Jackson Hole, WY, Report: Sunny Powder Day on a 94% of Average Snowpack

Miles Clark | | Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report

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Report from March 15, 2025

The light board on the shack at the top of the tram read 00F when I stepped off just before 9 am yesterday.

The wind was blowing 23 mph from the west.

The combination of 0°F and 23 mph was keenly felt as we lumbered up the shoulder of Cody Peak.

94% of average snowpack to date at Jackson Hole, WY. Image: NSDA

I’d run into two legends on the tram, Jason Strong and Tim Durtchi, and was following their lead.

After 30 minutes or so, we arrived atop Pucker Face in a stiff breeze and flat light.

The “mostly sunny” forecast clearly didn’t include that morning on Cody.

Cody Bowl and ants. Image: SnowBrains

I passed quickly on Pucker and continued on to 4 Shadows in Cody Bowl.

I hoped the north-facing aspect there would provide some wind protection and softer snow.

I was wrong.

Cody Peak. Cody Townsend was named after this peak. Image: SnowBrains

4 Shadows skied rough, and my confidence to stay high dwindled.

I traversed, sidestepped, and bootpacked to a fun mid-mountain tree run I knew would be protected from the ferocious Teton winds.

I was lucky, and the run provided shallow, bottomless turns in terrific terrain with a spattering of sunlight.

Dawn on S&S Couloir. This was my goal this day but it didn’t quite snow enough… Image: SnowBrains

I was happy coming out the bottom and chalked it up to a win.

I trickled down the mountain back to my car with a smile, a sense of satisfaction, and an urgency to start the drive home to Park City, UT.

The heater in the car delivered pure bliss after the frigid, wind-blasted morning in the clouds.

Strong texted me as I drove off, saying I blew it and should’ve stayed with him into the next alpine zone, which skied great.

The crux. Image: SnowBrains

“Damn,” I thought.

You just can’t win ’em all, and it’s been even harder this season.

Just then, I realized that this little 3″ powder day was the only true powder day I’ve had in the Lower 48 this season.

Some of the things I skied this day. Image: SnowBrains

Whoa…

Rough year, huh?

I feel very grateful to have hit BC and France so well this year because outside of that, it’s been zilch.

I’ve got my fingers crossed that my three weeks in Alaska later this month and next deliver, because as I write this, a “winter killer” high pressure is building in the West and is forecast to last into April…

Fortunately, Jackson Hole is sitting on a 94% of average to date snowpack up high and their spring skiing is gonna be good.

Thanks, Wyoming!

Photos in Chronological Order

Pre-dawn Jackson Hole. Image: SnowBrains
Big map on a wall. Image: SnowBrains
Sublette Chair. Image: SnowBrains
Corbet’s Cabin. Image: SnowBrains
Scoping lines in Corbet’s Cabin. Image: SnowBrains
Strong & Durtschi grinding up. Image: SnowBrains
George and Strong. Image: SnowBrains
Durtschi and George on the edge. Image: SnowBrains
Climbing to Cody Bowl. Image: SnowBrains
Cody Bow. Image: SnowBrains
My view waiting for light. Image: SnowBrains
Cody Peak. Image: SnowBrains
Big terrain. Image: SnowBrains
Hoback Canyon. Image: SnowBrains
Hoback Canyon cliff. Image: SnowBrains
The burn at the east end of Hoback Canyon. Image: SnowBrains
The burn. Image: SnowBrains
The Wind River Range. Image: SnowBrains
Wind River Range and cows. Image: SnowBrains
A mountain range near the Tetons. Image: SnowBrains
The Unita Mountains of Utah. Image: SnowBrains
Officially, I got married in this town… Image: SnowBrains
Park City, UT. Image: SnowBrains
Posted by Miles Clark |

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