If you're looking for chill groomers, long lift lines, grainy man-made snow and two minute runs, go ride in Iowa. If you want to ride thigh-deep powder, cut buttery powder turns through woods that feel like back country without dying in an avalanche, up your ManScore and take in some of the best vistas you will ever see; ride Jackson Hole. 

I went to Jackson Hole on an impulsive trip to meet up with some friends who had been there all week. I only made it for a day and a half but it was a genuinely epic 36 hours. Even though I missed out on most of the powder on the main runs, we sniffed out the stashes of deeeep powder in the woods and were rewarded with untracked snow and beautiful wilderness isolation. It occasionally took us 45 minutes to complete a single run, due to the sheer expanse of mountain we were traversing while wandering off into the woods in search of the next powder stash.

Situated amongst the towering Grand Tetons range, Jackson Hole boasts some of the steepest big mountain terrain you can find without spending thousands on a helicopter ride in Alaska. The steepness is intimidating when looking over the edge, but if you are fortunate enough to be at Jackson on a powder day, you will find yourself wishing it was even steeper. On skis or a board, all you do is lean back a bit, keep the tip(s) up and relish the feeling of riding on a cloud. Of course, if you are anything like me, you will get overconfident after an hour or two of riding on a cloud, start riding faster and then get the opportunity to relish the gentle caress of a powder pillow as you tumble through it. "The Myers powder front flip" (an accidental somersaulting slam that ended with me back on my board and still riding) became a fairly common occurrence in my two days on the mountain.

If you are looking for complete insanity and mega ManScore points, search no further than Corbett's Couloir. Corbett’s is a huge cliff drop into a chute at the very top of the summit, and has infamously claimed the egos of many a skilled rider. However, if you manage to talk yourself over the edge and then also manage to ride it out, you will be legendary amongst your friends.

The mountain itself is—unsurprisingly—immense and gorgeous, but an unexpected and awesome attribute was the general stoke of everyone on it. Everyone you talk to on the tram or the chair is cool and out to have a blast in the snow. The Jackson Hole staff are also rad. They are hilarious, superbly welcoming and seem to be giddy with a contagious joy that must infect people who stay on the mountain too long. Every time we talked to a lift operator we were met with a huge grin, a joke or the occasional compliment on a board or jacket.

My experience at Jackson Hole was a whirlwind of epic riding, amazing views and great camaraderie. As we grabbed the last chair of the day on Friday, our lifty passed along this wisdom: "have fun tonight guys, but not so much fun that water and ibuprofen won't cure the hangover. I expect to see you bright and early tomorrow!"

...If only we had taken that advice.

Mike Myers is a professional pilot, offshore sailboat racer, Porsche enthusiast, and adventure seeker who can usually be found in his favorite hipster coffee shop if he isn’t out chasing life’s next great experience.