Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Feb. 21-26, 2008

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Enjoy four days of skiing in the Grand Tetons with the Ski SIG of American Mensa and soaking up the "still the Wild West" ambience of Jackson, Wyoming -- where a sign in the airport reads "Howdy, Partner!", and entrances to the Town Square are wreathed with elk antlers.

    * Registration
    * Lodging
    * Skiing Jackson Hole
    * Not Skiing
    * Hospitality
    * Meals
    * Rates
    * Lift Tickets
    * Getting There
    * E-mail Lists
    * Deadlines & Payments
    * Questions?
    * WWW Sites

Registration
The registration fee is $40 to cover 5 days of Hospitality. You are welcome to make any other arrangements for lodging and skiing, but the registration fee will be charged daily for access to the Hospitality Suite. $40 payable to Ski SIG, send to: Connie Varner, 203 Persimmon Place, Apex, NC 27523. Due December 3, 2007.

Trip Registration Form

Jackson08Registration.doc (MS Word)

Jackson08Registration.pdf (Adobe Acrobat)

Lodging
On a quiet street just 3 blocks from Jackson Hole's Historic Town Square, tucked among aspen and pine trees, stands The Parkway Inn. Offering guests a friendly mix of modern comfort, old world charm, and warm hospitality for over 30 years, The Parkway Inn is just a few minutes drive from Grand Teton National Park, and the Jackson Hole Ski Resort and less than an hour from Yellowstone National Park.

* 3 blocks from historic town square
* 5 steps to shuttle bus stop
* 10 restaurants within 4 blocks
* Nightlife, shops, art galleries
* Continental breakfast
* Ice skating and tubing nearby
* Night skiing nearby
* Dollar rent-a-car 1 block
* Indoor pool, spas, saunas
* Full exercise gym
* Pick up for all activities at our door

(Note that this is NOT "Ski-in Ski-out" access to Jackson Hole, but the shuttle to the slopes stops right at the door and shuttle tickets are included in your package price.)

You'll be treated to all of the comforts of home at the Parkway Inn, which is highly recommended by Pattie Housewright, fellow M and president of the Tampa Bay Snow Skiers and Boarders. Check out: http://www.parkwayinn.com for more details.

Skiing Jackson Hole
The Jackson Hole Ski Area has the longest continuous vertical rise of any ski area in the U.S.; 4,139 feet from the valley floor to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. On an average day at the Jackson Hole Ski Resort there are only 1,750 skiers skiing on the 2,500 acres of terrain at the ski area, offering one of the lowest skier densities (one skier per one-and-one-half acres!) of any ski resort in the country.

Jackson Hole has one of the lowest base elevations of any ski resort area in the Rocky Mountains, at just 6,311 feet. Most other ski resorts in Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico have base elevations between 6,900 and 9,500 feet. With an average annual snowfall of 450 inches, the powder at the Resort is usually deep with minimal lift lines-except for the busy holidays. First opened in 1965, the Mountain has slowly become one of the most renowned ski areas in Wyoming and the Western United States. With more than 2,500 acres of terrain spread over two adjacent mountains, the Resort boasts runs that exceed four miles and offers 24 miles of groomed trails.

MOUNTAIN CHARACTERISTICS: • Terrain: 2 mountains, Apres Vous and Rendezvous • 2,500 acres of in-bounds terrain • Vertical drop of 4,139 feet (greatest continuous rise in U.S.) • Base elevation: 6,311 feet/1924 meters • Summit elevation:10,450 feet/3185 meters • Uphill capacity:12,096 skiers per hour • Open backcountry gate system accesses over 3000+ acres

RUNS: • 50% expert • 40% intermediate • 10% beginner

LIFTS: • One aerial tram (closed in 2008) • One eight pax high speed gondola • Two detachable quad chairlifts • Four fixed grip quad chairlifts • One triple chairlift • One double chairlift • One magic carpet

SNOW: 450+" year (10.2 meters)

SNOW MAKING: 160 acres of snowmaking coverage.

TEMPERATURE: Average temperature is 21 degrees Fahrenheit in the valley. Temperature inversions caused by warm air rising and cold air staying on the valley floor will raise slope temperatures by 20-40°

SNOWBOARDING: Snowboarding is allowed on 100% of our mountain. There is a SUPER-pipe and a terrain park located under the Apres Vous High Speed Quad for both skiers and riders. 

Not Skiing
Non-skiers are welcome - many other activities are available (snowmobile tours into Yellowstone National Park are very popular here). Even cross-country skiers are welcome and sometimes get a group together. :) But expect most people to be there for the downhill alpine skiing!

Hospitality
Après ski we generally have beer, wine, soft drinks and light snacks. Hospitality hours are 4:30-6:30 PM (or when everyone's gone to dinner). You are free to participate with the group or not, as you wish.

Meals
Breakfast is provided by the Inn. We typically go to one or more restaurants after après-ski hospitality. There is always a vegetarian group and others form as necessary.

Rates
Package includes breakfast at the Inn, three days' lift tickets at the famous Jackson Hole Resort, après-ski hospitality with open bar, snacks, fun conversation, and the great company of your fellow Mensa skiers. 

Package options:

Registration (only) for February 21-26 - $40
Lodging/registration King Deluxe – one person $820.50/two people $1042
Lodging/registration King/Queen Superior – one person $892.75/two people $1124.25
Lodging/registration, roommate match in a 2-Queen Superior Room - $240 (now), balance payment due December 14th

The King Deluxe Room has a King Bed and private bath with shower tub. The Superior Rooms (King or two Queens) have private bath with jetted tubs. These lodging/registration prices include 3-day lift ticket for Jackson Hole!

Lift Tickets
3 days at Jackson Hole are included in your package price. If you choose to go to Jackson Hole for a fourth (or fifth) day, both the lift ticket and the shuttle ticket are "on you." Some of us may choose to use the fourth day to take a bus to Grand Targhee: http://www.grandtarghee.com. Also, skiing is available right in town at Snowking: http://www.snowking.com

Getting There
You are responsible for getting yourself there and back. The Jackson Airport (code JAC) is serviced by United, United Express, Skywest, Northwest, American, and Delta and has many flights per day. All Trans runs a shuttle from the airport to town, and the shuttle stops right at the Parkway Inn -- the price is $28 for 1 person round trip. There is a discount for multiple people traveling together. Check out: http://www.jacksonholealltrans.com

E-mail Lists
Can be used to arrange roommates, airport transportation, coordinate other details, ask questions or just talk snow.  There are two:  1) "skisig-announce" is for announcements only (low traffic), and 2) "skisig-talk" is for discussion (can get a bit chatty).  To subscribe, go to http://www.lists.us.mensa.org/mailman/listinfo/skisig-announce and/or
http://www.lists.us.mensa.org/mailman/listinfo/skisig-talk.

Deadlines and Payments
Two Ways to Pay:

1) Call the Parkway Inn (1-800-247-8390) and provide full payment for your room via major credit card. Ask for DayDay (group coordinator) and tell her you are with SkiSIG of American Mensa.
-or-
2) Send partial payment to the Ski SIG -- $200 due by November 5, 2007, balance payment due by December 14th.

If you are requesting roommate matching (same gender only), you'll need to pay via the Ski SIG, and we will do our best to match you with a roommate. For roommate matching, $200 is due to the Ski SIG by November 5, 2007, balance payment due by December 14th. This does not mean that space will be available until then.

Everything is refundable until December 14th. Refunds after December 14th are subject to resale of your space. We must receive payment in full (or you must have paid the Parkway Inn) by December 14th. Payments to the SIG can only be made by check payable to "Ski SIG". Print and fill out the registration form on the web site and send payments (checks written to "Ski SIG") to: Connie Varner, 203 Persimmon Place, Apex, NC 27523

If you wish to arrive a day early or stay a day late, work it out with DayDay (no guarantee of Hospitality or roommate matching for extra days).

Not included: Transportation to/from Jackson, WY; Lunch & dinner, all days; Lift ticket for fourth day of skiing -- options include Grand Targhee or Snow King. Optionally, arrange a snowmobile trip into Yellowstone Park, or just spend the fourth day relaxing, shopping, etc.

Questions?
Check out the WWW sites below for massive amounts of detail. 
Still curious or just have something to say? Post a question on the skisig-talk list (see E-Mail Lists).
If all else fails, contact Connie at: Trip2008@skisig.us.mensa.org

WWW Sites
Ski SIG Announcements Email List:  http://www.lists.us.mensa.org/mailman/listinfo/skisig-announce
Ski SIG Discussion Email List:  http://www.lists.us.mensa.org/mailman/listinfo/skisig-talk
Updates of this announcement: http://ski.us.mensa.org
Jackson Hole Airport: http://www.jacksonholeairport.com
Parkway Inn: http://www.parkwayinn.com
Jackson Hole Resort: http://www.jacksonhole.com
Jackson Visitor Information: http://www.jacksonholewy.com
Grand Targhee Resort: http://www.grandtarghee.com
Snowking Resort: http://www.snowking.com

Disclaimer
Neither the Ski SIG of American Mensa, American Mensa Ltd, nor any of the officers nor organizers nor coordinators nor members thereof is in any way responsible for any harm that may result from traveling or engaging in any activities, physical or otherwise.