Travel Eye on Jackson Hole (Wyoming, USA)

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Overview:

For expert skiiers, this is one resort that really must be visited. It offers great snow, wonderful powder, is remote and scenic, with some of the best advanced skiing on the planet. Rendezvous Mountain has enough to push even the best, with limitless off-piste and steeps. Laramie, Cheyenne and Hensleep bowls are particularly adventurous, as is the backcountry, for which you should definitely be guided.

Beginners should head for 'Après-Vous Mountain', while the ski school has tuition for 9 ability levels. Intermediates have some limited cruising, but this is a resort where you can start to explore tougher terrain. The Ski Three package also gives you access to 'Grand Targhee' (90 minutes away) and 'Snow King'. Expert boarders will revel as much as their two-planked cousins. Because the lower and easier runs are at 1900m, there can be poorer snow down the mountain. The lift system is small but efficient and the only queues can be found for the cable car to the top.

The major downside to Jackson Hole is the accommodation offered. There is Teton Village, which is fairly limited. Most have to travel 15 minutes from Jackson town, which is linked by bus (not free). It is, however, a friendly resort, with a 'Wild West' feel and some excellent dining, particularly for breakfast. For non-skiers there are loads of activities and the world-famous Yellowstone National Park is close by. Jackson is actually busier in summer because of the park. There is some fun après-ski, but it doesn't exactly qualify as crazy. European visitors will have a long trip including 2-3 flights. The season is also cut short by elk migration in April elk.

Overall, Jackson Hole is a resort which simply demands a visit from the pro's out there.

Locality:

Jackson Hole is Halfway down the west edge of the state of Wyoming, south of Grand Teton National Park. (it is 12 mls S of local airport. Ski-resort of Teton Village: 12 mls NW of downtown Jackson). It is in the middle of a vast, flat valley with a surrounding rim of mountains; Snake River flows along the valley floor. Two mountainous bluffs flank the town; one is the site of a steep ski-hill, Snow King mountain. Teton Village: tucked at the foot of the rugged Teton mountain range NW of Jackson.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

There is an exceptional variety of retailers in downtown Jackson Hole line the main road (Broadway) and surrounding side streets. All the usual necessities, ski- and outdoor gear, T-shirts and a large selection of Western gear. Memorabilia, Native American handicrafts and hand-made jewellery.

During the daytime besides downhill skiing, there's snow-shoeing, snow-mobiling, cross-country skiing, ice-skating, heli-skiing, paragliding and ballooning; snow-tubing at Snow King mountain; sleigh rides through an elk refuge; wildlife expeditions; dog-sledge adventures; and dinner sleigh rides. There are also art galleries for the art lovers amongst us.

In the summer popular activities include hiking, world-class fly-fishing, white-water rafting, scenic river trips, mountain biking, climbing and summer tobogganing; rodeos; horse riding; two 18-hole golf courses. Grand Teton Music Festival in July.

Nightlife here has an informal Western ambience, with saloon bars, line dancing, live music, a couple of cinemas and night skiing.

There is a plethora of cheap and cheerful diners to fine dining. There is a good selection of traditional Western fare in generous portions, a choice of Mexican and oriental or ubiquitous pizza and hamburger chains.