Grand Targhee Jan 11-15 2018

After bailing on our plans for PowMo due to lack of snow we booked a house on VRBO in Driggs ID instead with our best friends couple.  We had to fly into SLC so I found a great deal where for $105 a night we got a room in the city and 2 lift tickets on the Ski City promo.  We chose Solitude as it had more trails open and I think skis better in low snow conditions.  Luckily it snowed 10” so we had a pow day as long as you ignored all the crap you were hitting under the snow.  It was best up high where it was a legit pow day.




We then had a scenic but long 4.5 hour drive up to Driggs which is a cool little town with some good restaurants particularly Forage and The Royal Wolf.  We hit it just right and were in a storm cycle so we had 3 legit pow days and one crud day.  The problem with Targhee is the locals call it Grand Foggy and if you can see two chair ahead its considered good.

I know my way around well as its my 4th trip there with 20+ days at the Ghee.  I also had arranged for us to ski one day with the local Volkl pro rep who is a senior patroller and he showed us the good and the places that we would not have found without him which was a great experience and Sal was an awesome guide spending a full day with us.  He also regaled us with the stories of how stupid and now dead tourists wandered out past the ropes on the backside and fell off or thru the cornices that are above the 500 foot cliffs.  This trip locked in my desire to retire in Driggs and ski pow until I drop.  We had a great time skiing some epic pow.  There is nothing scary steep but it has enough pitch to make skiing even deep pow super fun.





On the last day at Targhee the sun came out and we got to see the Tetons which are breathtaking views.









Our plan originally was to ski Jackson on the way back to SLC but the others legs were toast as they have far fewer days in this season than I do.  Instead we played tourist in Jackson visiting the Elk Refuge and walking around town before heading south.  

nice report

👌👍🕺

Nice report and pics!

Sal is indeed a great guy.  Was very patient with me during my first trip to GT when I wasn't really good enough to enjoy cut up deep powder.  Was the first time for my friends, who were better skiers and had a ball.  Being able to easily bail to a groomer while they continued in the powder was one reason I really liked GT.  I think he'd been skiing 12+ inches the day in the snowstorm before we were there on the blue sky day-after.

Hoping to get back next season.  4.5 hour drive doesn't seem long when I drive 4 hours to my home hill.

Nice job Coach!!

My son would be sad seeing all those deer antlers.

Pretty though.

Targhee has been on our bucket list..

R

Skiray wrote

My son would be sad seeing all those deer antlers.

Why? Don't deer shed their antlers every year?

MC2 5678F589 wrote

Skiray wrote

My son would be sad seeing all those deer antlers.

Why? Don't deer shed their antlers every year?

Yep, shedding in the spring is one of my fave's

Yeah your horns are getting scraggily by then

TWSS!

Looks like you scored. Great job!

Awesome trip!!   Thinking about getting out there next winter.

Skiray wrote

My son would be sad seeing all those deer antlers.

Pretty though.

Targhee has been on our bucket list..

R

Ray
They are Elk antlers and they fall off every yr

Nice pics and report, added a few tics to the stokemeter for my JH trip next week!

Skiray wrote

My son would be sad seeing all those deer antlers.

Pretty though.

Targhee has been on our bucket list..

R

It's clear that you guys live in the City and not in the northern 'burbs.  Deer are forest rats, Ray.  They are horrendous animals and destroy all.  Bambi is a myth!

gorgonzola wrote

Nice pics and report, added a few tics to the stokemeter for my JH trip next week!

Sorry to burst your bubble but what I heard about Jackson was the bottom half was just on the couple groomers
The top was good but thin.  It’s a very rocky place

Z wrote

gorgonzola wrote

Nice pics and report, added a few tics to the stokemeter for my JH trip next week!

Sorry to burst your bubble but what I heard about Jackson was the bottom half was just on the couple groomers
The top was good but thin.  It’s a very rocky place

a few inches here and there over the past few days with 16"  this morning - fingers crossed, snow dance continuing

OpenSnow has another 6-12 Thurs through Sat am.  Glad they are getting some new snow for you!

Jackson reporting 243 inches for the year so far, second only to Whistler.  Not bad.  No Hobacks/headwall/Casper yet, but you can throw yourself into Corbet’s!

haha hell no!  hobacks open!

Haha! City folk.....

Jk. Those are elk antlers donated from the local Boy Scouts that go out every spring and collect them on the refuge