Hurricane winds

Some of the lifties took this video at the top of the chair lift at the resort in Jackson last week. The winds reached up to 110 mph! On the western slope of the Teton range, where I live, the winds topped out at 85 mph at Grand Targhee Resort.

Easter Snow

Grand Targhee received nearly 40 inches of snow in the last 5 days! Here are a few pictures from today and the last few days.

Hero Snow

Yesterday, I rode my snowboard till my legs gave up. I could barely make it back to the base area and to the car. It snowed nearly a foot the night before so we raced up to the ski hill first thing in the morning and were the first people on the first chair lift. Obviously it was a GREAT way to spend the day.

Ranger Pics

Here are a couple of pictures of the area I worked in as a backcountry Ranger. The group of people I'm with were the volunteer trail crew. They spent a week volunteering their time and skills on badly eroded trails in the Jedediah Smith Wilderness. Working as a Ranger, I spent my days and nights alone in the wilderness, so it was nice to have these folks here for a week. I really miss that job.

Snowboarding, Scenery and a happy dog

Surrounding Scenery

Priscilla's Visit

Priscilla is extremely determined to learn how to snowboard while she is visiting me from Tennessee. She picked it up so quick that we have been on every lift to the top of every mountain at the resort. It's been great watching her get better each day on the hill. Here are a few pictures from this week.

Valentines Day Breakfast

Happy Valentines Day everyone! Not my favorite holiday AT ALL! Quite possibly my most loathed holiday. However, when I fried the bacon this morning with breakfast, they took on an "L" shape. And when I put the bacon on the plate next to the biscuit... WHA LA!

Danna's Birthday Disco Party

Since Danna had a birthday during her visit we figured, "Hey, why not rent out the TeePee in Alta for the party?" After all, the TeePee is one of the most unique buildings I've ever been in. It was a great turn out! Everyone dressed in appropriate 70's disco attire. I think I can confidently say that she had the best birthday EVER!

Huckleberry Hot Spring in Yellowstone National Park

For Danna's birthday, we cross country skied out to Huckleberry Hot Spring in Yellowstone National Park.
It was snowing all afternoon while we soaked in the spring. The water temperature was PERFECT! We were ready to make it our permanent residence but the Park Service probably wouldn't like that too much.

33 inches of snow in 24 hours!

Here is Danna modeling what 33 inches of snow looks like. And this is only the parking lot! It was waist deep on the mountain.

Danna takes on Idaho!

Yesterday my Tennessee buddy arrived in Jackson Hole. We had quite the welcoming party for her once we made it back in Driggs. We have so much planned for her to do, see and experience in the short week of her visit. Today she cross country skied for the first time and did great! Tomorrow she is going to get on a snowboard for the 2nd time in her life with 25 inches of new snow that has fallen in the last 24 hours! Monday, she'll be watching her first Broomball match, Tuesday (her birthday) we are skiing to a hot spring in Yellowstone for a soak, then later that evening we are throwing a 70's disco party for her. I think she may be ready to move here by the end of the week.

New Years Eve

I love New Years Eve! Every New Years has been special to me. Even the ones where I'm sitting at home watching the ball drop on T.V. or even sleeping through the New Year festivities! These are a couple of pictures from the evenings events. I don't need much of a reason or excuse to wear a feather boa.

Video of the Darby Slide

It sure is fun living out here!

Cross Country Ski Adventures

We cross country skied in Darby Canyon today. The goal of the ski was to make it to the Girls Scout camp so we can slide down the huge scary slide. We made it, and yes, it was scary and totally worth it!

Today on the mountain

Took a few runs at the ski hill with an old friend who was visiting.

Breakthrough Snowboarding!

Today was a breakthrough day on my snowboard. With almost a foot of new fluffy snow (which I call "hero snow" because it gives you the courage to go through steeper routes and maneuver better for a beginner--especially because it doesn't hurt to fall!) I pointed the front of my board down the mountain, took a relaxed stance and shredded it! It looks like I won't be on the bunny hill very much this season! Here's a couple pictures from today.