Since the earliest days of backcountry skiing, Jackson Hole and the Tetons have been the center of the North American backcountry skiing scene. Along with some of the best terrain, snow, and athletes, amazing backcountry gear has and continues to come from Jackson. In the past, brands like Lifelink and Powderhorn Mountaineering have been the
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Driving slowly down the icy and winding two-lane Teton Pass, you cross into the easternmost edge of Idaho, leaving the hubbub of Jackson Hole behind. The same low winter sun sparkles across many feet of snow and the same crisp mountain air filters through your car, and yet somehow the energy is different. Fewer people
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Jackson Hole and the Tetons offer an immense backcountry playground for recreationists of every variety. Whether you’re out earning your turns in quiet solitude or blasting through powder on a snowmobile, there’s nothing like a well-deserved beverage to cap off a day exploring. Once you’ve hopped back in the car toward civilization, head to one
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Lisa Oden Knapp is what you might stereotypically expect from a jeweler upon first conversation. Her resume is replete with over 35 years of experience in the industry, traveling the world for such heavyweights as Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Louis Vuitton. She enjoys voyaging across Europe, searching for best-in-class diamonds and highest-end Swiss watches
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Sam Schwartz is the definition of a self-starter. At just 13 years old, he decided to make a career out of skiing, inspired by Teton Gravity Research films and his youth spent on the mountains of Jackson Hole. Instead of the traditional route of joining a freeride or race program, he worked on his own
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It all starts with snow,” Mark Fisher says with a grin and playful shrug. Without hesitation, he identifies a key thread that traverses his extensive filmmaking and photography experience, showcasing adventures from across the globe. From the summit of Everest to the most revered peaks in the Tetons, the stories Mark weaves begin with a
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In a mountain town largely dominated by big mountain and backcountry skiing, the meditative motion of gliding skis along flat snow often takes a backseat. Luna Wasson, alumna and now assistant coach of the Jackson Hole Ski Club (JHSC) Nordic program, says that’s one of her favorite things about Nordic skiing. Whether she’s training at
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When you step off the cherry-red tram atop Rendezvous Peak — the highest point within the boundaries of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort — it’s not difficult to understand where the envelope-pushing idea of big mountain skiing came from. With miles and miles of peaks, couloirs, sweeping ridgelines, and steep valleys beckoning, it’s easy to see
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Skiing has always been central to Sarah Carpenter’s life. As a kid growing up in Santa Fe, she skied in Taos, and as a teen, she and some friends convinced Ski Santa Fe to start a freestyle team on the mountain. “It was basically us convincing the ski area that we should be able to
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Heli-skiing — accessing the backcountry for its pristine powder and solitude with the assistance of a helicopter — is a different thing for different skiers. For many, it is considered the pinnacle to a ski career, an aspirational experience. Some say it’s the most extreme thing they’ve ever done. For others, it is a way
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David Bowers has three different lives. A typical day at work involves one of several longtime careers. One as an Exum mountain guide, spending summers guiding in the Tetons and beyond. A second as a professional photographer, whose work has been featured for many years in this very magazine. And a third as a ski
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In the words of legendary outdoorsman Jack O’Connor, “The wild ram embodies the mystery and magic of the mountains, the rocky canyons, the snowy peaks, the sweet, clean air of the high places, and the sense of being alone on the top of the world with the wild sheep themselves.” For thousands of years, bighorn
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Anyone who has spent time in Jackson Hole has undoubtedly admired the work of ski photographer Wade McKoy. He’s created iconic images that perfectly capture a golden age of ski culture, photographing classic names in skiing such as Doug Coombs, Pepi Stiegler, and Suzy Chaffee. Wade arrived in Jackson in 1974 with a college friend,
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When big mountain freeride films exploded onto the scene — showcasing daring feats of extreme athleticism — it inspired a new generation of skiers and riders to push the boundaries in the backcountry. These days, student-athlete programs offer freeriding as a discipline, big mountain competitions are prevalent, and venturing out-of-bounds has become popular, but this
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Against the noisy bustle of Jackson Town Square, walking into Pearls by Shari can offer a sense of serene calm. Mirrored cases encircle the modest space in Shari Turpin’s flagship store; the soft luster of her pearls glow from within them. Nestled inside each case are pieces clearly designed and crafted with intention and passion.
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In an age where smartphones have become ubiquitous, Mark Carter has embraced simplicity by using a flip phone. An unconventional choice, the professional backcountry snowboarder has always forged his own path forward, focused on creating an intentional life aligned with the values, priorities, and passions instilled during his upbringing on a cattle ranch in Wyoming.
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A quick scroll through the #jhdreaming side of Instagram will demonstrate very quickly what the popular wintertime activities in Jackson Hole are. From a ride on the cherry-red tram at the ski hill and a group pose under the antler arches, or an elk-viewing ride on a horse-drawn sleigh to a world-class dish at a
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The allure of skiing or riding in the backcountry is undeniable. Untracked powder, quiet approaches, small groups of friends and dogs. These days, there’s also the parking lot wait-and-shuffle game. On any given snowy winter day, the top of Teton Pass is hectic. As the interest and participation in backcountry skiing has grown over the
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Over their three decades in Jackson, Wyo., brothers, skiers, and filmmakers Steve and Todd Jones have had a profound influence on nearly all aspects of skiing and snowboarding culture, from their backyard in the Tetons to across the globe. Through Teton Gravity Research (TGR), the company they helped found, and a close collaboration with their
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At the beating heart of Jackson Hole culture — a core reason why this place echoes in memories forever — is the backcountry. Less than 3% of the land in Teton County is privately owned and developed. The vast majority of the remaining 97% is wild land, guarded by a mosaic of protected stewardship including
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When Jessica Baker reflects on why skiing in the untamed beauty of the backcountry is so critically important to her, she doesn’t describe the staggering array of stunning accomplishments she’s accrued in the sport over the years. Sure, she’s topped the podium many times: 2000 North American Freeskiing Champion, 2004 US Freeskiing Nationals Champion, third
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