One of the greatest parts of living here is what goes on “after hours.”

Most visitors will see us waiting on their tables, rowing them down the river, or answering questions like “when do the deer turn into elk?” we are envied because we are afforded a lifestyle where we get to be in the mountains everyday and passionately answer questions about our beautiful home, but it gets even better.

It’s the kind of stuff you can’t pay a guide to show you and you won’t get any information from your waiter.

It’s been snowing and raining for three days when the sun finally breaks. The aspens have turned from golden yellow to a crunchy brown and the mountains are coated in clean white snow. The temperature of the Jenny Lake has dropped below 60 degrees.

It’s your last day of work and you know the tradition: it’s time to jump in! Read More »

Moving stressful? Only as much as trading suburbia for mountains could possibly allow it to be.

Popular love story: midwest girl is exposed to skiing via “up north” trips at young age. Girl loves speed, loves snow and loves to ski. Girl stays close to home for college as parents re-iterate the importance of education over recreation. Girl agrees, earns degree … and heads west. Read More »

Setember:

Geese fly in formation. Fall colors awaken around the third week of the month. The days shorten. Frost covers the ground. The month had temperatures in the 70s and lows in the 30s. Overall, it was spectacular with a perfect mix of rainy days.

My internal clock can certainly identify fall. I desire heavier foods, time outdoors and the desire to ground myself- into my family, my work, my life. It is a wonderful time of the year. Both the Cottonwoods and Aspens are turning a brilliant yellow. The Chokecherry is turning a deep shade of red and the Mountain Ash a dusky orange. Read More »

I could list dozens of reasons why I moved to Jackson. But, sailing would not have been one of them. Don’t get me wrong, I love sailing! I moved to Jackson from Seattle where I got out and “hoisted the main” as much as I could. I even crewed on a recreation race boat in the Puget Sound and owned a 17 foot catamaran that I would go out and scare myself on.

But when I moved to my self-proclaimed paradise, I accepted that I would have to, unfortunately, sacrifice sailing. Apparently I was wrong and I’m very glad I was.

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This video takes about three minutes to watch. The climb depicted, up the Upper Exum Ridge of the Grand Teton, and down the Owen Spalding route, took about 340 times that. We moseyed up that mountain, socializing, dawdling, detouring, and snacking the entire way. BTW, the climber in the video who says “Shwing!” is Ken Jern, who, several years ago, slipped on ice (right where he’s standing in the vid) and tumbled about 50 feet down the pitch below him, breaking several ribs. “It made for an interesting, painful day,” he recalled with a smile. The video is brought to you by thesnaz.com. The song, “Simple Life,” is from Jason Spooner.

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On June 24, 2007, Cloudveil founders Steve Sullivan and Brian Cousins climbed their company’s namesake, Cloudveil Dome, for the first time, on the exact 10 year anniversary of Cloudveil Mountain Works. Video brought to you by thesnaz.com.

4,000 vert of climbing, 14,000 vert of descent- in 2 days- 28,000 vertical feet

12 May 2007: The Grand Teton’s Stettner, Chevy, Ford Couloirs, Climb and Ski

For the past two years, a group of us lady skiers/climbers have been chatting about trying to ski the Grand Teton.

Finally two weeks ago, Karen Kingsley and I, both from Telluride, found our timing to pull the trip together. Karen, a top-three randonnee circuit racer, and I headed up to Jackson, WY on May 10 to attempt the second female ascent/descent of the Grand Teton, after just discovering a few days prior that the first descent had been done by two Jackson local ladies a fews weeks ago. Also on the list was Mt.Moran’s ultra classic- the Skillet.

Karen and I arrived in Jackson on Friday afternoon and began prepping for our 1 a.m. departure.

A fellow top notch randonnee buddy of Karen’s, Chris Kroger, with whom we were staying, decided to join us at the last minute and so the three of us found ourselves hiking up the trail towards Garnet Canyon at about 2 a.m. on Saturday morning.

With packs heavily loaded with ropes, ice and rock gear, med kit, crampons, skis, boots, clothing, food and lots of water, we felt prepared for our guestimate of a 15 hour day.

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