New West Network

My Page: Chris Hansen

Trip of a Lifetime

What do you do for vacation when you live in one of the best ski destinations in the world during one of the best ski seasons in many years? Go skiing, of course.

I just returned from a fabulous week of backcountry skiing at Sorcerer Lodge in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia. I’ve been planning this trip since last April and have wanted to return to BC since I had two fantastic back-to-back trips to Golden Alpine Holidays and Powder Creek Lodge nearly ten years ago. One thing’s for sure: I’m not waiting that long again. [more]

Birthing of a new tram

Jackson Hole may not have its new tram yet, but we do have “Tram-formation.com,” a new Web site for tracking all things tram. The new site provides regular updates on what’s going on with construction of the new tram. Local writer Lauren Whaley is on task and has been in touch with those in charge of getting this new lift on line in time for the ’08 season. So far she’s keeping monthly construction updates to keep us all in tune with the progress. [more]

resort development

On Monday, February 4, Grand Targhee Resort owners received long-awaited approval for expansion. After more than three years of planning and public input, the Teton County, Wyoming, board of commissioners voted 4-1 in favor to allow the resort to expand in an area at 8,000 feet on the west side of the Teton Range, just above Alta, Wyoming.

The dissenting commissioner, Leland Christiansen, is from Alta, and according to an article in the February 5 issue of the Jackson Hole Daily, “tried in earnest to persuade the board to vote down the expansion proposal.” He was not alone in his pleas; for weeks local papers have included many impassioned letters about the folly of allowing such a large expansion within the delicate forest ecosystem in which Targhee sits without adequate mitigation measures. The final planning meeting included nearly three hours of public comment, nearly all of which was against the proposal. [more]

Rip It Up!

Grand Targhee is kicking off their 5th annual “Saturdaze in the Park” series of ski/ride events this Saturday, February 9. According to their press release, “The first of three events, a skier/Boarder XX ‘Race from Middle Earth,’” kicks off on Saturday and continues again with “Jib Fest” on March 8 and “Big Air” on March 15.

Skier/border-cross, derived from moto-cross with riders competing head-to-head in heats of 4 to 6 racers who negotiate jumps, banked turns and each other, is fast becoming one of the hottest and most interesting on-snow competitions. Boardercross became an Olympic sport at the last winter Olympics and skiercross is on deck as an exhibition event at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, BC. No doubt young jibbers of both the single and double-plank varieties are boning up on their Chinese Downhill-esque skills and putting an eye to the future. [more]

Goods from the gods

Jackson Hole reached a snowfall milestone early this week: total snowfall for the season was 302” as of Monday morning, which brings us within 23 inches of last year’s total, according to the final avalanche report of the 2006/2007 season from the Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center, which reported only 325 total inches for the year. And here it is not even the end of January. Needless to say, it has been quite a season so far. We’ve had so many powder days this year that it’s about all anyone can talk about. While in most seasons we think back on the great powder days and try to add them up, this year I find myself looking back to see if I can remember the days it hasn’t snowed. It’s been a wonderfully difficult task. [more]

Lotsa snow, long lines, good skiing?

Jackson Hole is a local’s mountain. It always has been and, as far as I can see, it always will be. There’s no doubt about it. Sure, it gets its fair share of repeat visitors, but they are usually of the more hardy variety, or else they’re first-timers who may or may not come back.

How do I know it’s a local’s mountain? Because when 14+ inches of snow pukes out of the sky on a Friday night, it’s the locals who are clogging the lift-lines on a Saturday morning. And how do I know this? Because I was one of them last Saturday, and I can tell you from first-hand experience, the valley choked on a lot of snow and Jackson Hole choked on the skier traffic. [more]

Sidelined for the Season

Some bad news for Jackson Hole ski racing fans this past weekend. Local favorite and hometown hero Resi Stiegler was badly hurt in a crash during a giant slalom race in Lienz, Austria, last Friday, December 28. Resi went down after catching an edge on her uphill ski, knocking it into the downhill ski and sending her down on her left hip, sliding full speed into and through the safety gates and into the brush on the side of the run. According to reports, it took half an hour to extricate Stiegler from the side of the run, during some of which she was unconscious.

The crash can be seen here in a YouTube clip: [more]

more than skiing

Winter season in Jackson Hole means more than just skiing at the resorts. We also have wonderful winter access to public lands, including Grand Teton National Park. Whether you’re interested in peak-bagging and skiing some fantastic alpine lines or just getting out and about for some kicking and gliding or snowshoeing, “the park,” as its known to locals, offers a great variety. As of Wednesday, December 19, Grand Teton National Park is officially open for the winter season.

Backcountry skiing and snowboarding are allowed throughout the park, except in winter wildlife closure areas. You can find out about those areas by visiting http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/maps.htm. And other than the standard park entrance fee, no further permit is required for skiing, unless your trip involves an over-nighter. If so, you’ll need to obtain a non-fee permit at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. [more]

First Day At The Big One

The one thing about skiing Jackson Hole is you really need to know the mountain. I learned that the third time I ever skied here. That was the first day of the first full winter I spent here. Unfortunately, I didn't learn that the first two times I skied The Big One, and I had such a poor experience I swore I’d never come back.

But I've gotten past that, and today marked my first day of skiing at “the Village” for this, my eleventh season here. It took a few years to learn this mountain (and I’m still learning much of the terrain OB), and I was reminded again of how much one must really know the mountain to make the most of the skiing. [more]

Winter's Other Outdoor Activities

Sometimes you have to take a break from skiing. When there’s no snow is a good time. Considering the limited snowpack and the hammering by local skiers that Teton Pass has received since the few inches we got just before Thanksgiving, Friday seemed a good time to embrace an alternate outdoor winter activity. It reminds you that there are other things to do during winter in snowcountry. And it can be especially rewarding when it includes quality family and community time. Such was the case when a few Wilsonites initiated an impromptu skating party the Friday after Thanksgiving.

We got word from one of our neighbors that the ice at Emily’s pond was frozen enough to skate on. So we pack up the kids and the dog and head over for an hour or so of sliding and gliding. [more]