28 Mar 20 – Daily Trail Report

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

JH Nordic Neck Gaiter (Buff) Contest

Find yourself with extra time on your hands these days? We challenge you to take your best nordic or fat bike photo and submit it for our buff contest!

The first place winner’s photo will be featured on next season’s buff, receive 10 of the new buffs, and a prize pack from JH Nordic Alliance. Second place will receive 4 new buffs and a JH Alliance prize pack. Third place winner will receive 2 new buffs and a JH Alliance prize pack.

The deadline for contest entry is April 30th, 2020. Email your photos to info@jhnordic.com or show them off on social media tagging #jhnordicbuff and @jhnordic to be considered. You must be the owner of the image being submitted.

Crust Cruising Options Abound

It’s crust cruising season! Get outside and get cruising, but of course keep your social distance. Check out Trail Creek, BT USFS forest and trails, Togwotee Pass, Teton Canyon are all good options for crust cruising right now. You can explore these and more trails at JHNordic.com.

Try Crust Cruising at Trail Creek

As Trail creek groomer points out, the crust has formed up nicely, and crust cruising is on.Trail Creek is a perfect place to crust cruise, with GTNP closed.Remember to purchase a trail pass ($15 in the box at the Ski club cabin) and consider donating to the JH Ski Club Nordic program toward ski youth programs and ongoing grooming. 

Nordic wildlife views: Trumpeter Swans (Cisnes de Trompeta)

Local xc skier D.C. captured this stunning flock of trumpeter swans while skiing at Teton Pines last week. A number of small lakes, ponds and creeks are home to Trumpeters who winter here in JH.

For those who speak Spanish or are learning, her description adds more context to Wyoming’s largest bird.
Varias veces esta semana he pasado esquiando de fondo por una laguna donde hay muchos cisnes nativos de Wyoming. Este tipo de cisne se llama “cisne de trompeta” porque ellos hacen un grito que parece como una trompeta. Son el pájaro más grande de Wyoming. Algunos pesan más de 15 kilos y miden casi un metro en altura. Ellos eran al borde de extinción hace 20 años. Había menos de 50 cisnes en todo el mundo. Hoy en día hay más de 800, pero todavía son raros. Para mí, ellos representan un mensaje de esperanza, especialmente  durante estos tiempos de coronavirus.

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.

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.

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: 3/27
Grooming Daily

Looking Way Back!
Many thanks to Coach Kathy for the amazing shot above which is from the road in front of Trail Creek in 1978.  This was four years before Bill Koch, the famous American skier first used the skating technique in the 1982 World cup so you’ll see no skate boot in this image.  You do see lots of really cool knickers and knee socks and probably lots of wool and no spandex.  Click on the image for a more detailed look, Trail Creek appears to be a hopping place even back in 1978.

Things have continued to be quite “hopping” around Trail Creek now in 2020 with lots of skiers for how late in the season it is.  Today’s grooming once again happened last night with the Ginzu groomer making multiple skate passes on all major trails.  Yesterday’s temps just touched freezing so the snow surface was quite resistant to grooming efforts.  The classic tracks were also not able to be groomed because of the cool temps. 

What you’ll find today is very fast conditions early on the groomed trails, however, the fields have firmed substantially to the point that even skaters will be able to do well and are probably the best bet for AM skiers.  The sun should warm trails in the afternoon although the fields should remain firm throughout the day.   The image below shows crust tracks made late afternoon yesterday showing firm conditions.

Groomer’s choice for today is to try crust cruising in the fields.

Teton Co./Jackson Parks & Rec

Grooming Today: School Fields, Emily’s Pond Levee, Wilson Centennial, Stilson
Last Updated: 3/27

12pm: Three creek pathway is in ok shape. Today is the last day it will be groomed. Tomorrow the school fields will not be groomed because the school district closed all athletic fields including the track. Next week cache and game will be groomed Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

8am: Cache Creek and May park are groomed and in good shape. This is the last day May park will be groomed. Game Creek will be done around 11.

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: 3/27

Nordic: Most trails groomed this morning. Chilly, -8F at the Warming Hut, -3F at the Nordic Equipment Building. Crust skiing pretty good on the sunny slopes, breakable crust in shade.

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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