The Tetons hide the ski lines contained in every backcountry skier’s dreams. But these lofty peaks in the Grand Teton NP rise abruptly from the Jackson Hole Valley—up to 7,000 ft reaching +13,000-ft heights above sea level. So how does one scale these humbling altitudes in search of ski rides of a lifetime? The answer is ski mountaineering and the expert mountain guides leading you through the process of getting to the top of these long, powdery thrill rides. During this Tetons ski mountaineering camp, you will learn the ropes of this adrenaline-inducing discipline in one of the most scenic places in the US, walking away more confident in your mountaineering and general backcountry skills. Find out more about ski mountaineering in Grand Teton from Viktor Marohnić, an all-round adventure junkie and founder of 57hours.
This Tetons guided tour is ideal for the experienced backcountry skier or rider who is looking to break into the world of ski or splitboard mountaineering. You will learn what it takes to ascend to the top of and and descend challenging and technical, yet rewarding and electrifying Teton lines with oversight and mentorship from an experienced ski or splitboard guide. You will walk away from this guided adventure in the Tetons feeling more confident in your basic mountaineering and navigation skills.
Meet your guides on Zoom at 8:00 am to discuss clothing, equipment, packing, and current snowpack conditions. The remainder of the day will be spent in the field, reviewing and learning about avalanche search and rescue, proper ice ax techniques, rope management, and setting up snow anchors.
Meet your guides in Grand Teton National Park to put your newly learned skills to use. Experience the opportunity to ascend and descend some of the most amazing ski mountaineering terrain that the Tetons have to offer. Your guide will teach you steep skiing and riding techniques, booting and crampon use, as well as skintrack setting and pacing. You will also get the opportunity to learn snowpack assessment and navigation techniques. You can expect early starts (between 5 and 6 am) and long climbs (8 to 10 hours), gaining between 4 and 6 thousand (1,220 – 1,830 meters) vertical feet in altitude and shredding top-notch powder on steep technical ski lines. Spend the rest of the day according to your interests in Jackson.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
To enjoy this Tetons ski mountaineering trip, you need to be in excellent physical shape. You will be on your feet for 10 to 12 hours two days in a row gaining between 4 and 6 thousand feet in altitude. You will need to manage controlled ski descents in variable conditions, including high-angle couloirs. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs and have some experience with backcountry skiing in steep, ungroomed and treed terrain. Participants should be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning and climbing variable degrees of terrain. Keep in mind that your guide will take great care of you, prioritize your safety at all times, answer any questions, observe your technique, and most importantly, provide you with instruction on everything you need to know before going to the field.
To participate in this Tetons ski mountaineering tour, you need to have previous backcountry skiing and be comfortable with steep, ungroomed, and treed terrain. Ski mountaineering experience is not necessary, but you should have great stamina in order to handle long climbs with altitude gains between 4 and 6 thousand feet and manage long high-angle ski runs. You will be skiing, touring, and summiting on glaciated terrain for up to 12 hours a day, two days in a row. Your guide will take care of the planning, oversee your technique, and teach you how to better manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safe. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, we suggest joining a guide for a day of beginner-friendly guided backcountry skiing in Jackson Hole.
For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
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All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
Ski rental locations are in Jackson, WY, and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. There are numerous other rental companies in Jackson you can get your gear from, such as Teton Backcountry Rentals. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Group sizes and prices:
Ski mountaineering in the Grand Teton National Park can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The simplest way to reach Grand Teton National Park is by taking a flight to Salt Lake City International Airport. From there, it’s a 4-5 hour drive to Jackson, WY, depending on the weather conditions. Renting a car is recommended, but air travel options to the Jackson Hole Airport are also available. Grand Teton National Park is located roughly 10 minutes from Jackson, WY.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your Tetons ski mountaineering guide will suggest the best place to meet. You will usually meet your guides at their headquarters in Jackson, WY, from where you’ll head to the trailhead. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ski ability of the group.
It is recommended that you arrive in Jackson one or two days before the camp starts to give yourself a chance to acclimatize and leave yourself one or two rest days in Jackson upon the completion of the camp.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Grand Teton National Park, please refer to the Wyoming Department of Health’s official website.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
For set dates, a 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
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Words cannot convey the experience of a winter day out with a JHMG guide taking you on a safe tour of the Tetons. Slow and steady up for a few hours rewards you with an exquisite view of the Tetons in all their majesty. Then, instead of an exhausting, bone-jarring hike back down, take the skins off your skis and ride down in powder that is almost impossible to find in a ski resort. Even a week after the last snowfall, you will still find good snow to ride down on. Even if it’s not a clear and sunny day, it’s a wonderful day out and you’ll want to keep going back until you are rewarded with those magnificent views. If the price for a ride on the Virgin Galactic rocket is $200,000, I’d say a day in the Tetons with a JHMG guide is the most undervalued ticket you can buy!