With just over a week to go in the regular Jackson Hole ski season, the spring après party scene was in full swing. The annual Mountain Festival featuring Grace Porter and the Nocturnal’s, as well as some other local bands was held on the last Saturday of March. It was held in the main car park at Teton Village, right a the base of Jackson Hole resort. An awesome venue, big open area in front of the stage with a view of the Tetons in the background.
We started the day early. Jumped on the 8.30am bus to the resort. Jackson had received about 10 or so inch’s overt the last few days along with quite a bit of wind. The sky’s had also been cloudy, Saturday had been the first time we saw the sun in a few days. We were all pretty excited to get up there and make the most of conditions that we had not seen in a while.
First tram up, straight out the gates and hiked up Cody Peak. Awesome snow! Perfect visibility and only a light wind. I skied one of my favourite line on the whole mountain. The main spine between No Shadows and 4 Shadows, airing all 3 cliffs on my way down. I was pretty pumped when I got to the bottom! Next stop No Name face.
We hiked up Powder 8’s, a steep gruelling hike. Possibly my most hated Jackson Hole hike. As we got tot the top we could see the face that we wanted to ski. We weren’t alone either. There were about 15 people on their way to ski the same line. Pretty excited about what we were about to ski, and full of energy we did a quick lap down Powder 8’s (skiing the line just next to where we just hiked.) Up the hike again, and for some reason finding it easier.
Finally we made it over to the No Name hike. It amazes me how even though I’ve probably skied No Name face 10 or so time over the last couple years the hike up is totally different every time. This time was probably the scariest! Having very steep ladder type sections with exposure to 30ft cliffs. Also today there was a section where you had to jump off a rock with your skis in your pack, down to the boot pack a few feet below. Also with exposure to 30ft cliffs. Finally at the top I clicked in and made my way down the steep 1500 – 2000ft vertical face. Awesome!
From the bottom of No Name we took the boot pack slightly left towards 4 Pines to finish off our pretty amazing morning. With 4 runs and almost 2.5 hours of hiking. Definitely time for some lunch. And possible a well disserved beer.
Mountain festival: It was a cool clear night, as the band kicked off around 6pm. Our thoughts differed back as we remembered what the conditions were like a year ago while we were at the Mountain Festival. Dumping snow, as hard as it would ever fall is what we were talking about. The last 2 weeks of last season we saw almost 100inchs.
The band awesome. Having never seen or even herd if these guys before I was a little sceptical as to wether or not the advertised ‘Folk funk’ band would be any good, or wether the crowd would get into it. But they did, some very cool tunes and very impressive instrumental work by the band made for an awesome gig.
The concert was followed by a very impressive fireworks show.
We partied on until the early hours that night as we knew the skiing wasn’t going to be any better than what we already skied today. Our bodies needed a rest. It was a big day.
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