Jackson Hole Conditions Report: Feb. 14-20

We came into the week riding high on powder euphoria from an extended blur of storm-skiing days, capped off by the jaw-dropping alpine acrobatics of the Kings and Queens of Corbet’s contest.  It was such an amazing, hard-charging start to the month that one could be forgiven for needing a little break. But the atmosphere isn’t concerned with the sore muscles and weary eyes of storm-drained skiers, and this week it wasn’t gonna let up. As Valentine's Day morning dawned it wasn’t just love that was in the air: it was also the start of another round of powfall, one that would ultimately propel February 2025 into the realm of legendary status.

We had already received over 5 feet of snow during the first two weeks of the month, more than we tallied in the entirety of January. Classic lines that were looking skimpy began to take on their familiar form as base depths deepened. Daily refreshes continued. Fourteen inches, then eight, then twelve more. Momentary glimpses of the mountainside between storm waves showed a non-stop terrain transformation taking place. As Presidents Day hit the mountain was coated head to toe in a deep layer of dense, highly rip-able windbuff, and lines were filling in as fast as we could ski em’. Just when it seemed as if everything had built to the ultimate crescendo, the Teton Powder Production Range picked up the power and tempo. Steady overnight snowfall brought the Tuesday tally to an astronomic 24” over the previous 24 hours. These kinds of reports often raise eyebrows of disbelief or if accurate, produce conditions of less than optimal “ski-ability”. But with one turn into Rendezvous Bowl that morning it instantly became clear that these large digits were legitimate. Waist deep blower made face shots unavoidable as vapor trails washed over shoulders with every turn. A haze of fresh whiteroom memories echoing with adrenalized laughter led us through the day, and as the sun sank low, somehow the snow continued. Nearly a foot more had padded the walls of the alpine asylum by Wednesday morning. Can this be real? As if to show off their handiwork and prove the point, the clouds parted for a couple of hours allowing for a clear perspective on the newly remodeled Rendezvous Mountain. It was just enough time to rattle off a few hero laps and gawk at the disappearance of any jagged features as the clouds closed in and flakes began to fly once more before noon. Thursday morning the mountain took on a new vibe. The wild weather had subsided, and we settled in for alpine exploratory missions under cloudy but largely unproductive skies. Gentle winds seemed to add a distinct and contrasting silence to the quick ripping of rowdy lines, while also complimenting those who came seeking a gentle soulful slide.

The past week was season-changing here in Jackson Hole. Over 6 feet fell on the upper mountain sending powder skier's minds into the stratosphere and adding nearly 3 feet of base depth by week's end. Looking ahead we've got our first February forecast featuring a few dry days. But just over that extended horizon, the storm clouds are already conspiring to clobber us once more. Over 10 feet has fallen so far and with a little luck we'll be padding that phenomenal February total with quite a bit more of the white fluff. Stay tuned.  -Dr. H

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