By Jim Stanford on January 21, 2010
The steeps of the King could hold some rare powder this weekend.
Here it is the third week of January, and ski season is finally in full swing.
With town receiving about 8 inches of snow this week, Snow King plans to open its Summit chair at noon Friday. Only the Elk and Grizzly runs will be open, recommended for advanced skiers and riders.
“This snowfall the last two, three days has been a godsend,” said Ski Area Manager Jim Sullivan. “People are champing at the bit to get up there.”
Yesterday the Hobacks and Headwall, two of the most famous powder stashes, opened at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
At Snow King, groomers were able to pack snow on most of the Elk run and one lane on Grizzly before the fresh powder fell. Those slopes had been covered with loose, unconsolidated snow, so given the light base, caution is advised.
This marks the latest opening of the King’s 7,808-foot summit in recent history. Sullivan said the resort went the entire winter of 1979-80 without service to the top after the lift was decommissioned, but aside from that season, also a lean snow year, he could not recall a later opening.
Despite the widespread perception about an anemic winter, the Teton area has received the most snow of any (major) resort in the Rockies, according to this chart produced by JHMR. Some of that snow fell before the lifts opened, but still, we ain’t doing too shabby.
And meteorologist Jim Woodmencey is calling for up to 19 inches in the Tetons through Saturday.
Posted under Economy, Environment, Ski Resorts, Sports
