Bison are HUGE!

Yesterday, I had the great opportunity to go on a guided tour through the lower loop of Yellowstone National Park! Jay works for Snake River Lodge and was able to hook us up with a free trip. This was my first time visiting Yellowstone and it was amazing and beautiful. It was kind of chilly and there is still snow on the ground there but it was a great trip none-the-less! We saw bison, elk, coyote, moose, but no bears unfortunately. Below are some pics from my trip...Enjoy :)


View of the Tetons from Grand Teton National Park

Entering Yellowstone


Lewis Falls

Old Faithful...I hate to say it but it really isn't that great. There are so many other things in the park that are amazing...but this seems to be one of the main attractions.


So bison are HUGE! We were crazy close to this bison!


Jay touching the bison...well almost ;)


Rolling in the mud


Hot geyser...Yellowstone holds 1/3 of the worlds geysers!


The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Lower Falls

Jay, me, and Amy enjoying the sights!

Out guide Jason, me, and Jay

Bison traffic jam...they always have the right of way :)

Well, that is all for now. I hope you enjoyed my pics from Yellowstone. I love and miss you all bunches and bunches. See ya :)

Southern California Road Trip 2008

Jackson is fantastic and wonderful in many ways, but after a long winter, we are ready to leave the valley and go some place warm and sunny! So, Jenny and I decided to take a road trip to southern California. Our first destination was Carlsbad, CA (just north of San Diego) to beach camp for 2 nights and then we drove up the coast and chilled on the beach in Huntington Beach and then on to Ventura, CA where we took the ferry boat over to the Channel Islands National Park. We hiked and camped on Santa Cruz Island for a couple days and then we continued on to Yosemite National Park to hike and camp for a couple days as well. After Yosemite, we headed home to Jackson (where it is still fairly chilly but a lot of snow has melted off so that is good).

For both Jenny and I, this was our first trip to CA so we really enjoyed all of the new experiences and adventures! I took a ton of pictures but none of them really due the sites we saw any justice. But I wanted to share all of them with you, so below is a link for you to view them..ENJOY! :)

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?UV=994467743771_95299651413&mode=fromsite&collid=41770501413.22904501413.1210344408654&conn_speed=1

Things are warming up!

Last weekend was probably the first weekend that is was actually really warm (about 50 degrees) and sunny outside! So, we took full advantage and went up in to the Grand Teton National Park for a bike ride. We rode about an hour in and then an hour back. This was my first real long bike ride on my new bike, and I absolutely loved it. The roads are closed but they are plowed so you can ride with out worrying about cars and it's so peaceful and quite! I thoroughly enjoyed the ride! Jenny, Amy, Jay, and I went together and had a fantastic day! Here are some pictures from the ride...ENJOY :)


Jenny and I taking a break

One of the spectacular views during our bike ride

Jenny and I
Us again at the Moran turnout...beautiful day!

All of us being silly!

Another great view!

Jay and I...hey is that a snow ball over my head?!

Still quite a bit of snow left...but the roads are clear and it is getting warmer :)

One of my favorite pictures...Jay and I riding through the park

We also celebrated Jay's birthday last week. We had a party at his house and it was a blast! This is all of us...Justin, me, Jenny, Jay, Tori, and Megan.

Jay and I at his birthday party!

That is all for now. Things here are going really well! I am loving my new job...really enjoying it! I am very much ready for the warm weather to come. It as been teasing us here lately with a couple warm and sunny days and then it gets cold again...it snowed this morning. I can already tell the summer here is going to be fantastic though! This is the off season so everyone is kinda taking off and getting out of the valley while it is slow. Jay leaves for Peru tomorrow for almost 3 weeks and Jenny and I leave in a week for southern California...which I am super pumped about. I have never been to California or even to the Pacific Ocean so I am really looking forward to some new scenery and new adventures. I am thinking about everyone ALL the time! Missing and loving you very much! Talk to you soon...see ya XOXO :)

Epic Season

So, I think this was the best winter to come out to Jackson because it was by far the best winter I have ever had and not to mention we saw record breaking snow fall...605" (50.5 FEET)!!! It just did not quit snowing all winter...it even snowed on closing day! I skied about 45 days and loved every minute of it. Below is a link to an article written in Freeskier Magazine talking about our EPIC season. Enjoy!

http://community.freeskier.com/articles/article.php?article_id=2260

Also, the Tram is still under construction...and what an amazing project! Check out the link below to see more information about it...set to open Winter 2008...guess I will just have to stick around to check it out :)

http://www.tram-formation.com/

Never could I have imagined experiencing the things I have experienced this winter...words can't describe! I have met so many new and wonderful people, I have done things I never thought I would, and I have made so many new memories that I will remember forever! I have changed and grown in ways I can not describe! I am so thankful for my opportunities and experiences and the people in my life! And I am so thankful for this life I have been blessed with :) I love and miss my family more than anything and I am so thankful for them and their continued support in all my endeavors! I hope all is well...missing and thinking of everyone ALL THE TIME! XOXO :)

Though winter is closing, it is still quite cold here and there is still quite a bit of snow on the ground but I do feel Spring coming on and I am very excited for Spring and Summer to come. There will be so many new adventures to experience and memories to make. As I bought ski's at the beginning of the Winter, I just bought a new bike for Spring and Summer! Can't wait to ride, hike, run, raft, climb, and everything in between and to explore the beautiful season of Summer in Jackson...a place I have fallen in love with! Love to all...see ya :)

Hiking the "Elevator Shaft"

The Elevator Shaft is a hike in bounds at the mountain that leads to the Head Wall, Crags, and Casper Bowl areas. It is called Elevator Shaft because it is literally straight up! The hike took roughly 40 minutes and it was so steep right at the top that I was literally on my hands and knees climbing up because standing was impossible. This hike was definitely challenging but also definitely worth every step! We skied Casper Bowl and it was a fantastic run! I hiked with Jesse and Megan and we had a blast :) This was probably one of the best last days of skiing for the season. So fun but sad too because the mountain will be closing this Sunday the 6th :( It has been a FANTASTIC season and winter full of exciting adventures and tons of snow...about 600" to be exact! Well, here are a couple pictures from the hike. Enjoy :)

This is me hiking up...Megan is taking the picture and that is Jesse in front of me.

Me, Jesse, and Megan at the top and some other guy in the corner. It was snowing that day so the view wasn't as clear but it was AMAZING none-the-less!

Well, this is a short blog but I hope you enjoyed anyhow! The winter is coming to a close though it is still very cold here and it is still managing to snow...incredible. I have enjoyed and loved this winter more than words can describe but I am definitely ready for some Spring and Summer weather...and not to mention WARM SUN! I am so pale, I think I am purple! Fortunately Jenny and I are taking a road trip to southern California at the end of April. We are heading to Carlsbad which is just north of San Diego to beach camp and then driving north up the coast to Ventura to camp and hike the Channel Islands which are just off the coast of Ventura and then on to Yosemite Park! I am beyond excited and ready for some warm sun and new adventures!

That is all for now. Love and miss everyone tons and tons! XOXO :)

Gaper Day

Gaper - A person who stops on the slopes to look at the views.

This is the official definition but the extended definition is one who thinks they don't stand out but they do, one who is always in the way, one who wears one-piece ski suits with head bands usually of coordinating neon colors, one who still tries to use their rear-entry boots and skis from 1985, one who carries all of their lift tickets on one jacket from all the other resorts they have visited, one who still wears stir-up style pants that go inside the boot, basically one who stands out like a sore thumb and thinks they are super stylish. Yes, I know this sounds harsh but it is the truth...hard to hear for some...but it is the truth. So in honor of all the gapers in the world, Jackson Hole hosts an official Gaper Day where everyone comes out in their best and most ridiculous impressions of a gaper. There is only one word to describe this day...WOW! I didn't know what to expect and what I witnessed was something you would have to see with your own eyes to understand. Gaper Day is on April 1st of every year and is also know as Gaper Foolish Day. So, I did my best 80's skier impression and hit the slopes to witness a spectacle of skiers acting as gaper's. I finished the day by skiing down the mountain with poles in one hand and a Corona in the other...so much fun!!!

Tori and I getting ready to head out. Tori sporting the classic jeans and me with my spandex pants and jacket with shoulder pads...oh and the head band with high pony tail!

The top of Thunder Bumps where most everyone convened before heading down at one time.

Megan, me, and Tori attempting to take a picture as gaper's would. Megan with her pizza pie position wearing her white one piece suite and fur hat.


And then I fall...

Then Jay knocks Tori into me and she falls...total gapers!

Jay taking a break in the sun...pretty sure we had all been drinking since before lunch...whoops!

Did I jump out of 1984 or what?!

Doing our best gaper poses


Me, Caroline, and Megan after skiing



Then we saw Harrison Ford...he is the highlighted circle. You can barely see him and he didn't dress up for Gaper Day...too cool for school I guess :)



Us trying to have a normal picture while attempting to catch Harrison Ford in the background. That is him and his entourage walking out of the left corner of the picture.



Jay, Amy, Megan, and Justin...looking nothin but hot! Jay was really hard to see in his bright orange one-piece suite.

Jay and I. Nothing hotter than an 80's chick drinking a PBR tall boy! Pretty sure we set some record for most PBR's distributed!

Max, Jenny, me, Justin, Megan, Tori, and Mike

A video clip from Gaper Day...press PLAY and enjoy :)

The night before Gaper Day, there was a music festival in the village featuring Michael Fronti...a BLAST! This is Jenny, me, Laura, and Megan. P.S. It was freezing!

That is all for now. Hope you enjoyed some of the funny pictures :) Miss and love you bunches!!! XOXO

Hiking the Head Wall

For many of the skiers in Jackson, hiking the Head Wall is no big deal but for me, it was. I have been wanting to do this hike all season but wasn't sure how I would do and I also needed a pack to strap my skis to. So, I got the pack and my friend Simpson and I decided to attack it together for the first time. This was a challenging hike but nothing like I thought it would be. I was preparing myself for a very very hard hike...but turns out it was not bad at all. Actually, if we had time, we would have done it again...it was that fun! It took us about 20-25 mins to hike up and then the ski down was absolutely amazing. What is unique about this part of the mountain is there are no lifts that go to the top of the Head Wall so the only way to ski it is to hike up...so needless to say not that many people do this therefor the skiing is AMAZING! It is also very rewarding to work so hard to get to the top and then ski down...it is like you earned that ski down so I almost it enjoyed more than any other run I have ever done. Here are some pics from the hike. Enjoy :)

This is a shot looking up the path heading to the top of the Head Wall.

Simpson and I at the top...we made it!!!

The view of the valley from the top.

After hiking and then skiing the Head Wall, we cruised over to the Free Ski Competition that was being held this past weekend. It was such a nice day! We skied over, took off our skis and plopped down in the snow and just chilled in the sun while we watched the crazies huck huge cliffs and do some amazing tricks. What a great day! Well, that is all for now...I hope you enjoyed the update. Hope all is well with everyone. Love and miss you! XOXO :)

Mom and Dad come to Jackson

WOW! Words really can't describe the time I had with Mom and Dad here! They came to Jackson for a week and we had a blast! They were able to stay in one of our cabins that we manage, so they were right in the village which was perfect. We did so many fun things like dog sledding, snowmobiling, dining at 10,000ft, eating, eating, and then some more eating...it was all FANTASTIC! They saw my house for the first time, met all my friends, saw were I work, and so much more. I loved sharing with them my new home and sharing with them all the wonderful things I love about this place :) I truly believe that they knew why I was here before they came but now I know without a doubt that they completely see why I am here and why I am in love with my life here...and that means the world to me. My friends here fell in love with my parents and didn't want them to leave...nor did I...but hopefully they will be back in the summer! As usual pictures do not do this place or the experiences we had justice...but below are some of my favorite pics from their trip. Enjoy :)

Mom, Dad, and I dining at the Granery...one of the best views of the Tetons in all of Jackson. Not to mention a gorgeous sunset!

Inside their cabin (which I made home for the week) Dad and I in the kitchen getting ready to go out to dinner.

Reese was able to enjoy a little bit of the good life as well!

Mom and I outside the front door of the cabin...such a cute place...it could not have been more perfect :)

Mom and I

Mom and I enjoying the snow fall on town square...she thought it would be funny to shake the tree branch and make the snow fall on us...ha ha :)

Dad and I enjoying the snow as well!

The famous antler arches...a must photo opportunity

Dad and Mom just outside their cabin...what a view of the slopes in the background!

Mom getting ready to go skiing *wink *wink ;)

Dad and I getting ready to hit the slopes for the first day! We received about 11" of snow over the course of our first day of skiing...AMAZING!

Dad and I
Dad shredding on our first day hitting the slopes...like riding a bike :)

And that's ME :)

So we skied the first day and then we went dog sledding the next day. This was the first time for all of us...and it was absolutely one of the neatest things I have ever done. We toured with Jackson Hole Iditarod Sled Dog Tours Company...the owner has ran the Iditarod 8 times and his highest placement was 6th place...which is incredible. So needless to say, we were in good hands and our experience was one I will never forget. Mom and Dad had their own sled and I had my own as well. To have 6 dogs pulling you through beautiful national forest to natural hot springs where we ate steak and trout...is something truly unforgettable! This day it snowed all day and was probably one of the coldest days but it was a very unique way to see the natural landscape of Jackson Hole. I loved bonding with the dogs...they are so smart and loyal! Here are some of the pictures from our day dog sledding! Enjoy :)

Me with my sled


The view from Mom and Dad's sled

Mom and Dad driving their sled!

The natural hot springs we stopped at for lunch...so beautiful!

A couple of the dogs we toured with

This was my sled...we are actually turning off the trail to do something a little different...so much fun and a lot of work but I loved it!

Mom and Dad at the hot springs

Jenny, Mom, me, and Dad just after having one of the best dinners at Snake River Grill just off the square...that's a buffalo (or is it bison? ha) between us.

Jenny, Jay and I being silly with the buffalo.

Mom and I at the Grannery :)

Dad and I at the Grannery. Anybody want to talk about my gnarly goggle tan line...wow that is bad!!!

The view of the Tetons from the Grannery

A night shot of the famous antler arches

So, on Wednesday we went snowmobiling with all of my roommates which was a ton of fun...interesting but fun! I hadn't been snowmobiling since like 7th grade so this was like my first time all over again...I felt like a little kid. So the trip went great except for a few hiccups...ha...for those of you who were there, you know what I am talking about. Lets see, we had 2 people flip off the back of their snowmobiles (no one was hurt too badly), we had one of the other people (not in our group) run off the side of the trail into a tree (she was fine as well...but scary), and then another person not part of our group apparently didn't know how to let go of the throttle and ran into another snowmobile. Yeah, I know what you are thinking...crazy! Fortunately everyone was fine! We rode about 28 miles in to Box Y Ranch where we had lunch and then we rode back...it was a full day trip and sooooo much fun! We even saw 2 moose :)

Our group...Tori, Justin, Megan, Mom, Dad, me, and Jenny

Mom and Dad getting ready to gooooooo...careful Mom, it's dangerous to stand up and take pictures of moose while pressing the throttle ;)

Mom and I at one of the stops

Dad, me, and Mom...what a view...BEAUTIFUL!

One of the moose we saw

The moose taking a dip in Grey's River

ME

All of us at lunch...YUM!

After lunch...Tori, Mom, me, Jenny, and Megan...love these girls :)

So, maybe while playing in the designated play area, we stopped for a quick photo opportunity with the roommates on our sleds. (shhhh don't tell anyone, but we took several of these posed typed shots) ha :)

Mom taking in the amazing view

Me, Megan, Tori, and Jenny

The end of our day snowmobiling...so much fun!!! Justin, me, Dad, Mom, our guide, Megan, and Jenny...a GREAT day!

One of our afternoons we went to the National Museum of Wildlife and this is Dad and I just outside the museum with Sleeping Indian in the background.

Mom and I with Sleeping Indian in the background.

Mom and Dad riding the Gondola up to eat dinner at the Couloir (elevation 10,000ft)

Dad and I riding the Gondola up


Mom and Dad with Corbet's in the background...one of the hardest inbounds runs in North America!

A closer view of Corbet's...one day I will ski that!!! :)


Dad, Mom, and I at the top of the Gondola...beautiful view this evening!


The view of the valley


Another view of the valley at sunset...AMAZING! You should ALL come see it for yourselves :)


All of us at dinner at the Couloir...BEST dinner of the week! There was stiff competition but I think this one took the cake :)

Dad and I at dinner

Well, I hope you enjoyed this blog as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I love sharing all of my experiences with everyone through my blog and I appreciate all of you who are continuously checking it out and sending me your thoughts! I really, really, really loved having Mom and Dad here...we had such a FANTASTIC time and I loved spending so much time with them...I miss them constantly. Having them here for such a short time and then having to say goodbye made my heart hurt. I miss them so much! I am beyond thankful they were able to make it out here to visit and for me to share with them all the wonderful things Jackson holds and why I love it so much. Some of my friends parents have yet to make it out here and they have been here much longer than I...so I am absolutely blessed to have them come and WANT to come!! I know this was a very long blog but it was so hard to pick what I wanted to share...I wanted to post everything!!! I guess that is all for now...I love and miss you all more than you know! XOXO :)