Wyoming Ski Week
Live the mountain dream under blazing blue skies at the deepest snowpack in the west with over 500 inches of snowfall annually, and out-dance the sunset every day in nearby downtown Driggs ID. The legendary peaks of the Grand Tetons are the perfect getaway spot to enjoy the outdoor winter adventure wonderland that is Wyoming.
Our Wyoming Ski Trip this March was a top highlight of 2019. We typically try a new destination on our annual ski trips and this year we were eyeing Grand Targhee on the western Tetons. Once we knew where we wanted to go, it was easy finding a group of friends willing to come with us! After searching Airbnb and other vacation rental sites, we booked this gorgeous, rustic mountain chalet with Teton views on VRBO.
With 4 bedrooms and a loft with a sleeper sofa, this chalet easily slept 10. It features a gigantic outdoor hot tub which was large enough to fit a good number of us each night after skiing all day. We were in awe of all the stars and couldn’t take our eyes off the milky way when it graced the night sky. The perfect way to relax and unwind after several hours of skiing in the Tetons. The home also has a game room with a foosball table upstairs, full-size kitchen, open dining, and a cozy living area with huge windows overlooking the mountains in the distance. We were perfectly situated with gorgeous views, 20 mins from the mountain and 10 mins to downtown Driggs and yummy restaurants.
The view from our back deck with the sunset glow lighting up the Tetons in the distance.
With snow in the forecast, we waxed our boards, packed up our bags, and were on our way westward. We flew into Jackson Hole and rented a car. Driving over Teton Pass is a bit hazardous in the winter, so staying informed and alert while on the road was key to making it safe and sound to our ski chalet.
We planned to stay here for one week, with 4 days for skiing and 1 day for a snowmobile and hot spring adventure.
Gorgeous mountain views everywhere we looked.
We knew we would love skiing here because it promised 3 things: deep snowpack, little to no lift lines, and affordable lift tickets! We were not disappointed, and I cannot wait to return!
The first day was very foggy and snowy with poor visibility on the mountain. Apparently these are typical conditions at this mountain this time of the year, in the spring. We couldn’t see more than 10 feet in front of us at the top, and were only able to find our way down the slope by searching for tree tops in the fog! It was hard to tell where the big drops were, especially because we were not familiar with the mountain. A few wipeouts occurred of course, but all were soft landings in deep powder. The next few days it cleared up and we were finally able to see where we were going and enjoy the beautiful scenery around us.
Glorious views of the Tetons from Mary’s Nipple
After 4 days of skiing, we were ready for a much-needed break. When researching things to do in the Jackson, Wyoming area, I heard rumors of a natural hot springs located deep within the Bridger-Teton National Forest, only accessible in winter by dog sled or snowmobile. Naturally, I was intrigued to find out more info.
It turns out a number of outfitters rent snowmobiles in the winter and you can take them to this natural hot spring for a fun day trip adventure. A couple friends and I rented the snowmobiles and took off in search of this hot spring. We trailered the vehicles about 45 mins south of Jackson to a pull-off, along the way spotting moose on the side of the road. We maneuvered the snowmobiles off the trailer and started up the engines for our ride. The hot springs was located 8 miles up a wide snow-covered path which we shared with some dog sleds. There is a beautiful waterfall close to the hot springs too, so we stopped there to have a quick lunch. Not a soul was around except for us.
Then it was onwards to the hot spring. We parked our snowmobiles, walked over a footbridge, then up a small hill to our first glimpse of the beautiful turquoise waters. The spring is maintained by a nice gentleman and there are changing rooms on the premise. The entry fee was around $5. You can soak in the natural hot springs for as long as you want, and although there were other people around when we got there, the springs are big enough to not feel too crowded. Shortly after we arrived, most of the people actually left and we had the place almost entirely to ourselves. I thought it would be freezing cold getting out of the water but it was actually not too bad. A great way to end our stay in Wyoming!
Soaking in a natural hot spring with views of snow-covered mountains.
