Jackson Hole

[ShredLife]

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

True acclimatization to a higher altitude only happens after a few months.

Complete Bullshit. if that were in any way true climbing Everest would be impossible.

1-3 days.

[LuckyRVA]

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

True acclimatization to a higher altitude only happens after a few months. The best thing you can do to prepare yourself is interval training or cardio that builds up your wind and lowers your resting heart rate.

Lots of swimming or long distance running.

Last time I had a general checkup my doctor thought something was wrong with me due to my low resting heart rate. I run several half marathons a year and am typically at the gym 9 times a week. I wasn't joking about being a fitness rat.
I've been to Peru (11,000 ft) and only suffered from slight headaches in morning for the first few days. The water however gave me super colon blow.

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

You will probably still end up taking the START Bus in. Jackson is a ski where you really do not really need a car. The (extremely) rich folks who run things in Jackson do what they can to discourage skiers from driving in everyday to ride the mountain. There is a pay-to-park lot close to the base of the mountain, but there is a free-to-park satellite lot just a few miles down the road.

All of the START Buses on their way into the village and on their way back into town stop there. If you already have a car, I would drive to the lot, park there and just deal with the 7 minute, free bus ride to the resort.


Bring a book or magazine for the ride home. Don't forget to take a picture of the 3rd largest potato in the world in Driggs :-)

Thanks for the pointers.

[LuckyRVA]

Additionally, I'd like to do some cat boarding. Anyone have experience with any of the companies that do this around JH or near Targhee?

[jbernste03]

The closest ones are in Targhee, JH doesnt offer any. I could be and might be wrong. But i tried to find a company when i was out there last year and the closest i found was at Targhee. but they pick you up in Jackson

[LuckyRVA]

Ok then it's not just me. I was trying to find something in JH but couldn't find anything. JH has a "Cat Skiing" link on their website but its blank when you click the link. They do have heli trips it seems. But that's too rich for my blood this year.

[gstboy]

Originally Posted by LuckyRVA

Ok then it's not just me. I was trying to find something in JH but couldn't find anything. JH has a "Cat Skiing" link on their website but its blank when you click the link. They do have heli trips it seems. But that's too rich for my blood this year.

From what I've read, the nearest outfit is 48 miles away at Togwotee Snowcat Guides. Grand Targhee offers catskiing too.

[Tarzanman]

Originally Posted by ShredLife

Complete Bullshit. if that were in any way true climbing Everest would be impossible.

1-3 days.

At 6,000 ft (which is where the town of Jackson is), i doubt that the OP will notice much of a difference, but at 10,000 ft (the approx altitude of the Headwall hike), he will definitely notice a difference.

Regarding adjusting to altitude:

Altitude sickness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The general rule of thumb is to not ascend more than 300 metres (1,000 ft) per day to sleep. That is, one can climb from 3,000 (10,000 feet = 70 kPa) to 4,500 metres (15,000 feet = 58 kPa) in one day, but one should then descend back to 3,300 metres (11,000 feet = 67.5 kPa) to sleep. This process cannot safely be rushed, and this is why climbers need to spend days (or even weeks at times) acclimatising before attempting to climb a high peak.

So, even someone living in Denver would require about 5 days for full acclimatization to physical activity at 10,000 ft. One's mountain sickness may go away after a day or two, but you will still be huffing and puffing on that hike up the Headwall until you've been around for a week unless you already have godly cardio.

Also, people climbing Everest spend weeks doing it. Not days.

Anecdote: I happened to hike up a catwalk at Snowbird with a girl I was giving an impromptu lesson to. We had both just flown in the night before from Atlanta and were staying in the same house. 100 yards into our hike I was wheezing and she wasn't. This despite the 5-7 miles a week I had been running in preparation for the trip.

When I asked her why she wasn't gasping for breath like I was, she informed me that she had been training for a marathon for the past few weeks.

I could tell you other stories about other Atlantans in Breckenridge (elevation = ~9600 ft), but the short version is that you still won't be at 100% in just a few days at altitude.

[LuckyRVA]

Very informative post. Thank you.

[Listheeb21]

There is no shame in letting quicker hikers pass you on the way up. I speak from experience! There are actually two ways to access the Headwall/Casper Bowl/Crags. One is up Pepi's Bench, which can be annoying to get to on a board because it requires a straight line through some choppy terrain and a spot where you have to go uphill and around a corner, and by then you may have to skate the rest of the way. Wen you come around that corner there is a little chute they call Meet Your Maker, because if you dont exit cleanly you can cartwheel down into the rocks and trees below. I've still yet to try it. The other way up is called the Whote Spider, which is accessible directly behind the gondola building. Patrol will boot pack it if the area is open. It feels like climbing an 800 foot ladder, but it's a much quicker way up.

Targhee is worth hitting. There are almost no crowds there, and much of the terrain is wide open, though I did somehow manage to hit a tree while there... A buddy of mine lives out in Jackson an he says that Targhee will often get more snow than JHMR, but the real key is that it doesn't usually have the fog JHMR does. If JHMR is socked I, it can be really dangerous to ride the upper mountain. Those are the days to hit the Ghee. I think it's about an hour or so from Jackson, and they have shuttles that pick you up in town.

TM is right...I think it's $15 to park at the mountain. Also, if you like to eat before riding, check out Bubba's. They have a great breakfast. Ask for the Worker Special. It's not listed on the menu and it's only available on weekdays. It's your standard eggs/bacon/hash brown/toast fare, but $2 less than the menu version.

[LuckyRVA]

Great tips thank you. Does JHMR get socked in often?