Jackson Hole Mountain Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jackson Hole Mountain Resort |
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New aerial tram at summit in March 2010
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 Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Location in Wyoming
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Location in the United States
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| Location | Teton Village, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Jackson - 12 miles (20 km) |
| Coordinates | 43°35′N 110°53′W / 43.59°N 110.89°W |
| Vertical | continuous 4,139 ft (1,262 m) |
| Top elevation | 10,450 ft (3,185 m) |
| Base elevation | 6,311 ft (1,924 m) |
| Skiable area | 2,500 acres (10 km2) inbounds 3,000 acres (12 km2) backcountry |
| Runs | 116 10% easiest 40% more difficult 50% most difficult |
| Longest run | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) |
| Lift system | 1 tram - (100) 2 gondolas - (8) 11 chairlifts - 4 high-speed quads - 4 fixed-grip quads - 1 fixed-grip triple - 2 fixed-grip doubles 1 magic carpet 1 rope tow (halfpipe) |
| Lift capacity | 16,733 / hr |
| Terrain parks | 2 |
| Snowfall | 459 inches (1,170 cm) |
| Snowmaking | 160 acres (0.65 km2) |
| Night skiing | none |
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) is a famous ski resort in the western United States. It is located in Teton Village, Wyoming. You can find it in the Teton Range, which is part of the Rocky Mountains. The resort is about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Jackson and just south of Grand Teton National Park. It gets its name from the historic Jackson Hole valley. JHMR is well-known for its challenging slopes and a huge continuous vertical drop of 4,139 feet (1,262 m).
Contents
Exploring the Ski Area
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort covers parts of Rendezvous and Apres Vous Mountains. It's famous for its tough terrain, like the well-known Corbet's Couloir. About 50% of the slopes are for experts, 40% are for intermediate skiers, and only 10% are for beginners.
Terrain for All Skill Levels
The easier and intermediate slopes are mostly on Apres Vous Mountain, which faces south. Rendezvous Mountain has the more advanced terrain. This includes wide-open bowls, tree-filled glades, and narrow chutes. Jackson Hole has one of the biggest continuous vertical drops in the U.S. This means you can ski down for a very long time without stopping.
Beyond the Marked Trails
Besides the marked ski trails, there's a much larger area to explore outside the resort boundaries. These areas are called "off-piste" or "out of bounds." Only expert skiers and snowboarders should go there. They must use special avalanche safety gear and enter through marked gates.
Lifts and Gondolas
Jackson Hole has many ways to get up the mountain. The original aerial tram was replaced with a new one that opened in 2008. This new tram can carry 100 people and climbs 4,139 feet (1,262 m) to the top of Rendezvous Mountain.
Other lifts include two eight-passenger gondolas, called Bridger and Sweetwater. There are also four high-speed detachable quad chairlifts and eight fixed-grip chairlifts. Newer lifts like the Casper Detachable Quad (2012) and the Teton Detachable Quad (2015) have been added to improve access.
Summer Fun at Jackson Hole
When the snow melts, the resort offers lots of summer activities. You can go mountain biking, hiking, or even paragliding. There's also a bungee trampoline, a ropes course, and rock climbing. You can even try the Via Ferrata in Casper Bowl, near the top of the Bridger Gondola. The Jackson Hole Airport (KJAC) serves the resort and the surrounding area.
History of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Before Jackson Hole became a ski resort, the area was a Girl Scout ranch called Crystal Springs. In 1963, Paul McCollister bought the ranch and started the Jackson Hole Ski Corporation with his partners. Construction began a year later.
Opening and Early Years
Apres Vous Mountain first opened to skiers in the winter of 1965-66. It had three double chairlifts. The original tram on Rendezvous Mountain opened in July 1966. It could carry 62 people to the summit at 10,450 feet (3,185 m). The tram officially opened for skiing in the winter of 1966-67. That same year, Josef "Pepi" Stiegler, an Olympic gold medalist in alpine skiing, became the resort's ski school director.
Changes and Growth
In 1992, Paul McCollister sold his share of the resort to John Kemmerer III. The Kemmerer Family then made many new improvements. These included adding new lifts, building hotels, and creating new ski runs.
Jackson Hole also hosted World Cup ski races several times in the 1960s and 1970s. The first national Powder 8 Championship, where skiers perform synchronized turns, was held here in 1970.
Avalanche Safety at Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole has experienced avalanches within its boundaries. An avalanche is a large mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside. The resort takes safety very seriously.
In late 2008, two avalanches occurred. Sadly, one resulted in the death of a skier. Another avalanche in 2010 swept a ski patrol member, Mark Wolling, off a cliff. He was rescued but later passed away from his injuries. A ski run in Cheyenne Bowl was named "Wally World" in his honor. These events remind everyone of the importance of mountain safety.
Current Lifts and Terrain
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has a total of 17 lifts to help skiers and snowboarders explore the mountain.
- 1 100-passenger Aerial Tram (built in 2008)
- 2 8-passenger Detachable Gondolas:
* Bridger Gondola (1997) * Sweetwater Gondola (2016)
- 5 Detachable Quads (high-speed chairlifts):
* Apres Vous (1999) * Teewinot (1996) * Casper (2012) * Teton (2015) * Eagles Rest (2019)
- 4 Fixed Grip Quads (regular speed chairlifts):
* Moose Creek (2000) * Sublette (1987) * Thunder (1994) * Union Pass (2000)
- 1 Fixed Double (two-person chairlift):
* Marmot (2011, originally built as East Ridge in 2006 and moved)
- 3 Handle Tows (small lifts for beginners)
- 2 Ski Carpets (moving conveyor belts for learning areas, one at the kids ranch and one at Solitude learning center)
