Ride Stats:
Temp at start: -3F
Total Distance: 38 miles
Total Time: 6:38:00
Elevation Gain: 2,200’
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/SzjtfAkUKfI/AAAAAAAAEvo/UdIQU8od3N8/s400/Jackpine+Topo.jpg)
Jackpine Loop has been in the back of my mind as a snow bike route for a couple of years and after hearing a rumor last year that Freemont County actually groomed it a couple of times for snowmobile trail riders I really wanted to see it firsthand. Although it hasn’t been groomed yet this year, heavy snow machine use left us a defined track around the entire loop and it was 99.5% rideable. Jackpine Loop itself is 25 miles and the approach from Tetonia adds 6.5 miles each way. With good conditions, I think the 25-mile loop could be done in about four hours.
A big snow bike ride in cold temps forces you to nail your clothing choices or you will suffer. After sweating non-stop on the 2.5 hour climb, my core got cold on the descent which caused my hands to go numb and I never got them back for the rest of the ride. Once my hands go numb, I neglect eating as often and/or adjusting tire pressure because those simple tasks are no longer easy. I felt great for the first 5 hours of the ride but my speed faded at the end because I wasn’t eating as often as I should have been late in the ride. Does anyone else have a hard time chewing when your face is cold?
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/SzjtbHDvtRI/AAAAAAAAEvg/VGAtnh6Af2A/s400/Barn.jpg)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/SzjtXLrvJZI/AAAAAAAAEvY/8n7tuYQSFRE/s400/Horse+groomed+Felt.jpg)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/SzjtS7P-6BI/AAAAAAAAEvQ/xX_l9m3RfT0/s400/JayP+Jackpine.jpg)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/SzjtNpY1NrI/AAAAAAAAEvI/j7e2iZZfJ4g/s400/Jackpine+Bike.jpg)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OT5Jl61zmTI/SzjtHc3AR1I/AAAAAAAAEvA/XbdPDw7rTBY/s400/Jackpine+Tetons.jpg)