Lifetimes that could have been spent working have been squandered on fishing, floating and kayaking this river and it's many tributaries. The winter is long and even the most hardy are ready for spring when it finally happens in late April. To stay sane in winter requires activity of some kind and for a lot of the population that means skiing. Two ski areas in the valley and one a short drive to the other side of the Tetons supply the Alpine skier and snowboarder with all the terrain they could wish for. The nordic skier has access to many miles of groomed trails and thousands of acres of national forest and park.
Summer comes late and leaves early and so is particularly precious.
Snow still lingers in the mountains well into June and snow storms on July 4 th are not unheard of, but hikers and climbers force the season as best they can. Horse back riding and both mountain and road cycling are popular and well supported summer activities. If it wasn't for events like the renowned Grand Teton Music Festival and the Fall Art Festival the Jackson Hole area might quite reasonably be thought of exclusively as a playground for the outdoor enthusiast. Thankfully it is much more than that and those who come here for more than the briefest visit seem to come back again and again.