Grand Teton National Park Climbing & Backcountry Information: LEADING EDGE OF ARCTIC AIR

We knew the cold air had arrived when we reached the top of 25 Short. Our skis stopped sliding and our exposed skin began to freeze. It was only -3 on that clear afternoon as the arctic air settled in for the next week. So we quickly snapped a couple photos and skied down before dark. Since that day, temperatures have dropped and ranged between 16 below zero and a daytime high of zero at the JHMR Raymer Station (9360'). A recently heard comment, this is the earliest cold snap in twenty years.