On March 12, 2006 my husband Ken, son Curtis, and I went to Jackson Hole Ski Resort. We learned that it is one of the steepest and most difficult resorts in North America.

Jackson Hole has gondolas, 2 tram cars, and 12 chairlifts. The gondolas are nice on a windy, snowy day because they are enclosed. Skiers and snowboarders put their equipment in slots on the outside of the gondola on the way up.

Here I am on one of the blue (intermediate) slopes of Jackson Hole. The trails there are much steeper than what we have skied in the past. We missed not having the nice long cruisers of other resorts. We really had to work for our runs here!

This house could be yours --- for a few million dollars! There were many such houses located by the green trails at Jackson Hole. Real estate in the area is very expensive. Our airport shuttle driver told us, "The billionaires are pushing out the millionaires!"

Much to the dismay of the locals and visitors alike, the famous 40-year old tram will be put out of service this year (2006). It is possible to ride the tram to the top of Rendevous Mountain, look around and enjoy the view, then ride back down. Since I didn't want to risk my life trying to ski back down, I rode back to the bottom on the tram.

There are two terrain parks at Jackson Hole, this one is the beginners' park.

This display of a wolf and coyote was in the Tetons National Park Visitor Center. There was a fox too, but it was out of range of this photo. We saw three wolves in the Elk Refuge eating the carcass of a dead elk. The best way to find wolves quickly is to watch for ravens scavenging in the fields, the wolves will be nearby. The wolves come down from Yellowstone National Park, over 40 miles away. They were reintroduced into the park 11 years ago and are doing quite well. They help keep the ecosystem balanced by culling out the old or ill animals.

On Wednesday morning we awoke to 5" of new snow! Nothing like fresh powder on a ski day!

We had to follow these flags along the trail until we got into the bowl.

Even this adult had fun skiing through the trees here!

The only "Ansel Adams moment" I had to get a clear shot of the Tetons was from the plane when we flew into Jackson Airport. The name of the mountains comes from the French word for a woman's upper anatomy (if I use the real word, the supersensitive school internet filters will kick this out!)

This coyote was one of three that we saw crossing a snow field.

At 2500 acres, Jackson Hole is a huge resort; maps help the visitors stay on track and not get off on the wrong trail.

These guys must be crazy! Many of the larger resorts in the west have areas that must be hiked to access. This does not look like fun to me at all!

Our shadows from the lift.

This is why I didn't ski down the mountain. With a 4,139 vertical drop, Jackson Hole is the steepest ski area in the U.S.

Corbet's Couloir is a narrow, snow-filled ravine that is popular with the extreme skiers at Jackson Hole. This photo was taken from the tram as I was riding back down.

An "evil eye" on the slopes? No, it is just the bark from an aspen tree.

We ate supper in the famous old Wort Hotel in Jackson. There were a lot of interesting pictures on the walls. This one was done by a man who shot the Indian head design with a rifle in 90 seconds.

We went to Grand Targhee ski resort on Wednesday. We rode the Alltrans shuttle 40 miles from Jackson. The ride over Teton Pass in heavy snow was a bit un-nerving, but our driver handled it very well.

There was knee-deep powder in the Sacajawea Bowl, this is what skiing is all about!

The snow really piled high on the roof of these condos at the base area of Grand Targhee. Check out those massive icicles!

Just outside of the town of Jackson is the Elk Refuge. This photo was taken from the airport shuttle. In the winter thousands of elk come down from the mountains and Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.

Coyotes are well-camouflaged against the rocks.

This avalanche gun was aimed at an avalanche-prone headwall.

10,450 foot Rendevous Mountain is accessed by the tram.

Just before we dismount the lift.

The view from the top of Rendevous Mountain. Note the snow-free area, the wind is so strong up here the powder is just blown away.

Another lift as seen from the tram.

I wondered if Jackson Hole had a bead, bra and panty tree like many of the other western resorts we have visited. I finally noticed this one as we were riding up a lift. Legend has it that the "offerings" appease the "snow gods" to bring more snow late in the season!

Curtis at the doors of the Silver Dollar saloon in the Wort Hotel.

We took the main lift to the top of the mountain. We quickly learned why the nickname of the resort is "Grand Foggy"! It was like skiing blind for awhile.

I didn't like this little chair lift --- no restraining bars! :(

Although many famous celebrities visit the slopes of Jackson Hole, this well-known character is not who I expected to see! :) And to top it off, he spoke with a British accent!

The park in the town square of Jackson has 4 large antler arches. The arches are pretty at night since they are lighted with small white lights. The antlers are collected by the local Boy Scout troop and are auctioned off.

Many of the bull elk had lost their antlers, this guy was just half-molted! It must be uncomfortable for them to walk around lopsided like that. It would seem that there would be thousands of antlers littering the ground, but each night the Boy Scouts go out to the refuge and collect them to sell in an auction. The proceeds go back to the refuge.

Another load of skiers headed to the upper slopes in the gondola!

Some of the large rocks on the edge one of the trails at Jackson Hole.

The half-pipe in the terrain park at Jackson Hole.

I know when to back off and not ski a trail, this was one of those times!

The Jackson area strongly encourages recycling. I got a kick out of how someone had recycled old ski poles, ski tails and an old snow board to make windchimes at one of the lifts! Skiers would hit the chimes with their poles to make them ring.

We made it back to the Tetons NP visitor center in time to go on the ranger-led snowshoe hike. Here the ranger is showing the participants about the different kinds of snowshoes. We were surprised to learn that we would be using the long "old school" type made of wood and leather lacing.

We stayed at the "Bears" Best Western in Jackson. There were carved black bears everywhere!

It is going to be a long way down!

A view of a snow squall over eastern Idaho. Grand Targhee is just barely on the western Wyoming border

Even large ski resorts need a little help from technology!

On our 3rd day we took the day off to give our legs a rest and see some of the sights around Jackson. We rented a car and drove down Elk Refuge Road at the outskirts of town. We were excited to see these bighorn sheep up on the edge of a butte.

The elk congregate near the river in the valley.