Exum Backcountry Ski Week -- Andrew gets after it at Mailstop!

There are a lot of things I could say about this day, the most important being my husband ROCKS!  This was Andrew's first day EVER backcountry skiing, and he did an AWESOME job!

For a person who has not ventured out in the mountains until the age of 40, he kicks ass.  I am certain it is overwhelming, as it was for me when I first learned, but he does an amazing job keeping a smile on his face!

It was hard to say how much he enjoyed the skin up......but he certainly enjoyed the ski down as he made BEAUTIFUL turns in the soft powder!  He loved it so much that he was up for doing another run!!  I can't express enough how proud I am of him....and thankful for his willingness to jump in and try new things!!!

An amazing time in Jackson with extremely amazing people....We have ended this trip saying we will be back next season!!  Till then Jackson!

 

Exum Backcountry Ski Week - Skiing Maverick in Grand Teton NP Mavrick

After a rest day we were all ready to get back at it!!!  Up the hill we go!
  

Even with an overcast day, we had beautiful views of the valley below....and always a treat to be in the park!

Yet again always fun to look back to where you just were....the skin up certainly takes a little longer than the ski down!  I skied out last this day....It was nice to have a moment alone in the mountains.....quite, beauty, an amazing place to find your own peace....!

 

Exum Backcountry Ski Week -- Skiing Mail Stop

Another beautiful day in Jackson!  It just doesn't get any better!  This day we headed over the pass towards Idaho.   I mentioned that my ski down was a bit epic the day before (see 25 Short post)....I think Mike thought he was going to have to call in a helicopter for a rescue -- but he didn't!  Determined not to have the same experience twice, and heeding Mike's advice that it takes 27 times for it to click....I watched 27 You Tube videos on how to ski powder.....

Ta-Da!  Something did click, and I finally made turns! I was finally skiing powder!  Of course skiing with three awesome skiers, watching their technique, and trying to incorporate their suggestions helped a ton!   I'm not sure what the group thought of me that day.... Extremely excited and happy for me, yet completely confused as to what happened to that girl we watched tumble down mountain the day before!?!?!

 

Once again, all smiles back at the car.  And me truly grateful to be out in the mountains with such an amazing, supportive crew of people!  Car beers never tasted better!!

Jackson Hole, Wyoming Makes Top 5 Vacation List!

Jackson Hole....why did I ever leave when I had the chance to stay??  Well, there were a multitude of reasons, but I would have to say this last trip certainly made me question the decision to leave when I had the chance to stay years ago!

A beautiful partly bluebird day at the top of the ski area.

My favorite chocolate shop in the whole wide world is in Jackson.  I guess at this point Oscar Ortega has become quite the Master Chocolatier!  I remember when he would give me a free piece of chocolate before my shift at the Rancher......

The Rancher, no longer the Rancher, now Tavern something something....Made a lot of money at that place.....and good times had by all!!

On our rest day Andrew and I headed out towards the Elk Refuge and had up close views of the elk and a dancing coyote!!  It was an amazing display of wildlife!

Eric and Alison made it out for the weekend!!  I love that they are willing do a jump shot for me at the Town Square!  We had a great time eating, drinking, and skiing!  These guys showed up with fancy new ski boots and kicked ass down the mountain!

I feel this trip was extra special because of all the amazing people we met along the way.  Staying at the Alpine House felt like our own little home away from home....Morning breakfast shared with  great people, doing amazing things, and amazing stories....Not to mention the food!!!  The evenings, yet again, great people, cookies, drinks, and exhausted bodies.....Can't think of a better way to live life!!!

 

This will be the first post of several....too much good stuff going on to have just one Jackson post! 

The Land of Enchantment - A week in magical New Mexico

 

It has been a long tine since I have been to New Mexico....A place I have always spoke highly of, yet somewhere along the way, really did forget how incredibly magical that place is! After we checked out the Gorge, in Taos, NM, we turned to see the moon rising above the mountains where we just spent the day skiing!



A New Mexico trip wouldn't be complete with out Huevos Rancheros....and green chili stew and posole and margaritas!!!

Blue bird day!!

 

We were truly grateful for being invited by the De Silva's to join them and their family for their Christmas trip.  We had a GREAT time with Alison's family, and of course I treasure my time with little Alex!


And on one of our last days it dumped snow!  We barely got to the ski hill, but with some pushing (THANK YOU ANDREW!) we made it and then it was fresh turns in powder!!  An amazing way to start the new year!!!  Looking forward to returning next year!

 

The Urban Epic Ski Adventure - Utah Skiing!

Another advantage to living on the East Coast is the easy access to three large, international airports - Dulles, Reagan National, and BWI.  Eric had done a lot of talking about the perfect weekend....direct flight to Salt Lake City and skiing in the afternoon!  So, with Alison's travel planning skills, we made it happen!!  We left town at about 5 AM for our hour taxi ride to Dulles.  We quickly were in our seats and on our 5 hour flight to Utah!  Once there we rented skis at a local shop, had lunch, changed in the car, and were on the slopes by 2 PM.  It was an awesome weekend, with three days of skiing at three different resorts. Thank you Eric & Alison for making it happen and all of the good laughs!!  Enjoy the show!!

It Truly was an Amazing Whistler Blackcomb Vacation

It really was an amazing week.  We had a little bit of fresh snow just about everyday until the end when the clouds lifted and the mountains reviled themselves!  Just amazing!  I would love to come back to this area and explore.  The back country just looks sick!!  Andrew was making turns on blues and officially has given up snowboarding and calls himself a skier.  Ryan and Sherrie just made the trip extra fun!!  We enjoyed playing spades at night  (I won't mention who won) and hangovers in morning!  Would head back that way in a heartbeat!  Enjoy the slide show!