Snow report

Some more snow would help

WILLY ZIMMER Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Thursday, December 16, 2004 12:00 am | Loading…

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Friday is the day Pahaska Teepee's cross-country trails are scheduled to open for business. That may, or may not, happen.

Pahaska Teepee representative Tony Mulkey said the area west of Cody has received very little snow this season, and had virtually no base early this week. It was snowing Wednesday morning, however, so there is still hope.

"It should be opening up," Mulkey said. "We're getting some snow right now. … But they haven't done any grooming as yet."

Cross-country skiers are seeing better snow in other areas. Greer Terry, of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, said the resort's Nordic Center will open on schedule Friday. A opening weekend party is planned for Sunday.

"The Winter Solstice party will be on Sunday, and it is part of the opening celebration," said Terry. "There will be complimentary wine and cheese at 4 p.m. and half-price Nordic passes."

Teton Pines hosts another Sandbag Series race Saturday when the Santa's Relays come to Jackson Hole. The Sandbag Series caters to a wide range of skills by handicapping skiers over the course of the 15-race season.

"The whole idea is so that the people that improve the most over the season can win," said Dave Adams, of the Jackson Hole Ski Club. "So the worst you do early in the season, the bigger handicap you have. … That's why we call it sandbagging."

Downhill skiers have options, but may find a shortage of fresh powder this weekend. Snow King, for example, had machine groomed, skier-tracked frozen granular snow on a 29-inch base with just a trace of powder Wednesday. The Jackson resort is still offering discounted lift tickets.

Hogadon Ski Area ticket manager Laurie Strohm reports snow-making is going well on Casper Mountain, and Hogadon will have 14 runs and all lifts open this weekend.

"The snow's still holding up good and they made snow Sunday night," Strohm said. "We're under cloud cover here, so maybe we'll get something coming in."

Snowmobiles

Snow conditions vary depending on the location, but the Wyoming State Trails folks are grooming more and more snowmobile trails every week.

Paul Gritten, of the state trails office, reported grooming is well underway in the north Bighorn Mountains, Snowy Range, Dubois, Casper Mountain, Granite Hot Springs and the upper Green River areas.

Groomers are also dressing up trails "a little in Togwotee," and the Alpine and Afton areas "are seeing a few passes but they can't do everything."

Gritten said it is hoped the entire trails system will be groomed regularly by next week.

Bigger, stronger, faster

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association is offering two series of CD-ROMS to help skiers of all ages get stronger and faster. "The Sport Performance Series" features instruction on subjects from "Alpine Ski Fundamentals" to nutrition and training.

Information can be found on-line at http://educationship.ussa.org.

Assistant features editor Willy Zimmer can be reached at (307) 266-0524 or William.Zimmer@casperstartribune.net.

Snow info

Big Horn Mountain Resorts: (307) 366-2600 or (888) 244-4676

www.thebighorn.com

Casper Mountain Trails Center: (307) 235-4772

Grand Targhee: (800) 827-4433

www.grandtarghee.com

Hogadon Ski Area: (307) 235-8499

www.casperwy.gov/Content/Leisure/hogadon/hogadon.asp

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort: (888) 333-7766

www.jacksonhole.com