From Mail Runs to Mountain Legends

Since the early 1880s, skiing in Jackson Hole has been far more than just a pastime — it’s been a way of life. What began as a necessity in one of the most rugged valleys west of the Mississippi has evolved into a world-renowned culture, chock full of dare devil explorations, backcountry buffoons and infamous stories. 

1800s: Forest Fire to First Tracks

The story begins in 1879, when a forest fire scorched the face of what’s now known as Snow King, clearing the way for ski runs on what locals called “Kelly’s Hill.”
However, skiing didn’t instantly explode as recreational fun — it was still a necessity.

In the late 1880s, mail destined for the valley would travel to Saint Anthony, Idaho via the Oregon Short Line, then move onward to Victor. From there, volunteer mail carriers would embark on a treacherous two-day journey over Teton Pass using wagons, sleds and skis. 

Early 1900s: A Skiing Spectacle

By the 1920s, skiing had started to catch on. Mike O’Neil became one of the valley’s firsts to use two poles — a major innovation at the time — while most used one pole, placed in between their legs to steer and brake.

Soon, skiing turned into entertainment. Brent Bowlsby and the Hicks brothers — known as “The Hoback Boys” — brought ski circuses to Jackson Hole featuring stunts like jumping through rings of fire, all performed on handmade skis.

The Teton Ski Club began building their first lifts in the 1930s, clearing runs in Moose Creek, a stretch just north of Victor, and later expanded to other nearby peaks.

Young adventurers like Fred Brown and Allen Hanks began exploring the surrounding terrain, skiing through Grand Teton National Park. Brown, along with Paul and Curly Petzoldt, were the first to ski Rendezvous Mountain — the future home of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Mid 1900s: Lifts, Legends and Land Deals

In 1938, Snow King Mountain was officially born, opening with its first rope tow,  bought from a retired drilling company in Casper and powered by a Ford tractor. Neil Rafferty later secured a Forest Service permit and installed the first chairlift in Wyoming, shuttling more than 8,500 people in its inaugural season. 

After WWII, the Jackson Hole Winter Sports Association signaled a new era. Former military skiers from the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division helped popularize backcountry challenges, pushing some to take the treacherous trek.

One climber, Barry Corbet, stared into a narrow, daunting chute, now dubbed Corbet’s Couloir, and told Paul McCollister, “Someday, someone will ski that.” In 1966, patrolman Lonnie Ball became the first to drop in, tackling JHMR’s most infamous rite of passage.

A year later, McCollister purchased land at the base of Rendezvous Mountain for roughly $1,355 an acre and began construction of what would become Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

By 1965, JHMR opened its gates to the public. Aerial Tram runs soon began, shuttling skiers to the 10,450-foot summit and Olympic gold medalist Pepi Stiegler was brought on to run the ski school.

“At ski school, we all had leather boots and wooden skis — the scene was cool,” said Benny Wilson, longtime local and ski legend. Skiing wasn’t just a pastime, but integral in everyday life. “My parents, like every other parent in the valley, would just drop the kids off at the base of Snow King and go to work,” he recalled. “Passes were like, ten dollars.”

Meanwhile, Grand Targhee Resort opened in Alta in 1969, and Snow King underwent improvements, developing into a must-see destination.

Late 1900s: Icons and Innovations

In 1971, local legend Bill Briggs etched his name into Jackson Hole history, becoming the first to ski the Grand Teton.

“Supposedly it was impossible,” Bill said. “But my reason for skiing the Grand was to help make known what the skills of skiing were. It didn’t work. The skills still remain unrecognized. Breaking that door open for others is a privilege I thoroughly enjoy making happen… How lucky can I be? It’s given me a voice in this community and in the ski world.”  

Bill, now in his 90s, went on to become one of the Jackson ski-scene greats — sharing stories at The Virginian Restaurant, playing music at the Hootenanny, which he co-founded in 1993, and, above all, by just “simply having fun.”

Melissa Malm followed with her own milestone in 1978, becoming the first woman on the JHMR Ski Patrol.

But the most thrilling chapter came in the ’80s, courtesy of Benny Wilson, the late Doug Coombs and the Jackson Hole Air Force, a group of ski-clad outlaws infamously known for ducking ropes and forerunning JHMR’s open-boundary policy. 

“The ‘80s were fun,” Benny, who took his first trip into the backcountry at just 10 years old, said. “We skied miles long and endless. They had a list, at the top of the Tram, of the top 20 biggest pains to the ski patrol.”

In 1992, McCollister sold JHMR to the Kemmerer family, embarking on the next chapter for what would later become America’s #1 ski resort.

A new wave of modernization ushered in added terrain, chairlifts and gondolas, boosting both Snow King and JHMR’s daily capacities.

“We broke new ground in all directions by way of training and by disregarding the norm or the experts of academia,” Bill said.

2000s to Today: The Modern Era

The gates to the backcountry opened in 1999, giving skiers access to plentiful powder, limitless runs and untouched terrain. The Crags, which debuted in 2004, brought an expert-only zone inside resort lines and the Tram underwent a $32 million upgrade.

By 2008, JHMR had its most successful winter on record with over 600 inches of snowfall and nearly half a million skiers. 

Avalanche prevention efforts ramped up with the installation of two Gazex exploders on the Headwall, while the U.S. and French women’s ski teams flocked to Snow King to train for the Olympics.

In 2024, a new chapter began when the Kemmerers sold JHMR to Eric Macy, Mike Corbat and a small group of co-investors. 

From legends to legacies, Jackson Hole has evolved into one of the nation’s most iconic ski destinations — and it all started with a forest fire and a mail route. 

Dig Deeper into Mountain History