Thread: Teton Pass or Turnagain Pass

thinking of making a move. Probably people here who have skied both. How about comparisons of terrain, conditions, crowds, driving from nearest towns. Driggs, Victor, Girdwood, Anchorage.

There's way more pussy at Teton Pass BFD!

And waaaaay lighter snow.

More tree skiing, closer access, lighter snow at Teton Pass. Fewer people, big rad lines, hell in a whiteout, better spring skiing at Turnagain.

Am Teton Pass/ Driggs longtime local, just skied Turnagain for the first time this year. Aleyeska is rad, Girdwood drinks a lot, and there's a lot of bro-bras in the Tetons. Doesn't get as dark down here. Good beer within crawling distance of either side of the Tetons. But you know, Alaska is BIG.

Don't forget about the fact that there's twice as much snow at Turnagain. Oh, and sleds are legal, which could go either way I guess.

At Turnagain, "the highs are higher and the lows are lower". A perfect day at Turnagain is as good as anywhere in the world. OTOH, there are plenty of days at Turnagain where it might be so socked in or even raining and the skiing would be marginal at best.

Teton pass will almost always be good, even if the weather sucks there's good tree skiing (and the weather sucks less than it does at Turnagain anyway). But a great day there doesn't compare to a great day at Turnagain, at least for me.

So, do you want to get higher than a kite and then hit rock bottom at turnagain, or just have a nice even level of methadone at Teton. Tough call.

If you are moving just for the skiing. Why not Thompson Pass /Valdez?. IMO The Cascades around Seattle have way more options. Tons of snow. Long season, better job opportunities, and more girl opportunities.

If you are moving just for the skiing. Why not Thompson Pass /Valdez?. IMO The Cascades around Seattle have way more options. Tons of snow. Long season, better job opportunities, and more girl opportunities.

I have spent some time in Valdez even pre heli. Thompson Pass can be brutal in winter. Sadly by March when you can actually start enjoying it the heli's and snowmachines are out in force. Skiing Thompson pass can also be a 60 to 100 mile round trip from town. I would stay where I am at over Valdez. Bottom line north wind can destroy Thompson pass for long periods of time. Turnagain holds conditions better than anywhere else I have skied in AK.
I think PNW might be a little like what I have here maybe too wet. My son says My Baker is the place and I should move to Glacier.
Main concern other than skiing is having a fall. Something Cordova sometimes lacks. Seems Tetons might have that and the realestate is cheap.

Originally Posted by BFD

I have spent some time in Valdez even pre heli. Thompson Pass can be brutal in winter. Sadly by March when you can actually start enjoying it the heli's and snowmachines are out in force. Skiing Thompson pass can also be a 60 to 100 mile round trip from town. I would stay where I am at over Valdez. Bottom line north wind can destroy Thompson pass for long periods of time. Turnagain holds conditions better than anywhere else I have skied in AK.
I think PNW might be a little like what I have here maybe too wet. My son says My Baker is the place and I should move to Glacier.
Main concern other than skiing is having a fall. Something Cordova sometimes lacks. Seems Tetons might have that and the realestate is cheap.

And there's a lot more to Teton skiing than Teton Pass. Park is full of 5000' lines, the west side has plenty of space and not many people. Teton Valley real estate is cheap, Jackson still pricey.

Two very different places. For me, I'd rather live in the Tetons and visit Turn. Pass. As stated, there is much more to offer in the Teton area than just the Pass. Quite different social scene to but you prolly have thought about what you're looking for there.

Not sure it's in the cards but you could rent a place early to mid season in the Teton area then give AK a shot for then end of the season. See what appeals to you more and make a move.

Originally Posted by AKturnanburn

Don't forget about the fact that there's twice as much snow at Turnagain. Oh, and sleds are legal, which could go either way I guess.

A guy from Colorado told me " I like sleds well enough but skinning at Turnagain its SO noisy ya gotta have an Ipod to drown out the sleds "

Dont do it Leo!!! If you leave AK you will spend the rest of your life trying to figure out how to get back!!! America (lower 48) is fun to visit and all but there is only 1 AK!! The way you and your boys like to get after it, as you know, 1 hour in any direction outside of Anchorage and your in it. I have been fortunate to travel all over and live between Tahoe and Alaska. As I said, there is only 1 ALASKA. I do keep hearing great things about Leavenworth, WA but...

Quinner

As stated above, if you already live in and love Alaska then there is no other place. That being said, The Tetons have lots and lots of cliff bands to huck off of and tons of trees to ride whereas Turnagain has Big Open Bowls. You can pretty much drive around The Tetons in a day whereas The Chugach goes on forever and ever. Salt Lake is close to The Tetons, by Alaska standards, as is Big Sky. But Hatchers Pass is near here as is Seward. One thing the Jackson area has over Alaska is a thing called "Summer" and "Sun", but it gets HOT there. Idaho is chock full of hotsprings too, as well as some fenced off military areas with who knows what going on inside (underground nuclear weapons training maybe?). Then there's the police in Jackson Hole, stay away from them and that place! All in all everything and everywhere is what you make of it... Good Luck! and don't forget about your PFD

Originally Posted by XXX-er

A guy from Colorado told me " I like sleds well enough but skinning at Turnagain its SO noisy ya gotta have an Ipod to drown out the sleds "

No sleds on the east side of the road at Turnagain. Then again, you're listening to a guy from Colorado.

c) Rogers Pass

Originally Posted by XXX-er

A guy from Colorado told me " I like sleds well enough but skinning at Turnagain its SO noisy ya gotta have an Ipod to drown out the sleds "

Somehow I never noticed the horrible racket.

Sleds are legal in lots of aspects at Teton Pass, just not trailers so you need to keep em' in the bed. Of course you also have the Togwhotee pass area in JH, touring in Yellowstone, the snake river mountains....

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

c) Rogers Pass

Pshh that's in Canada, who wants to ski there?

Looks like for Rogers pass you live in Revelstoke or Golden. Place looks good but I would end up living in a $300,000 mobile home. Looks like at least a 45 minute drive each way to the pass from those towns. Just guessing on time based on mileage. That is really my biggest concern , time in the car and traffic. Terrain is priority over snow quality. I think a road trip may have to happen. Just hate driving.

If you hate driving, you should stay in Cordova. Juneau might be as much road as you want - and more. Lower 48 = driving.

Originally Posted by panchosdad

No sleds on the east side of the road at Turnagain. Then again, you're listening to a guy from Colorado.

ya but he wasn"t a dentist

the traffic around rogers pass is crazy you probably wana stay home eh especialy last week in January when we always go ?

If yer listening huge thanx to that other american who left his deer steaks at Asulkan hut

teton pass depends a lot on where you live-idaho or wyoming. because the big tours, the ones that *might* make up for the terrain you know in AK, are largely up north in the national park. which is low-key enough in winter, and close to jackson (20 min). but far from teton valley in idaho for day trips if you not keen on the driving.

san juan ridge

Cooke City, MT?

http://cookecitychronicle.blogspot.com/

Finally made it to Teton Pass. What a place. I don't know if it always skis this good but wow. Hands down this place over Turnagain. You are lucky to live here. And yes the amount of skiing in the park is unreal.