set | Classic: Set
Wednesday evening: Reset both skate and classic tracks as skies were clearing and temperatures dropping. A large over snow vehicle had driven down middle of the track earlier in the day, so there is still some damage left behind, but not too bad.
Southern Valley Nordic
Grooming Schedule: Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
Last Updated: 1/13
Skate: Not Set | Classic: Not Set
Heading out now to groom.
No dogs December 1 – April 15.
Teton Springs Nordic
Grooming Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday
Last Updated: 1/11
Skate: Set | Classic: Set | Singletrack: Not Set
Groomed Monday afternoon.
No dogs allowed.
5th Street Singletrack
Grooming Schedule: As needed
Last Updated: 1/7
Singletrack: Set
Thurs PM – human groomed a lap pulling the kids on sleds. A little soft on top but should ride-in well and hoping it sets up overnight. Go fatbike!
Southern Valley Singletrack
Grooming Schedule: As needed
Last Updated: 1/12
Singletrack: Set
Powerline from Mike Harris to pole Canyon. Put track in on Lower lady slipper and pole Canyon connector is back on the table. It’s fantastic out there enjoy it!!
No dogs December 1 – April 15.
JH Nordic Recreational Masters – Skate Ski Clinic
TETON PINES
JANUARY 21st
All welcome (no beginners)
Drop-in $35 (includes clinic & Teton Pines Nordic all day ski pass)
or $30 (if you already have a Teton Pines Nordic pass or membership).
CANCELLED
JH Nordic Alliance Annual Free Nordic Ski, Fat Bike, Snowshoe Event
Based on our goal to Recreate Responsibly, the JH Nordic Alliance has decided to cancel this season’s Annual Free Winter Trails Nordic, Fat Bike and Snowshoe Event. Stay tuned for January 2022! In the meantime, we encourage you to get out safely, responsibly, wear a mask, keep your groups small, and space out!
We’d love to hear about your outdoor adventures, what your doing to stay healthy, safe, respectful of community health guidelines – send pictures or post on FB and Insta – #JHNordic
