March 31, 2021 Nature Update
Provided by Cathy Shill, founder of The Hole Hiking Experience www.holehike.com
“This world is so beautiful that I can hardly believe it exists.“
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
A cold snap this week brought some fresh snow and frozen temperatures to Jackson and by the weekend, highs will be in the fifties. How quickly conditions change. Town snow has mostly melted but still lots of snow north in Grand Teton Park. A good descriptive term for our season of spring is variable.
It’s a dynamic time to look for wildlife. With melting snow, they are on the move to summer territories. As the day begins, we now hear the sound of birds as they return to nesting territories. Elk feeding has ended on the National Elk Refuge and they have started to follow melting snow as they move north. Moose have been seen feeding on Antelope Bitterbrush in the Jackson valley and often in the sage flats near the airport.
Spring skiing continues as long as the snow stays in good condition. Ideally, temperatures have to freeze at night. As the ski season draws to an end, we pull out our bikes and roller blades. A highlight to life in Jackson Hole is our mountains and all the fun things to do. Our choice of activity depends on the season and the weather. An April highlight is to enjoy the paved inner park road in Grand Teton Park which remains closed to vehicles until May 1. You can park at the Taggart trailhead or north by Signal Mountain.
Our naturalist team will take a break from April 11-30 to let the trails dry. Summer hiking season begins May 1, 2021. May is a beautiful month with spring flowers, green Aspen leaves and young animals. We operate year-around so join us in Jackson to connect more deeply with nature, enliven your senses and enjoy the beauty of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
The Hole Hiking Experience | 307.690.4453 | www.holehike.com
Will Wicherski Becomes JHSC’s Full-Time Nordic Program Director
The Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club (JHSC) is excited to announce that after a season as Interim Nordic Program Director, Will Wicherski will become JHSC’s full-time Nordic Program Director beginning April 1. Wicherski, a veteran coach of the Club, had a very successful season leading the Nordic Program since September 2020.
Choose your Own Spring Adventure
From biking, to ice fishing, to spring skiing, there is something for everyone this time of year. We’re partial to crust cruising in GTNP.
For crust cruising, timing is everything. The key is to watch the overnight temperatures to be sure they dip well below freezing for most of the night. Get out early, to get on the snow while it’s firm. Typically, if the sun is out, you have only a few hours until the snow softens to the point where it will turn too soft and you need to be off or face becoming stuck. Seek out the smoothest area of snow. Dimpled snow can make a bumpy ride.
Read the full article on JH News & Guide.
Last JHNordic Daily E-mail
As the Nordic Ski season grooming winds down, we will be scaling back our e-mails accordingly. After today, our e-mails will move to Tuesdays and Saturdays then to once a month after mid April. A big thank you to all our readers, the JHNordic Alliance members, and our contributors for making this a season to remember!
For the latest grooming information visit: https://jhnordic.com/grooming/
Crust Cruising – Granite Canyon Meadows, South GTNP
Training for the Pole-Pedal-Paddle?
Snow is in top groomed condition for skate and classic at Shooting Star (no classic track, but wide corduroy groomed track works well for classic, too).
Wednesday is the final groomed day at Trail Creek Nordic, and there are still a number of good options to ski on groomed trails in Jackson Hole and Teton Valley.
Crust cruising was firm, slightly bumpy, but fun this morning with fresh cold snow to smooth out the firm surface in the Granite Canyon meadows. GTNP meadows near Taggart and signal are skiing well.
Trail Creek
Last Updated: 3/31
Thank you!
The sun rises over the eastern Gros Ventres, the hard working snow ready for one last hurrah, the fox cruises the fields, the robins soar from their roosts; another day begins at Trail Creek. With the abundant early season snow and pandemic parameters, more kilometers have been groomed, more tracks made, more breaths taken in pursuit of Nordic contentment than ever before at our beloved Nordic center. The same joy of mastery that a Lollipopper neophyte feels as she finds air under her skis for the first time is still alive in the octogenarian as he makes yet one more lap around the Betty Woolsey course. Our sport is truly one for all ages. We are blessed to share such rich splendor in our athletic pursuits.
Thank you to all who make this Nordic adventure happen. Thanks to kids with good attitudes, who listen to your coaches and do their best. Thanks to parents for the herculean effort required to bring this opportunity to your progeny. Thanks to all for dealing with pandemic parking. Thanks to coaches for the long days of training and at races, hours at wax benches, skiing with masks on. And thanks to the community for membership, trail passes, skiing, helping with the new snow cat campaign, and any other form of support that makes this all happen. Thank you!
Today’s final grooming once again happened last night as our Pisten Bully Paana—possibly for the last time if our campaign is successful—made multiple passes on almost every trail. Up to two inches of snow had fallen since the last grooming, although the raging winds of late had blown a lot of it out of the fields. This new snow worked in quite nicely to the very firm base for the skaters, although the classic tracks were a bit variable in the shady locations as yesterday’s temps barely surpassed freezing.
Today is the last day to ski the private property section of Trail Creek. Skiing should be pretty good all day, starting out very fast with slight softening by late afternoon. The National Forest trails may be skied until the snow is gone, which should last some time.
The vision of hope: in 225 days a huge dump will once again usher in first day skiing on trails that have been groomed to perfection by a brand new grooming machine, and that from the youngest pupils to the oldest masters, all will be poised and ready to do the thing called Nordic skiing at this place we call Trail Creek. Until that day . . .
Groomer’s choice is Trail Creek.
Teton Co./Jackson Parks & Rec
Last Updated: 3/26
Cache, Game, and the May park are groomed and in decent shape. The May park will no longer be groomed. We will attempt to groom cache and game once more next Wednesday but it all depends on conditions. Same for stilson and the levee which the last day will be Tuesday.
Cache Creek
Last Updated: 3/21
Groomed over the weekend when the temps went from warm to cold and it set up well, I’ll go again if we get a warm freeze day again otherwise its rock solid.
All the shady side stuff should last a while but the sunny side will probably get rotten with the next warm temps.
Grooming provided by Friends of Pathways.
Teton Pines Nordic
Done Grooming for the Season
Thanks for a GREAT season everyone! We successfully navigated the pandemic this season and kept everyone healthy and skiing!
We look forward to seeing you next season which will begin in late November. With global supply shortages still a concern, next season could end up being challenging for gear if you wait too long to purchase it. We’ve already placed orders for Salomon, Alpina, Sporten, Lillsport, Daehlie, Swix, Sauce, and Craft. This gear should be arriving in early November. If you’d like to preorder or special order gear for the season please get in touch with Cody: tetonpinesxc@gmail.com
Shooting Star
Last Updated: 3/29
Spring is officially here and with it brings the transitional rollercoaster weather of cold, hot, snow & rain. Due to the rapidly changing snow profile, there will be some noteworthy changes beginning today and are as followed:
- Grooming of the sled hill will halt due to large bare areas that have formed because of snowmelt. People are welcome to still sled inside this designated area, be it will no longer be groomed.
- Snow shoeing will no longer be allowed due to lack of snow.
- Classic tracks won’t be set for the remainder of the season as snow profile will no longer allow satisfactory tracks to be set.
- Trails will begin to narrow and there may be a steep drop offs along the edge of the groomed trail.
As of today, only corduroy will be laid down on the Nordic course and there will no longer be classic tracks. We’ll be trying our best to keep the trails skiable through April 11th, if mother nature allows. Overall, skiing should be very enjoyable this week after Monday’s storm passes through. Look for colder temps Tuesday followed by progressively warmer weather each day through Sunday with highs potentially in the mid 50’s by this weekend. Again, we’ll try our best to extend the season a few more weeks but need some cooperation from the weather. Next update will be Monday 4/5.
Please See the following Restrictions:
- Dog Loops & All Nordic Skiing Trails OPEN
- Sled Hill NO MORE GROOMING FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON
- Classic Tracks NOT SET FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON
- Snow Shoeing Loop CLOSED FOR SEASON
- Casual Walking & Trail Running Not Permitted
Snake River Sporting Club
Done Grooming for the Season
SRSC Nordic trail is closed for the season.
Grand Teton National Park
Done Grooming for the Season
Plowing began March 22nd – Road closed until plowing completed – around April 1st.
3/27- Courtesy of the Jackson News and Guide
Cyclists and pedestrians will have more than a month to play on Teton Park Road without having to look over their shoulders for vehicles.
Grand Teton National Park has announced that it is opening the 14-mile stretch of road between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge to nonmotorized users only starting Saturday.
Come May 1, the gates will come up and the road will open to the usual vehicular traffic. But in the meantime, pedestrians, cyclists and inline skaters have the run of the scenic road that runs past the Teton Range’s famous Cathedral Group.
Turpin Meadow Ranch
Done Grooming for the Season
NON-GROOMED TRAILS IN USFS STILL ACCESSIBLE. LODGE CLOSED.
From all the Nordic team at Turpin, the managers, groomers, instructors and guides, we’d like to say thank you to the Nordic community who made this winter season so memorable. We are already looking forward to next winter and the opportunity to facilitate the ski adventure of your dreams.
https://www.turpinmeadowranch.com/the-ranch/live-conditions/
https://www.turpinmeadowranch.com | 307.543.2000, office
Grand Targhee
Last Updated: 3/31
Cross Country/Fat Bike 15k: XC OPEN (Last groomed 3/27/2021) 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
Grooming through April 11th, conditions permitting
Last Updated: 3/31
Skate: Set | Classic: Set
Wednesday afternoon: Made a couple passes around track to reset classic and skate while snow was soft. Both turned out well, for most part.
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
Grooming through March 27th, conditions permitting
Last Updated: 3/27
Skate: Set | Classic: Not Set
Driggs was groomed Saturday morning. All trails are in great shape and have good snow coverage. This is the last time Driggs will be groomed this season. Another winter of great skiing in town.
Sherman Park
Done Grooming for the Season
Last Updated: 3/24
Skate: Not Set | Classic: Not Set
It was a great winter trail season in Sherman Park. Thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers and staff for keeping the trail well groomed. Enjoy spring!
Teton Canyon
Grooming Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
Grooming through April 11th, conditions permitting
Last Updated: 3/31
Skate: Set | Classic: Not Set
Wednesday: The track is quite firm these days. I am going to wait a couple hours before grooming to let snow soften up a little. Plan to reset skate track, should be good. Will have to wait until Thursday afternoon to reset classic.
Southern Valley Nordic
Grooming Schedule: Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
Grooming through April 4th, conditions permitting
Last Updated: 3/28
Skate: Set | Classic: Set
I was able to groom the skate on classic tracks on yetis and campground loops. Variable conditions we’re less than ideal for resetting the classic track on yetis. Get it while you can it’s not gonna last much longer. Enjoy the glide!
No dogs December 1 – April 15.
Teton Springs Nordic
Grooming Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday
Grooming through April 3rd, conditions permitting
Last Updated: 3/27
Skate: Set | Classic: Set | Singletrack: Not Set
Plan to groom the skating classic check this morning. Standby for updates
No dogs allowed.
5th Street Singletrack
Done Grooming for the Season
Last Updated: 3/19
Singletrack: Not Set
We are done grooming singletrack at 5th street this season. Thanks for your support!
Southern Valley Singletrack
Grooming Schedule: As needed
Grooming through April 4th, conditions permitting
Last Updated: 3/13
Singletrack: Set
All of the single track trails are rider packed. All the trails are in relatively good condition with the exception of animal tracks. It is getting a little icy out there after the freeze-thaw cycle and soft in the middle of the day. Your best times are early and late. I was able to use the single track drag on Nemo, Powerline and upper Lady slipper to try to fill in the ruts and animal tracks. I was only moderately successful at doing so. Enjoy the ride.
No dogs December 1 – April 15.
Darby Canyon
Grooming Schedule: As needed
Last Updated: 3/11
Darby groomed to end of road.
South Leigh Road
Grooming Schedule: As needed
Last Updated: 3/26
Grooming 3/26 PM
Karen Oatey Pole-Pedal-Paddle (PPP)
Hosted by JH Ski & Snowboard Club
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2021
Bring your own Team or compete as an individual. Join this fun-filled muli-sport community favorite event, or cheer on friends and family! Competitive or just for fun, family event. Prizes.
Event honors Karen Oatey and the Karen Oatey Endowment, and benefits JH Ski & Snowboard Club youth ski programs and scholarships.
JHNordic 5th Annual Free Ski, Fat Bike, & Snowshoe Day at Turpin Meadow Ranch
SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 9TH, 2022
Turpin Meadow Ranch – 1 hr north of Jackson- Buffalo Valley Road (off Hwy 287/26) – Parking onsite/carpooling encouraged.
Fun, Free Community Day – with Raffle benefiting a local Nordic Alliance non-profit:
-Free trail pass, Free skate & classic XC ski demo gear, Free fat bike demos, free Nordic ski lessons, Free BackCountry Nordic Snowshoe tours, Kids Corral (2-5 year olds), Bridger-Teton USFS wildlife and wilderness info, Kates Bars – Lunch, hot & cold drinks.
Sponsored by the JH Nordic Alliance members.
Family. Friends, visitors, dogs (on leash) welcome.
Bring your own skis recommended to use between free demos and tours .
Email : Info@JHNordic.com for more info
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
