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From: paul@hpfclk.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.rec.ski
Subject: Jackson Hole
Message-ID: <62700001@hpfclk.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 28-Jan-84 14:33:00 EST
Article-I.D.: hpfclk.62700001
Posted: Sat Jan 28 14:33:00 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 5-Feb-84 04:10:12 EST
Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Fort Collins, CO
Lines: 43
Nf-ID: #N:hpfclk:62700001:000:2465
Nf-From: hpfclk!paul    Jan 28 11:33:00 1984

Well, here it is. A report on the trip by the HP SKi Club in Ft. Collins, Co
to Jackson Hole from Jan 19 to Jan 22. 

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD and HARDPACKED! It was real hard getting up the first
morning (we stayed at the Jackson Hole Racquet Club). The temp at the base
of the mountain was a bone chilling -30 degrees (still air temperature) and
it was a balmy -4 at midmountain. After a bus ride over to the ski area, we
all went inside to unfreeze our feet and get ready for the first run.
At least it was sunny, and a beautiful day. 

We froze pretty good on the first couple of runs, but then started to warm
up, and had a generally good day. The conditions were not what I consider 
very good - it had not snowed since Christmas (over 3 weeks ago!) and the
runs were extremely hard packed. The bumps were challenging too. Even with 
the sun out most of the the day, they never softened up. There was still plenty
of snow, however, so we had no problems with rocks. The upper bowls (Laramie,
Rendevous, Cheyenne, etc) had pockets of good snow, but they were few and far
between. You did not want to fall, for it meant a lOOOng slide down the
mountain; an ice axe was almost needed to self arrest. Off the trails at mid
mountain one could find lots of "ice cubes" to toss and turn you. Although
it seemed hardly fun at the time, it did teach most of us a few new things
about this crazy sport in which one slaps 6 ft boards onto the bottoms of 
ones feet.

Finally, on the last day (we skiied 3 days), snow fell - about 2 inches on the
bottom and 5-7 inches on top. Now the bowls became somewhat more fun (if you
wanna call whitoeut conditions fun!). After that day of skiing, we boarded
our bus for the long trip back to Ft. Collins.

What do I think of the ski area? I have really mixed reactions. It has some
really steep and neat terrain, although some of the best skiing is hard to
find because one is always afraid of falling off a cliff. It seems like quite
a few of the other runs have the dreaded double fall lines, which are a pain
in the ass. I would not want to be skiing there when it is crowded; although
a big mountain (over 4,000 ft of drop), there are only 6 lifts and 1 tram 
(the tram seems like it is always crowded). There are only 2 tiny mid
mountain eating places, and no big eating establishment down below.

Yes, I would do it again, but I would like to have about 10 inches of new
snow every morning!


Paul "It's Better in Utah" Beiser