100 Years – Winter Travel, Before It Was “Easy”
“Living in Jackson Hole is 95% survival, and 5% getting ahead in life”, noted an early timer. Only a few roads were plowed in the winter months and so many folks were isolated. For the Triangle X, the nearest motor vehicle access was at least 12 miles away. Miles separated families from the neighbors.
Long wooden skis or snowshoes with woven rawhide (b
oth often handmade) were common conveyances for most locals. All ranches had working teams for feeding livestock, logging timber and for travel. Like many, the Triangle X had a covered sleigh (a canvas top over a wagon box) with a small wood stove to keep passengers warm for the multi-hour trips when temperatures often were stuck below zero. A few folks kept dog teams for delivering the mail or moving supplies over long distances at a quicker pace. A winter festival brought locals to Jackson to watch dog team and horse drawn cutter races.
Some motorized vehicles were uniquely adapted for winter use. The Weasel was a WWII tracked landing craft that some configured for snow travel. One was made available to the Turners for a rare winter escape for a family vacation. Loaded with luggage and the family dressed in fancy apparel for travel, the Weasel caught fire and burned all the belongings. One of the most popular conveyances was the snow plane. With a homebuilt cab, this
unique machine was equipped with an airplane engine mounted facing to the rear. It traveled on 3 skis arranged in a tripod pattern and could reach speeds of 70 mph with the right snow conditions. In the late 40’s, John lost 3 fingers on his right hand while trying to reach a shutoff switch with a run away snow plane,
Likely Jackson Hole’s first and only sailing sled was built by Skipper Mapes. It was cleverly designed but this innovative approach to winter travel never caught on in the valley. Snow conditions and sustaining winds were never predictable.
Louise recalled one of her more ‘uncomfortable’ winter treks. Residing at the ranch, she was pregnant and expecting the birth of her first son, H
arold. She suddenly felt early labor pains and advised John that they needed to quickly head for the hospital in Jackson. He strapped her to a toboggan and began pulling her on his skis. The trip involved several miles to their parked car. She vividly remembers the painful jarring of the sled as it was pulled up over snow drifts and then slammed down on the opposite side.
