Location: Jackson Wyoming

Date: December 31- Jan 5th

Wyoming was simply perfect.  This was a five day ski trip where I found the best snow of the season I have no doubt (even though the ski season should only be half over at this point).  I made it to Jackson by 10:30 despite the slick roads and blowing snow for the last two hours of the drive.  I walked into the Silver Dollar Bar and Grill and stood with the other sardines watching a fiddle-blue grass band play and waited for my friends to find me.  A few minutes later, Stacy appeared out of the crowd and I was immediately exercising my name/face recognition skills.  I need a lot of practice in that department and got off to a good start as she began introducing me to all her friends.  Then we shuffled off to another bar (they're all the same) to bring in the new year.  We had a good time but didn't stay long as we were planning on hitting the slopes first thing in the morning.  We woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed and headed to "The Village" to revive my dormant ski lobe and make my first tracks for the season and 2003 all in one.  Jackson Hole, like all the regional ski areas, is a little low on coverage, but the snow that is there, is good and we didn't stop until they kicked us out.  I skied Snow King (right in town) the next day,
and took a snowmobile trip to Granite Hot Springs on Friday.  Saturday we were back at Jackson Hole then a group of us drove to the West side of the range and skied Grand Targee before I left to come back to Boise.  

When I think about it, I should have felt a little strange hanging out with that group since none of them are older than 31 (the youngest was
18), but I didn't.  They were all quite mature for their age and I felt very comfortable with them.  In fact, I'm already scheduling a return
trip next summer to climb Grand Teton.  Stacy won't be there since she's quitting her job and hitting the road on her own adventures, but I met others who have already climbed those peaks and may hook up with them.  Or... I may just bring climbing friends from Boise and climb classic routes (I picked up a great route book while I was there).