Reliving a Deep December

As the calendar year draws to a close, we're looking back at the snowy start to the 2022 winter season and getting stoked for what we hope will be a deep and powdery 2023.

The week leading up to Opening Day, nearly four feet of snow fell on our slopes. In November alone, we received 10 FEET of snow, providing ideal coverage to begin our season. Needless to say, the stoke meter was redlining by the time the first skiers and riders hopped on a chair.

Bluebird powder on December 22.

Precipitation persisted throughout the first week of the new season, creating a snowball effect (pun intended) that lead us to open the Aerial Tram the earliest we have in a decade. Talk about a 0-to-100 start!

Porous, snow-filled clouds have shrouded the peaks most of this month, much to the delight of locals and guests alike. "Sleeper" powder days filled the weeks leading up to the Holidays, relieving the scary memories of last year's dry December. 

Opening our brand-new Thunder helped to further fuel the early-season excitement. You can relive the much-anticipated opening ceremony by viewing the photo carousel below.

We chatted with Jim Woodmency from Mountain Weather to help put our winter's start into context. 

"Our November 2022 was like a typical December in Jackson Hole. What's made this winter so fun thus far is consistent cold temps and consistent snow, all the way to the base of the mountain. This has made for the best top-to-bottom skiing in December in the last decade."
-Jim Woodmency

Total snowfall this December, to-date, is 64", which is a touch above average. Paired with such a deep base from November, it's been one of the best starts to a season here in decades.

Snowpack tracker since mid October, from Bridger Teton Avalanche Center: 

Per Mountain Weather's forecast, it looks like we're going to be skiing some Teton cold smoke to start the New Year. For the best powdery, big-mountain skiing and riding, Jackson Hole is the best place to be in 2023.