AS SEEN IN THE 2011-2012 FREESKIER RESORT GUIDE (November 2011 Issue)
The information in this Resort Directory is meant as a tool for the reader to research and plan for, and maybe let off a little mental steam before, this season. Few resorts can claim to be in the highest percentile of North America’s hundreds of resorts, which isn’t meant to take away from those not included in the Freeskier Resort Guide.
Each resort, from South to North and East to West, has its own niche. At each resort no matter how small, you can get off the lift and let gravity pull you down the hill, which is the basic premise of skiing. So dive into this extra information as an added bonus to our Resort Guide and start planning your winter trips before that nervous energy makes you scratch holes in your skin like an addict kept from their drug of choice.
Home to the best big mountain skiing in the United States, Jackson Hole sits in the heart of the Teton range. Huge snowfall (five year annual average of over 475 inches), meets massive terrain in this spectacular corner of the West, where the aerial tram accesses the in-and-out of bounds ski Mecca of Rendezvous Mountain. Most have now heard about the insane terrain beyond the boundary gates, so the best kept secret of all might be the lifetime of cruising on the northern end of the resort, where the Teewinot and Aprés Vous chairlifts, as well as the Bridger Gondola access almost 3,000 feet of trees and runs that keep you flying.
Speaking of flying, fly into Jackson with daily non-stops from six major cities, then it’s just a short 18 miles to the resort. The final decision…to stay at the base of the resort (choices range from the legendary Hostel to the swanky Four Seasons!) or the western town of Jackson 10 miles away, neither will disappoint, we promise.
TERRAIN LIKE NOWHERE ELSE
Big mountain, Stash parks, trees, jumps, corduroy, powder, backcountry (the list would continue if we had more room! )… Jackson Hole is home to the biggest continuous vertical and best variety of skiing terrain in the US. To up the ante and deliver the most creative skiing experience, JHMR collaborated with Burton last year, and added four Stash Parks. Look for creative features built entirely out of native materials and step up to the kickers, tabletops and wild gap jumps, shaped and sized to fit every level of skier.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
• 11/26/11- Opening Day
• 12/29/11 - 12/31/11 TGR Grom Camp. NEW this year.
• 1/1/12 - 3/1/12- Steep & Deep Camps: Ski, Board, Women, Backcountry, Telemark, Adaptive
• 1/7/12- Ski Mountaineering Championships
• 3/1/12- Dick’s Ditch Classic Banked Slalom for skiers and snowboarders
• 3/31/12- Jackson Hole Mountain Festival
—Full descriptions online
WEBSITE: JacksonHole.com
SNOW PHONE: 888-DEEP-SNOW
ACERAGE: 2,500 acres
VERTICAL DROP: 4,139 feet
YEARLY SNOWFALL: 475 inches
