Jackson Hole Winter LandscapeS: Grand Tetons & BEYOND in Snow
Jackson Hole, Wyoming is usually framed through action. Step back, and it reveals something quieter: perspective.
The Teton Range rises abruptly from the valley floor. Peaks like Grand Teton and Mount Moran dominate the skyline. From different viewpoints, the same mountains change character — sharp and imposing up close, layered and softened from distance. Light shifts perception further: morning highlights contrast, midday flattens depth, late afternoon restores it. Clouds can fragment scale, revealing only fragments of peaks. The mountains themselves remain constant; our view does not.
Distance and angle alter everything. Up close, the Tetons feel confrontational. Step back, and they become composed. Quiet. Measured. Restraint matters here.
The final image, Broken Spectre, departs from clarity. Fractured and unresolved, it mirrors the range’s inherent imperfection — wind, erosion, and shifting light constantly shape what we see. Jackson Hole is often framed as pristine; in reality, it is defined by exposure, pressure, and time.
From Schwabacher’s Landing to Oxbow Bend, every vantage point offers a different Teton composition. Observing the mountains from Jackson Lake emphasizes depth and distance, while valley floor perspectives reveal dramatic relief and jagged ridge lines. These viewpoints are critical for capturing the grand scale of Jackson Hole’s landscapes.
The Tetons do not need explanation. They reveal themselves based on where you stand, how long you look, and the light that catches them. For landscape photographers and visitors alike, Jackson Hole offers endless variation — each view distinct, each moment unique.
Snowboarding Jackson Hole: Terrain, Difficulty, Reality
If you watch enough Travis Rice footage, at some point Jackson Hole, Wyoming stops being entertainment and starts feeling like unfinished business. The terrain looks raw, the lines look endless, and the riding looks fundamentally different from most resort snowboarding.
I had snowboarded extensively across Europe — Austria (St. Anton, Zürs, Lech), Switzerland (Titlis), France (Chamonix), Italy, Germany, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic — but never in the United States. After years of putting it off, we finally pulled the plug and went to Jackson Hole over Christmas.
This is an honest assessment of snowboarding Jackson Hole — the terrain, the difficulty, and the reality — without marketing gloss.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Vertical drop: 4,139 ft
Summit elevation: 10,450 ft
Skiable acres: 2,500
Trails: 131 (this understates how much is ungroomed)
13 Lifts
5 Green Runs
31 Blue Runs
26 Double Blue Runs
53 Black Runs
26 Double Black Runs
4 Pipe/Park/Race
Lifts: 13 total, including the Aerial Tram
Average snowfall: ~459 inches annually
Terrain split: Roughly 50% expert
Jackson Hole is not big because of sprawl. It is big because of vertical, pitch, and consequence.
Arrival Reality: Weather Whiplash
When we arrived in Jackson on Christmas Eve, the first reaction was disappointment. In town, it was raining and sleeting — the kind of weather that immediately makes you question your timing and your decision-making.
What the valley does, however, is not what the mountain does.
Up on the summit, it was snowing, with the rain line clearly below the resort. By the time I rode my first day, the weather had flipped completely and delivered fresh pow.
That first day on the mountain was a bluebird day — clear skies, fresh snow, and full visibility across the upper terrain. The contrast was sharp and instructive: Jackson Hole can look discouraging at town level while delivering exactly what you came for above it.
That variability is not a footnote. It is part of the Jackson Hole experience, and it rewards patience.
Terrain Breakdown: What Snowboarding Jackson Hole Is Actually Like
The Tram Changes Everything
The Aerial Tram is the defining feature of Jackson Hole. It drops you directly into steep, sustained terrain with no warm-up and no easy reset. Unlike many European resorts, there is very little easing into the mountain. You are either ready or adapting immediately.
Bowls That Demand Control
Rendezvous Bowl and adjacent zones are wide, open, and steep — but not forgiving. Snow quality shifts quickly with wind and exposure. This is not automatic hero snow. Edge control and line choice matter more than style.
Trees That Punish Mistakes
Tree runs are tight, irregular, and often steep. Spacing is inconsistent, visibility can change quickly, and mistakes carry consequences. These are not casual glade runs.
Groomers Exist — But That’s Not the Point
Yes, Jackson Hole has groomed runs. No, they are not why people travel here. If your riding depends on corduroy, you will only be scratching the surface.
Difficulty: A Straight Assessment
Jackson Hole is legitimately difficult, but not in a theatrical way.
Steeps are sustained, not short pitches
Many runs are ungroomed by default
Conditions vary daily and must be read, not assumed
Fatigue sets in faster due to vertical and pitch
Rating of the runs (blue, black etc.) is set in the context of the resort (a blue run here is not the same as a blue somewhere else, it’s more difficult)
If you are comfortable riding off-piste terrain in St. Anton or Chamonix, you have the technical foundation. What changes is how dense the expert terrain is and how quickly you are committed to it.
Jackson Hole does not allow much hesitation.
Reality Check: Hype vs. Experience
Jackson Hole earns its reputation — but it does not hand anything to you.
It is not cinematic every day
Powder is not guaranteed
Conditions can be firm, wind-affected, or demanding
The mountain exposes weaknesses quickly
That is precisely why it is respected. This is a place where terrain dictates behavior, not the other way around.
Jackson Hole vs. European Riding
Having ridden extensively in Europe, the differences are clear:
Less infrastructure above treeline
Fewer traverse-heavy routes
More fall-line riding
Fewer chances to reset once committed
European resorts often give you options. Jackson Hole often gives you a decision — and then expects you to live with it.
Who Jackson Hole Is (and Is Not) For
You should go if:
You are comfortable on steep, ungroomed terrain
You enjoy problem-solving terrain rather than cruising
You want a mountain that demands focus and respect
You should reconsider if:
You rely on grooming
You dislike variable conditions
You want a relaxed, scenic experience
Snowboarding Gear I Rode at Jackson Hole
Gear
Snowboard: LibTech T Rice Pro 2026
Binding: Union Atlas
Boots: Thirty Two TM-2
Clothing:686 (Gore-Tex)
Helmet: Anon Windham Wavecel
Jackson Hole is not forgiving of soft, park-oriented setups. Stability matters more than playfulness. I also have a Libtech Skate Banana and an old Ride free ride board but switched on purpose for this trip.
What worked well:
A stiffer, performance-oriented board with strong edge hold and stability at speed
Responsive bindings
Boots that prioritized control over comfort
If your board chatters at speed or folds under pressure, Jackson Hole will make that obvious.
Ski Lessons for Kids: An Underrated Strength
We also signed the kids (7 and 5) up for ski lessons through Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, including full equipment rentals. The process was efficient, well-organized, and professional — no chaos, no wasted mornings, and no confusion. The staff also made it fun and entertaining for the kids. It was their first time, including first time seeing snow.
More importantly, the instruction worked. The kids had a genuinely great experience, progressed quickly, and came off the mountain energized rather than frustrated. By the end of the trip, skiing was no longer something they were being guided through — it was something they wanted more of.
That matters. Jackson Hole is known for expert terrain, but it is equally capable of building confidence at the beginner level. The result was simple: the trip didn’t just deliver on riding — it ignited their desire to keep improving and come back.
Final Take
Snowboarding Jackson Hole is not about checking a box. It is about riding a mountain that does not soften itself for the rider. The terrain dictates the experience, and the experience exposes your strengths and weaknesses quickly.
If Travis Rice planted the seed, Jackson Hole will tell you whether it was earned.
Don Pan // Sunday // Oct19
Today, sore muscles grounded my bike, but I turned the day into a visual adventure instead. Skipping the Don Pan Hammer Ride group on wheels, I captured their thrilling approach to Key Biscayne. The energy as they surged toward the bridge, then sped down it in a blur of motion, was electrifying through my lens—a different kind of rush entirely.
Puerto Rico + Bad Bunny
NOW BOARDING: Flight AA1341 MIA to SJU
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NOW BOARDING: Flight AA1341 MIA to SJU 〰️
A few snapshots from recent trip to Puerto Rico to see Bad Bunny La Residencia en el Choli
Old San Juan
Condado
787 Coffee
ERIN
Residencia En El Choli
Whispers of Tennessee: A Family Journey Through Green Hills and Rainy Roads
At the edge of June, we traded the salt and rhythm of Miami for the hush of Tennessee hills. We stayed in Kingston Springs, tucked away in a house that felt more like a gentle invitation than a rental. Decorated in the quiet luxury of Restoration Hardware tones—linen sofas, soft neutrals, moody lighting—it had a piano in the corner, a banjo hanging on the wall, and a guitar leaning in wait. Music felt like part of the architecture.
Mornings started slowly. Steam curled from coffee mugs while rabbits hopped across the dewy front lawn like they owned the place. The kids played in socked feet, chasing each other between wooden beams and window light. It was a different rhythm—a little looser, a little softer.
At the edge of June, we traded the salt and rhythm of Miami for the hush of Tennessee hills. We stayed in Kingston Springs, tucked away in a house that felt more like a gentle invitation than a rental. Decorated in the quiet luxury of Restoration Hardware tones—linen sofas, soft neutrals, moody lighting—it had a piano in the corner, a banjo hanging on the wall, and a guitar leaning in wait. Music felt like part of the architecture.
Mornings started slowly. Steam curled from coffee mugs while rabbits hopped across the dewy front lawn like they owned the place. The kids played in socked feet, chasing each other between wooden beams and window light. It was a different rhythm—a little looser, a little softer.
We wandered.
Nash Family Creamery
To Nash Family Creamery, where the day began not with dessert, but with dirt, grass, and the earthy heartbeat of a working farm. We took a tour first, tracing the path from pasture to table. We stood beside calm-eyed cows being milked, watched calves nuzzle in the shade, and learned the quiet mechanics of how milk becomes memory. Afterward, we rewarded ourselves with grilled cheese sandwiches on thick slices of bread, buttery and warm, and ice cream under the sun—melting just fast enough to make you grateful.
Franklin
To Franklin, with its Main Street charm and antique storefronts, perfect for walking hand-in-hand under a shifting sky.
Leiper’s Fork
To Leiper’s Fork, where Americana lives and breathes—a town that feels like the past isn’t gone, just slower.
Leiper’s Fork Distillery
The distillery there offers grown-ups a taste of smoke and spice.
Nashville
There were bursts of city too. We made our way into Nashville—Broadway for neon chaos and live guitars that spilled onto the street, 12 South for boutiques and donuts.
The rain met us there, warm and sudden, washing over concrete and laughter alike. We didn’t mind. We ducked into shops and soaked it all in. Sunshine returned in time to dry our shoes.
The trip wasn’t polished or perfect, but it was textured—soft where it needed to be, rough around the edges where memories are made. Rain and music, road trips and naps, and sticky fingers from melting chocolate.
Tennessee gave us space to just be—together, quiet, loud, curious.
And that little house in Kingston Springs? It gave us something else: a pause. A way to hold the summer in our hands before it slipped too far ahead.
Shot entirely on Kodak Portra 400 35mm film with a Leica MP, these photos showcase the rich tones and nostalgic feel of film photography across rural and urban Tennessee.
Developed and scanned by Palm Film Lab in Miami, FL.
How I Film Road Bike Rides with GoPros and Edit on Mac Mini
Most weekends, I’m out riding. Sometimes it’s me and a buddy. Other days, it’s a small crew—five to ten of us rotating and pulling. And now and then, it’s a bigger group roll-out from one of the local bike shops. We hit the usual: Key Biscayne at sunrise, Robert Is Here, the stretch up to Riviera Beach. The rides are therapy. Filming them just captures the motion.
Here’s how I do it without overcomplicating anything.
Most weekends, I’m out riding. Sometimes it’s me and a buddy. Other days, it’s a small crew—five to ten of us rotating and pulling. And now and then, it’s a bigger group roll-out from one of the local bike shops. We hit the usual: Key Biscayne at sunrise, Robert Is Here, the stretch up to Riviera Beach. The rides are therapy. Filming them just captures the motion.
Here’s how I do it without overcomplicating anything.
The Setup: Two GoPros, Front and Rear
I keep it simple: two GoPros (Hero 12 Black), one mounted up front underneath my Wahoo Bolt, the other under the saddle or saddle stem. That gives me both forward motion and a clean rear view—perfect for group rides and catching drafting lines, breakaways, or those tight moments when the group gets spicy.
Both cameras shoot in 5.3K at 24 fps, with 10-bit color turned on. Everything else stays default—no flat profiles, over-sharpening or over-tuning. I want the footage to look how the ride felt: clear, fast, real.
The detailed settings…
Video: Standard
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Resolution: 5.3K
Color: Natural
Raw Audio: Off
Wind: Auto
Shutter: Auto (unless you use ND filter, in which case you can sync it with your fps, of example 1/48 at 24fps)
EV Comp: 0
White Balance: Auto
ISO Min: 100
ISO Max: 1600
Sharpness: Medium
Lens: Linear
Hypersmooth: Off for Neewer 1.2 anamorphic, On for regular GoPro lens
ProTune: On
Encoding: 10-bit
Optional: Anamorphic Lens for Extra Width and 16:9 format
Sometimes I’ll throw on a Neewer 1.2x anamorphic lens on the front and back GoPro (see photos above). It stretches the field of view a bit and brings in a little more light and road. It’s got a raw, gritty feel—something between skate video and handheld doc. Great flares as well. But when I use it, I always turn off HyperSmooth—the stabilization otherwise results in warping.
Editing: Fast Cuts, Real Pace
Once I’m back, everything goes into DaVinci Resolve on a Mac mini M4 base model. It handles the high-res clips fine, no lag. I don’t spend hours color grading or adding effects, just some simple preset transitions.
Scenes are 4 to 6 seconds max—keeps it tight and lets me sync to music easier.
I edit to the beat of a specific song, something that rolls like the ride. I usually have the specific song picked before editing.
Final video stays under 120 seconds. No filler. Just rhythm, motion, and light.
Where We Ride
It’s mostly Miami and South Florida. Key Biscayne is the go-to, but we’ll head south to Homestead (Robert is Here) or swing north for 100-mile ride to West Palm or further. Depending on the weekend, I might be riding tempo with a friend, rotating pulls in a tight group of ten, or hanging on with one of the faster shop rides.
Why I Film
I don’t film to make something cinematic. I film to remember the ride. There’s something about the sound of the tires, the wind off the causeway, the buzz of the pack—that’s hard to explain but easy to feel when you watch it back.
The footage doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to move.