Welcome to the 2024 – 2025 daily report a winter trails & grooming snapshot to inspire you to go outside today! Happy skiing, fat biking, snowshoeing, dog walking and winter adventuring!
General Weather – A little snow maybe
Mountain Weather is forecasting some warm temps and mostly sunny skies for Saturday, then trending cooler with chances of snow coming in early next week. For a detailed daily forecast check out mountainweather.com.
What’s Groomed Today?
This week grooming is happening here:
- Teton Canyon – M / W / F / Sat
- Grand Targhee – T / Th / Sat / Sun
- Southern Valley – T / F / Sun
- Trail Creek Nordic – as conditions allow
Skier Tracked Trails for the Adventure
While we wait for more grooming operations to begin in Jackson Hole and Teton Valley there is a lot of wild cross country skiing to be had! I have been noticing skier tracked trails popping up in different areas of Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The options are endless, go where the snow is.
I am curious, has anyone kicked in a trail around Two Ocean and Emma Matilda Lakes? Perhaps there is already a trail blazed or perhaps you could be the first one around the lakes this season. Will you choos this adventure this weekend? Please share your thoughts and photos with trailconditions@jhnordic.com if you get after it!
There’s A New Pisten Bully in Jackson!
The following has been adapted from a Buckrail article published on October 31, 2024. Find the full article here.
Winter is coming to Jackson Hole and the Teton County/Jackson Parks & Recreation staff is getting ready for another season of winter trail grooming following approval to purchase a new 2024 PistenBully groomer to replace their 2008 PistenBully 100 which has reached a point of diminishing returns due to maintenance and lack of reliability. Notably it was out of service last winter from Dec. 31, 2023 through Jan. 24, 2024 after breaking down mid-groom.
Andy Erskine, Parks & Rec Superintendent, spearheaded the effort for the grant that funded the new groomer. Thank you to Andy, and any others involved, for your work to make this great thing possible!
Parks & Rec. winter trail program offers groomed and packed trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, walking, fat biking and snow machines (in approved areas). Parks and Rec seasonal grooming is estimated to begin December 15 and run through mid-March this year grooming trails Tuesday through Saturday. Trail systems serviced include the High School Fields, Emily Stevens’ Pond Levee, Wilson Centennial Pathway, May Park, Game Creek, South Park Loop, and Cache Creek.
According to Parks & Rec, winter trail grooming is funded in part by the Recreational Trails Program Grant. It is administered by Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails, with funds provided through the Federal Highway Administration from federal gas taxes paid on fuel used in off-highway vehicles. Parks & Rec works with JH Nordic Alliance, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Friends of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Friends of Pathways and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to support grooming efforts across the valley.
Winter Trails Etiquette
Thanks to our friends at TVTAP for sharing the following universal winter trail etiquette: As we head into the Winter Trails season (c’mon snow… we know you are up there), please brush up on how to interact with others on the trail, furry and otherwise.
- Comply with local leash laws and always have your pet under voice control. LEASH YOUR DOG IN THE PARKING AREAS AND TRAILHEADS.
- Pick up after your dog. No one likes brown snow.
- Please don’t walk or ride over classic-set tracks.
- Only ride your fat bike when/where snow is firm. Groomed tracks can be variable.
- Walkers and snowshoers should yield trail to skiers.
- Skiers- keep speed under control when others are around.
- Remember, trails are common ground and everyone out there is just trying to enjoy themselves. Keep calm and ski/walk/bike onward.
Events
The Masters practice based clinics are back! There will be 8 fun clinics to improve your technique, fitness, enjoyment beginning this Thursday. Pre-registration is required.
Come discuss current opportunities at the Winter Trails Forum with Trails & Pathways, regional organizations, bike shops, Nordic organizations, bikers, and skiers. There will be lots of time for your questions and comments!
JH Nordic Alliance and Partners hope you all come to the Annual Free Ski, Snowshoe & Fat Bike Event at Turpin Meadow Ranch for a day of playing in the snow and being surrounded by a bunch of people who really love human-powered winter adventures.
