Jackson Hole Moutain Resort is Pure Wild West

Featured Image: Amy Jimmerson | Skier: Max Martin

As part of our Volume 28 People & Places issue, we curated a list of the Top 10 Ski Resorts in North America. Each resort on this list is here for a reason and who better to explain than the people who know the resort best. Every article is penned by journalists who have lived in the ski towns they’re writing about. They know these mountains inside and out, and their love for them shines through every word. From terrain, atmosphere and accessibility, to pure, unfiltered badass-ery—consider this your bucket list for the season. Coming in runner up is Wyoming's Jackson Hole.

The deafening clang of ski boots on metal stairs accompanies a tight group of people moving up them in seemingly choreographed unison. The clangs then turn to thunks on the tram box floor, with the sound of skis scraping and Gore-Tex kits compressing against each other. This little symphony culminates with the warning beep of closing doors and an explosion of conversation. No matter the conditions outside, as soon as Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s (JHMR) shiny, red tram begins its 4,139-foot ascent, there’s an immediate, tangible increase in occupant energy and general happiness. And if you’re lucky enough to ride the tram on a powder morning—as the operator blasts AC/DC and you press your face against the glass, greedily watching as untouched lines, pillows and deep tree runs glide by below—there’s simply no other ski experience that can touch it.

Since Jackson Hole opened in 1965, die-hard skiers the world over have heeded its unique call, echoing out from Wyoming’s Teton Range. It’s big, it’s exciting and it’s got a feeling that most other Western resorts are missing—The Wild West. There are a few other resorts around the globe with skiing comparable to Jackson, but it’s the combination of lift-served, big-mountain terrain, backcountry lines and an ambitious ski community in a wild environment that make this place stand out as the resort celebrates 60 years of operation.

A lot has changed in the ski world over the last ten years, particularly in North America. Ski towns that were once home to only counter-culture athletes, eking out delightfully bohemian mountain lives, have become enclaves of the elite. Some of the legendary après dive bars have been replaced by expensive lounges but all that doesn’t stop the ski bums from showing up, charging all day and celebrating all night. The terrain still stands, the tram still runs and in the real heart of the ski scene, the only status symbol that matters is living life to the fullest. And sending it, every day, to your heart’s content. Whether you show up for a decade, a season or just a weekend, trust you’ll leave a better skier, with higher standards and a more satisfied soul. The tram line stokes a camaraderie that’s hard to replicate elsewhere, with droves of like-minded skiers packed into a snaking line through a small space. Maybe Jimmy Chin is in front of you, or maybe Madison Rose Ostergren behind you. Or there’s a crew in ragged Gore-Tex who are as good as any pro skier you’ve ever watched, but you’ll never see them ski and that’s the way they like it. This is where you make friends, hear what’s happening with weather and snow conditions, plot your upcoming runs and soak up the atmosphere.

While there is terrain for all levels of skiers, JHMR and the wider Teton Range show their best side to those who want to saddle up on topography that, well, gives them no choice but to ride better and harder. From crowd favorite, mettle-testing grounds of Corbet’s Couloir, and lesser known but more technically difficult, consequential lines, to lapping the Sublette chair all day long, there are endless ways to test your nerves.

The resort-accessed backcountry is famed among locals and visitors, for good reason. The drainages adjacent to the resort are ripe with spectacular freeride terrain—at all angles and elevations–but it’s not to be taken lightly. This terrain demands respect and real backcountry experience. Having and knowing how to use avalanche rescue gear is essential to safely navigating around these backcountry zones. Every year, visitors (and locals) make mistakes, get lost or miscalculate risks. Better than following the locals and getting in their crosshairs, JHMR offers a guide service that you and your friends can hire for stress-free ripping and better quality sending.

Of course, at the end of the day, you should always help yourself to the legendary watering holes that dot the base area. Fresh options include Trappers mid-mountain chalet and the Tram Dock, where you can sip a beer in Big Red’s shadow. Classic and beloved joints include the Mangy Moose—serving up beer, nachos and live music for the past 59 seasons—and the Alpenhof Bar—which isn’t quite as rowdy, but brings an irresistible old-school charm.

When it’s time to hop the bus back to wherever you’re staying, whether traditional lodging or your cousin’s best friend’s sister’s couch, you’ll be happy that the base area in Teton Village is compact. The bus stop is in the center of everything, right where it’s going to drop you off first thing tomorrow morning. The next day, as the bus doors open and you tune in to the tram house jingle, it all makes sense why so many people come to Jackson Hole and never leave.