27 Mar 20 – Daily Trail Report

Thank you for continually sharing your photos with us of Nordic skiing in Jackson Hole

Teton Valley Trails and Pathways Done Grooming for the Season

A message from TVTAP: Hello Everyone. Based on the order by Governor Little, we will cease grooming operations for the season. Here is a link to more specifics on what is considered essential and non-essential facilities and services: https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/…/…/IdahoEssentialServices.pdf

It is clear that grooming winter trails is not considered essential. We also want to support the health and well being of staff and volunteers during this time by encouraging them to stay home at this time. Thank you Teton Valley, thank you volunteers and we wish everyone good health.

Parks and Rec Grooming Updates

Teton County/Jackson Parks & Recreation grooms several locations in and around the valley for recreational opportunities including: Cache Creek, Game Creek, High School Fields, Wayne May Park, Emily Steven’s, Stilson/Centennial area and South Park Loop Rd. Parks & Recreation receives grant funding from the Wyoming State Trails Program that ensures the current service levels related to grooming can run through March 15th each year. We recognize the value these services bring to the community and due to the good snowpack in the back country this year we are extending our grooming through April 3, 2020 for Cache Creek and Game Creek. Staff will evaluate those locations at the end of that week to determine if grooming will continue. Valley locations will not be groomed after Saturday March 28, 2020. All will be weather dependent.

Trail Reports: Westbank XC ski and Snow Trail Running

Teton Village Pathway – still snow covered though not “groomed”. Good for classic XC, fat bike, snow trail running, walking

Westbank groomed skiing: dog friendly, social distancing throughout.
Ski, bike, trail run responsibly!

Recreating in our National Forests

Although campgrounds, day-use developed sites, restrooms and other developed recreation facilities on the Bridger-Teton remain closed due to snow and seasonal conditions until mid-May, the vast majority of the Forest is still available to visitors. While reducing the spread of the virus and not straining the health care system is our clear collective priority, we recognize that spending time outdoors can help sustain us – both mentally and physically – in these challenging times. At this time, recreation opportunities on the Forest that support social distancing and small groups include hiking, biking, snowmobiling, skiing and other similar dispersed activities.

Fat Bike Winner Taking his Prize for a Spin

Grooming Updates and Closures

As things are changing by the day, we want to update our community on grooming schedules and closures.

• Teton County Parks & Rec- Grooming extended from March 15 to the 28th for all trails except for Game and Cache Creek, which have been extended until April 3rd.
• Trail Creek – Grooming until March 30th
• Snow King is closed for the season but allowing uphill travel
• Shooting Star – Grooming continues for classic and skate skiers, however, NO SNOWSHOEING for the remainder of the season due to snow conditions and supervision. Please, note many trail restrictions will begin to appear as the season begins to winds down and the snow profile diminishes. The Nordic Shop will be closed until further notice.
• Teton Pines Nordic Center is closed for the season. Teton Pines Nordic Shop and Clubhouse are also closed.
• Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis – Nordic track closed for the season.
• TVTAP groomed trails – Based on the order today by Governor Little, grooming operations have ceased for the season since it’s not considered an essential service.
• Snake River Sporting Club – Nordic Trails closed for the season.
• Grand Targhee – will be closed for the rest of the 2019/20 winter season, with no further grooming for the Nordic and fat bike trails. However, skiers and cyclist may use the trails.

Uphill Closures:
-Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has closed for the season joining the effort to slow the spread of COVID-19

Trail Creek Nordic

Last Updated: 3/26
Grooming Daily

A Nordic Look around the Country!
We are still skiing in Jackson Hole even though it is a major bummer that Grand Teton has effectively shut down most crust cruising options in the valley.  You might be wondering what is happening beyond our home base.

Around the state National Forest is still open; Casper Mountain did close their building, but as of 3/20 were encouraging people to use the trails safely. Happy Jack by Laramie is still happily skiing and Park County has not posted anything saying they are not open.  Looking west, it is rather amazing how many Nordic ski areas are in the California Sierras (14 just on this site) but most of them are closed either due to the virus or lack of snow.  One exception seems to be Tahoe XC which posted a new grooming report today.

In Montana some of the Nordic centers associated with alpine resorts have closed, but a quick search revealed many venues on National Forest skiing happily, such as Bear Tooth Trails by Red Lodge and North Shore Nordic Club in NW Montana.  Washington State has taken more extreme measures, although White Pass is still allowing Nordic skiing.  Minnesota seems to have taken a different tack, remaining open but encouraging visitors not to come.  In a sampling of Colorado, Breckenridge has closed the buildings but is still allowing skiing.

The Northeast remains partly open as well.  Big alpine resorts have tended to close, although some Nordic centers like Jackson XC in New Hampshire are open with social distancing requirements.  One ominous sign was that Craftsbury VT recently closed in the last week because people were not social distancing so make sure you don’t forget, especially when the cameras come out and the instinct is to come together!

A couple more notes: the Birkie in Wisconsin did manage to happen although The Birkiebeiner in Norway (the granddaddy of them all) which was scheduled for March 21^st was cancelled.

Trail Creek is still open and still has nice skiing.  Yesterday was a bit of a return to winter, with the trails hardly softening and an inch or two of snow.  Today’s grooming happened yesterday evening with Ginzu skate grooming on most trails.  Classic tracks are going to be a bit sketchy today, especially in the fields, as the snow was too firm for a Ginzu reset and there had been drifting.  Classic tracks in the woods will be better and skate lanes are overall pretty good.  If you make it out early this morning, the crust in the east fields could be a source of joy

Groomer’s choice is keep on skiing and keep skiing healthily!

Teton Co./Jackson Parks & Rec

Grooming Today: Cache Creek, Wayne May Park, Game Creek, South Park Pathway
Last Updated: 3/26

11am: We are extending our grooming through April 3, 2020 for Cache Creek and Game Creek. Valley locations will be done after Saturday 3/28/20.

10am: The school fields are groomed and in ok shape. They will be soft and shallow with grass showing through in a few spots.

9am: The levee and Stilson are groomed and in ok shape. This is the last week for grooming all the trails in the valley floor. Cache and game will still be groomed next week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Shooting Star Nordic 

Last Updated: 3/23
Grooming Daily

Springtime conditions remain as skiing will continue to be icy in the AM and slushy in the PM. Grooming will be done each evening at 530pm. Please be finished skiing and off the trails by 6pm. Skiing after we groom in the evenings causes icy lumpy tracks that freeze overnight and make for rough skiing until things thaw in the morning. Please show gratitude and respect for the trails and fellow skiers. Outlook is for light snow and rain throughout the week. Have fun and practice social distancing. 

Pinedale

Last Updated: 3/25

Nordic: Most trails groomed this morning. There’s a few inches of new snow from last night. Temp 19F degrees at the Nordic Equipment Building. The road into White Pine is open, but there are no services at White Pine lodge any more. There is a small bit of snow/ice on the road, use caution driving. Crust skiing might be sketchy for a day or two. The Golf Course is pretty much over. Recommend avoiding the CCC Ponds area – there are still a lot of deer migrating though there right now.

Fat Bike 2/13: All Lower Kelly Park is groomed with a great riding base. Should be perfect conditions for the next 3-5 days due to high pressure system. For more information contact Geared Up, 307-399-5539 c.307-760-1912, www.gearedupbikes.com

Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club

Update: 3/24

Closed for the season.

Turpin Meadow Ranch

Last Updated: 3/8
Grooming Finished for the Season 

TMR nordic and fat bikes trails are no longer groomed, however, are open for access thanks to Bridger-Teton USFS public lands. Bring bear spray as bears are starting to emerge from winter hibernation.

Grand Teton National Park
Teton Park Road

Last Updated: 3/25
Grooming Has Ended

Effective immediately, Grand Teton national park is closed to all park visitors until further notice. There will be no visitor access permitted. State highways and/or roads that transcend park/state boundaries and facilities that support life safety and commerce will remain open.

Teton Pines Nordic

Last Updated: 3/16
Grooming has Ended for the Season 

Grand Targhee Nordic & Fat Biking

Last Updated: 3/15
Grooming Finished for the Season

Grand Targhee will be closed for the rest of the 2019/20 winter season, with no further grooming for the Nordic and fat bike trails. However, skiers and cyclists may use the trails.

Grooming is finished for Teton Valley Trails and Pathways due to Governor Little’s order to cease operations of non-essential services. Read more here.

A note from TVTAP: We are honoring the shelter in place order from the state. It has been a great season. Thank you for supporting our winter grooming program. Ski you next year!

Alta Track

Grooming Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
Last Updated: 3/24
Skate: Excellent | Classic: Fair

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