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Ski in one of the Rockies' premier mountain destinations

Ski in Wyoming's Teton mountains: Frequently-Asked Questions about White Solstice

Join us for a luxury week in Jackson Hole, Wyo., a top ski destination with plenty of activities for non-skiers, too. Spend all the time you want on the slopes, but save time for other activities: Moose-watching, snow-shoeing, and a sleigh ride.

This FAQ page is intended to accompany other pages about this trip and about our company (see links at left). Some of the answers below may include links to other other sites; please use the BACK key of your browser to return to this page.

Contents:

• How do I get to Jackson, and then to the condos?
  
• Where do we stay?
  
• This is called a 7-day trip. Exactly what does that mean?
  
• Will there be a Christmas celebration during the week?
  
• Why is this trip sometimes over Christmas, sometimes at New Years?
  
• What's the difference between Jackson and Jackson Hole?
  
• I'm traveling alone. Will everyone else be in couples?
  
• What are the ski areas like?
  
• What will ski and weather conditions be like?
  
• Is it true that backcountry skiing is permitted in Jackson Hole?
  
• How will we get around?
  
• What other winter sports are available?
  
• What about other activities? I like to snow ski, but my partner isn't as active.
  
• Where can I get more information about the area?
  
• How's the gay nightlife in Jackson, Wyoming?
  
• Can I talk to someone who's been on this trip?
  

How do I get to Jackson, and then to the condos?
Jackson is served by three major airlines (or their subsidiaries): American, United, and Delta, and the competition helps keep prices reasonable. Still, to get the dates you want, we recommend that you reserve as early as possible, particularly if you hope to use frequent flyer points.

A cab from the Jackson airport can often be $50 with tip. Often you'll be able to share with others arriving at about the same time. Our pre-trip newsletter facilitates such matches.

Many travelers, however, find it less expensive to fly into another nearby airport, rent a car, and drive to Jackson. Idaho Falls, Idaho is about a 2-hour drive; Salt Lake City about 5 hours. In both cases, the drive to Jackson Hole is scenic and varied, and will be part of your adventure. Bus service from these two cities to Jackson is available from Jackson Hole Express ( 800-652-9510; in WY: 307-733-1719).

Where do we stay?
Our accommodations are comfortable 2- and 3- bedroom condos in Teton Village, right at the base of the mountains. Each condo is shared by several people, and condos may be co-ed. If you request a single room, you'll have your own bedroom in a shared condo, with either private or shared bathroom facilities. We find this arrangement far more comfortable than hotel rooms, as you'll have a living room and kitchen. Restaurants and shops are just a few minutes walk away.

This is called a 7-day trip. Exactly what does that mean?
Our trip officially begins at 6:00 p.m., with a reception and orientation, followed by dinner. We officially end after breakfast on the last day, although you can leave as early as you like. Or stay around all day, for sightseeing with your new friends.

Our "7-day" trip thus consists of 6 full days and two partial days. Some companies promote a trip of this length as being 8 days since it includes pieces of 8 different days. We feel it's more accurate to refer to this as 7 days.

Will there be a Christmas celebration during the week?
We often schedule the White Solstice trip over Christmas, because many so people have vacation time then. Some of them are eager to celebrate Christmas; others would rather ski more and hear less about Christmas. We try to put people with similar preferences in the same condos.

Sometime during the week, we'll have a dinner together. This will usually be a turkey dinner on Christmas Day, if that falls during the week; in other years, we may pick the Winter Solstice, or New Years Eve. We have no religious activities planned, and as on all our trips, we'll plan ahead for vegetarians and others with special diet restrictions.

Why is this trip sometimes over Christmas, sometimes at New Years?
Some people are eager to get away for a winter vacation during Christmas week, or it's the only time they can travel. Others can never a vacation that week. The same is true of the week around New Years Eve and Day. So currently we alternate between the two holiday weeks: One year at Christmas; the next year, a week later.

What's the difference between Jackson and Jackson Hole?
Jackson is the name of the major Wyoming town associated with, and close to, Grand Teton National Park. (Though not quite the closest: The tiny town of Moose, Wyoming, is right at the park entrance.)

Jackson Hole is the geographic name for this entire valley, nestled between the Teton range to the west, Gros Ventre mountains to the east, and Snow King to the south. ("Hole" was a term used by settlers for a low area surrounded by mountains.) Jackson Hole is also the name used for the ski resort at Teton Village, just outside Jackson.

I'm traveling alone. Will everyone else be in couples?
Most of our trips draw more single travelers than couples. When couples do join us, it's usually because they're looking forward to interacting with a gay group; if they wanted a holiday by themselves, they wouldn't have signed up to travel with us. Furthermore, the activities included with our trips serve as natural ice-breakers. Within a day, you'll be traveling with friends.

You don't need to pay the single supplement if you're traveling alone. We'll be happy to match you with a roommate. Pay the single supplement only if you want a bedroom to yourself.

What are the ski areas like?
Three ski resorts are associated with Jackson:

Jackson Hole, at Teton Village, is the largest. This resort offers access to two adjacent peaks: Rendezvous and Apresvous. This is the biggest of the three resorts, and the best-known. It offers several challenging runs, for which it has won a reputation among world-class skiers, but most of the trails are intermediate and beginner-level. Jackson Hole boasts the greatest continuous rise of any U.S. ski area, and a new 8-person gondola system.

Base elevation: 6,310 feet; Vertical rise: 4,140
Difficulty: 10% beginner; 40% intermediate; 50% advanced
33 feet average cumulative snowfall per season.

Snow King is located just a mile from downtown Jackson. It's the smallest of the three, but with plenty to keep you occupied for a day. Snow King offers night skiing most evenings. The 5-day, 3-mountain pass will get you a good lunch and dinner when used at Snow King -- it's their way of competing with their larger neighbors. So it's enjoyable one day to head in for a morning of skiing, have lunch, spend some time in downtown Jackson, then return for dinner and night skiing.

Base elevation: 6,240 feet; Vertical rise: 1,570
Difficulty: 15% beginner; 25% intermediate; 60% advanced.

Grand Targhee is a beautiful spot, on the other side of the Teton Range. (Your 5-day, 3-mountain pass includes transportation when you ski at Grand Targhee.) You'll have spectacular views of the Teton range from the top of the mountain.

Base elevation: 8,000 feet; Vertical rise: 2,200
Difficulty: 10% beginner; 70% intermediate; 20% advanced
43 feet average cumulative snowfall per season.

What will ski and weather conditions be like?
If you ski a lot, you know that nobody can promise good ski conditions anywhere. But we like Jackson Hole because the odds are very much in our favor. The first snowfall usually arrives late October or early November, with good skiing by the beginning of December.

Snow King has considerable snowmaking. If we don't like conditions at Jackson Hole, we can go to Grand Targhee. Situated on the western slope of the Teton range, it often gets a dumping of snow as the air moves east. It would be unusual, at the times that we select for our trip, not to find good skiing at either Jackson Hole or Grand Targhee; and usually we'll have it in both places.

Temperatures will be cold, but aren't likely to reach the bone-chilling depths you find at some ski resorts later in winter. Typically, at this time of year, we can expect temperatures in the teens and twenties.

Is it true that backcountry skiing is permitted in Jackson Hole?
In the fall of 2000, the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Grand Teton National Park approved an unusual proposal to allow backcountry skiing in the Jackson Hole area.

Backcountry skiing means skiing on slopes in their natural state. There are no designated trails, no lifts, no grooming, no avalanche-reduction hazards, no First-Aid patrol ready to ski down with a toboggan if you break your leg. If you ski down into a dead-end, you'll have to climb back out. You're on your own.

In the past, local officials forbid backcountry skiing. Too many people got in over their heads, and required expensive rescues -- if they survived the experience at all.

As rescue services and technology have improved, authorities around Jackson decided that backcountry skiing could be permitted, as long as skiers understood the risks involved, and accepted responsibility for paying for rescue services.

However, backcountry skiing remains a risky business. We recommend it only for expert skiers who hire a local guide. If the accident rate climbs excessively, this policy is subject to change.

How will we get around?
Our condos are a short walk from the lifts at Jackson Hole, and a free shuttle bus is also available. You can get to Snow King via the $2 local bus service, and there's a shuttle available to those skiing at Grand Targhee, on the other side of the pass.

If several people are travelling together, it's often easiest to take a cab into Jackson. Four people can share a cab for $12-$15 -- less than $4 each.

You may decide to rent a car, particularly if you're coming with several friends, or if you can hook up with others through our pre-trip newsletter, to share expenses. But a car is not necessary to get around and have a good time.

What other winter sports are available?
Lots. If you've never done any cross-country skiing, we hope you'll try it one day. The area around Teton Village has many miles of wonderful trails, running through the trees.

You may also enjoy a half-day snowshoeing trip, getting into backcountry that you'd never see on skis. We recommend a brief lesson and hike with a local guide, who will help you spot some of the local wildlife.

And if you're truly adventurous, take an ice-climbing lesson from Exum Mountain Sports, then make your way up a frozen waterfall!

What about other activities? I like to snow ski, but my partner isn't as active.
Your partner might enjoy a day trip to Yellowstone, 90 miles away. Several companies in Jackson put together day excursions for snowmobiling there. It also has good x/c ski trails. Or just go up to see Old Faithful and the geyser pools.

Jackson is known for its many high-quality art galleries, crafts shops, and coffee shops. A visitor could easily spend a day or two just relaxing in this attractive western town.

One day, many of us will probably head over to see the National Museum of Wildlife Art, then enjoy a sleigh ride amongst the 10,000 elk on the vast Elk Refuge.

Where can I get more information about the area?
Try the Jackson Hole website.

How's the gay nightlife in Jackson, Wyoming?
Pretty limited -- until we get there! One benefit of traveling with a gay and lesbian group is that if you've still got the energy to dance all night after our day's activities, there will be someone you can ask to accompany you.

Can I talk to someone who's been on this trip?
We encourage you to do so. Outside Magazine says that talking to people who have taken a trip previously is one of the best ways to evaluate whether it will be right for you, and we agree.

Our website includes a full page of comments from past travelers. Most of them have volunteered to talk about their experiences with future potential travelers. Please call for the names and phone numbers of references in your area.

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