Why Jackson Hole Ski Resort Is A Winter Must

Ain’t no thing: Santa took time off to bring in Jackson’s new tram on Friday night

All this snow might be getting your ski/snowboard wheels turning, and if you need some ideas, the Wyoming ski resort Jackson Hole just welcomed winter with its latest and greatest tram lift. The $31 million machine takes 100 skiers and snowboarders at a time from the base of the mountain directly to the top (a 4,139 vertical foot jump) in about 9 minutes, which is good.

The tram has been big news for a bit (check it in our latest Dec/Jan issue), but it’s only one of the many things that make this place a mecca of sorts for everyone from Nalgene-toting hippies to urban aventurists and ski bunnies. Hit the jump to learn a bit about what makes this place so sick and our Top Reasons Why Jackson Hole is a Must Stop for any Winter Enthusiast…

The Terrain Is Unstoppable

• The terrain at Jackson Hole is so for real it blows everyone’s mind every time. Yes, there is beginner terrain, and a liiiitle bit of intermediate, but the sport’s best, including hometown hero, Travis Rice, are here consistently every winter because of the expert terrain at this Grand Teton outpost. Jackson Hole will scare enough shit out of you for stories to last several lengthy nights at the Cowboy Bar (oh, and just in case you wuss out, the Four Seasons Spa is right at the bottom of the hill). By the way, did you watch Travis’ movie yet?

It’s Really Not That Hard To Get To, And There Are Girls

• There are two main problems with most ski resorts: they take forever to get to, and when it comes to apres ski, you’re usually looking at dude soup in the hot tub. Fly into Jackson, and the airport shuttle will whisk you past the fields of elk and buffalo to chilling in the hotel in 30 minutes for about $28. As far as problem two, the average ski resort guy to girl ratio is around 140 to 1. Jackson’s might be closer to 3 to 1. Math = not so bad.

The Restaurants Are Dope

• When you go skiing or snowboarding, you have to eat. Anything above mac and cheese can be risky, or crazy expensive, but this place has the restaurant game on lock. You can go out at any price point, but be sure to check out notable eateries like the NYC-style modern Italian spot Osteria, the legit BBQ bar Q-Roadhouse, or get mountain town-y with a stop at the Snake River Brewery for some fresh beer and home-cooking.

The Resort Is On Its Eco-Game

• Everything these days is green this, green that, and ski lifts aren’t always the most natural of machines. But Jackson Hole limits development to cut down on crowds and carbon, and if you come to the resort, look into staying at the Hotel Terra, a soon-to-be LEED-certified hotel that cuts your impact without being crunchy. Oh, and all the on-hill lodge burgers are made with organic beef. No street meat, yay!

Harrison Ford Flies The Medevac

• Jackson, Wyoming, the town just outside the resort, is home to celebrities including Harrison Ford, Sandra Bullock, the Anheuser Busch family, and the soon to be ex-VP Dick Cheney, who come for the scenery and stay for the awesomeness. Indy keeps to himself mostly, but stores a few planes and a helicopter on his wildlife preserve of a house. A little known fact is that Han Solo lends his helicopter to the town as the medevac, and pilots it himself from time to time, picking up stranded or hurt hikers and skiers. Feel safe knowing it’s all good, because that dude from The Fugitive will be coming to get you. Remember, “The gift is knowledge!”