It's a Dog's Life

Jackson Hole boasts 10,000 or so resident canines and countless four-legged visitors - lucky dogs. We have not only found Jackson Hole to be a fabulous place to call home for ourselves, but dogs certainly have the life of leisure here as well. We added Bella to our family in October, and it has been nothing short of wonderful since then for all of us. She has been an amazing dog, and we have found that Jackson is truly heaven on earth for four-legged friends!

The Animal Adoption Center
Bella (and Barry & I) will be forever grateful to the local Animal Adoption Center. They provide a wonderful service to the Jackson Hole community benefiting homeless dogs and cats from across the region. Read all about their incredible program on their website http://www.animaladoptioncenter.org/ . Pictured below are Lindsay (Director) and Stephanie (Asst. Director) who both worked steadfastly with us to find the perfect forever friend that we adopted - Bella!

"Backyard" at the Adoption Center

Bella's Foster Family "Momma Kay, Papa Paul," Lad & Seneca
One of the interesting features of the Adoption Center's program is that all of the animals go home each night to a foster family  until they are adopted. Bella was lucky enough to have been fostered by our neighbors Kay and Paul. They have fostered over 90 dogs, primarily labs, while still being steadfast parents to their black lab Lad and their furry lady Seneca. Through their love and affection many dogs enjoy home life even before they find their forever home. As an added bonus to us - Bella brought us together as friends with Paul and Kay - they were our first friends here and have been amazing to our entire family!


Paul and Kay with Bella, Lad, Katie Sue (neighbor's dog) and Seneca.
They will never be seen walking the neighborhood alone!

Bella's Beau...LAD Even though Lad is Bella's foster brother, she considers him her boyfriend! Lad is quite a dapper gentleman - we must say that Bella has good taste! Bella loves when Lad surprises her and comes bolting out his front door when we walk by - Bella always makes sure to saunter very slowly by his house to give him plenty of time to notice she is there! Bella & Lad love to play together, cross country ski and they will even share an elk antler without a growl!

 


Sophie's Place Dog Park
August 2010 brought the grand opening of PAWS Dog Park — Sophie’s Place - to downtown Jackson Hole. We unfortunately were not here for the Grand Opening Celebration, where pooches guzzled from special water fountains while their owners enjoyed lemonade and Snake River Brewing beers, renamed for the occasion into “Pooch Park Pilsner” and “Leg Lifter Lager.” The dog park is a fenced, grassy expanse where pups can frolic, stretch their legs and socialize with furry friends in a leash-free setting. Separate pens provide a place for time-outs, training, or for small or shy dogs. Bella enjoys frequent trips to the dog park, and I quite like it too, as I have met many interesting new friends there as well.

 

SHOPPING IS DOG FRIENDLY IN JH

Bella's favorite store is "Gifts From the Earth,"
they lavish her with treats every time she pulls
 me in there. I have bought more unnecessary
cards, just to let her stop by! Shopping has
become as fun as the dog park for Bella - yay!

As silly as it sounds, Bella goes on most of my errands with me. It's what people do in Jackson Hole! Dogs are welcomed in all stores that do not sell or serve food. And most stores even have treats for the dogs. They just banned dogs from the post office - much to the dismay of local residents and their dogs. Bella obliges willingly and waits in the car while I get the mail, as she has figured out that the dog park is just around the corner and usually follows a stop at the post office!

Bella can even help pick out a nice wine for dinner!



  

K-9 ATHLETES OF THE TETONS

We enrolled Bella in an Agility class on Wednesday nights, just for fun and to burn off some winter energy! I take her to the fairgrounds building along with 18 other dogs for an hour of fun and frolic! I must admit that had I known that it was going to be held in the indoor riding arena (Horses), Bella probably would not have gotten the opportunity to participate - it stinks, ugh! But for the love of Bella, I endure the stench of horse poop and let her have fun. They are teaching the dogs all the "obstacles/tricks" used in agility competitions, but in a non-competitive setting. Some of the "parents" in the class remind me of the competitive parents when our kids were young who are there to "win and be the best," even though it is just a "recreational league!" Bella loves the obstacles, but she also enjoys socializing with all the other dogs just as much. Her new buddy is is an adorable dog named Penny! Agility is a pretty popular hobby for many in the area - rest assured that we will remain in the recreational category, at least until they get a practice facility that is sans horse poop!

Bella and Penny patiently waiting their turn in line!

Jumps - you've got to start somewhere!

Bella's favorite - the teeter totter!

 Hiking, Skiing and Fetching - Life is Good!
Even though winter has blanketed the trails with snow, they are still perfect for traversing with a dog. This community has an awesome grooming program, and the trails are kept in tip top shape for hiking, cross country skiing and skate skiing. Dogs are permitted on many trails, off leash, through the winter months. Some areas require leashes to protect the wintering wildlife. So Bella and I have enjoyed lots of wonderful hikes, a few ski outings,  and lots of games of fetch on our Pathways system.


Bella hiking in Bondourant with her new
neighborhood buddy Skeeter.



 













A COLD NIGHT AND A GOOD BOOK
We have a wonderful local author, Ted Kerasote, who is known throughout the community and country for his National Best Selling books. Two of his books are about his dogs and their adventures together here in Jackson Hole. Ted's writing focuses on the interrelationships between people and nature. If winter continues to keep you inside, cuddle up by the fire with one of Ted's books. Bella was fortunate enough to have a brush with fame and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with Ted and his pup Pukka while we were away in Kansas City, and she was with her Momma Kay & Papa Paul!

 





















As we start off the weekend, find a way to have some fun with your furry friend, or better yet with your loved ones! Remember it is Valentine's Day on Monday...you don't want to end up in the dog house!

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT JACKSON HOLE:

On an average day at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort there are only 1,750 skiers skiing on the 2,500 acres of terrain at the ski area, offering one of the lowest skier densities (one skier per one-and-one-half acres!) of any ski resort in the country.

Super Bowl Sunday!

Okay it is Super Bowl Sunday and as I sit here anticipating the "big game," I find that I am a bit melancholy. Yes, this was always the day of the big "par-tay" at the Nelsons. The one where all I did was (semi) clean the house and everyone else brought the greatest food in the world - ah sheer pleasure, eating and drinking and gambling a bit too with family & friends. Today is the first day that I have had time to be truly sad about being alone out here in Jackson Hole, it just doesn't feel right. I must say that I am still secretly holding out hope that some of you may arrive on our doorstep this afternoon (you don't even have to be bearing food, although I would love some of Dave's famous wings, some of Lia's marinated cheese, a whole lot of Lisa's Reuben dip, Lori/Jim's chicken speidini or Oreo truffles, my Mom's cheese petit fors, Paula's chicken wing dip, Rae's pizza dip with breadsticks, Sherri's Mexican corn, Lisa's taco things, Micki's yummy soup, Anne's Mexican corn salsa stuff that I love to eat and hate to make since it smells terrible when you boil the vinegar,  Kandi's delicious chili, Mari's Italian sandwiches, Shelli's orzo with marinated veggies, and the list goes on and on). Now I am really hungry and even more depressed. I also worry as to what the Cousin family will do for cash this week since they won't be winning the Squares Betting Jackpot like they did every year (even when they weren't at the party - go figure)! Well, I guess that this is the year to start new traditions. Hope that all of you will be celebrating somewhere this afternoon and think of us as you watch the big game. We have been invited to some friends house for a party in the neighborhood - they just moved here from Leawood, KS last year - so that is as close as it is going to get for us to being back in the OP for Super Bowl! GO PACKERS!!!!!

Barry is out skiing today and I am home recuperating from my 7-hour skate skiing clinic that I participated in yesterday. Skate skiing – a cross between ice skating and skiing – works more muscles, including the heart, than nearly any other sport. It is a calorie-burner par excellence! Note to file - if you have never skate skied before, start out with a one or two hour lesson. I am wiped out today, but I must say that I loved learning to skate ski. It was a Women's Clinic and was taught by the fabulous staff of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Nordic Center. It was non-stop from the time we got there - instruction, video analysis (so sorry that I don't have the ability to have a link to that footage - ha), and then more skiing - hills and everything! I hope to continue to hone my new skate skiing skills - it is a really fun sport and a fantastic cardio workout - replaces running in the winter months. I must admit, Happy Hour never tasted so good as it did yesterday!

I also wanted to update you on a few of the activities that I had blogged about previously.
IPSSSDR Dog Race
The Dog Sled race ended yesterday. Blayne Streeper from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, won the 2011 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSDR) with an overall time of 19:38:27.  Streeper also won the IPSSSDR in 2004 and 2010.

We attended the Opening ceremonies last weekend and it was amazing! I wouldn't plan a vacation around it, but if you are planning to be out here to visit next winter - it is a really fun event. They set up a 2-mile course through town and you literally lined up along the course and watched the dog sleds whiz by - there were thousands of people and lots of little ones watching all of the action.

 

"If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes. Mush on!"

.

WINTER QUICK DRAW

This was one of those jaw-dropping events - and also an event that made me realize that artists have a true gift (and I am NOT an artist)! The Museum of Wildlife Art was packed with onlookers and 22 artists with a blank canvas. At the stroke of 6:00 their brushes started painting. There were some artists who had paintings that I thought were ready for framing in 20 minutes and then there were others who at 6:40 did not look like they would complete their painting! It was amazing to walk around and watch the artists work and then return 10 minutes later and see how far they had progressed on their painting. It was one of the coolest art events that I have ever been to - I can't wait till next year! Here are some pictures of the artists at work:



Kay Hard at work!



Cowboy artists!



This artist went from blank canvas to this in 12 minutes - amazing!

Another fast painter - this was taken at 28 minutes!

Kay's finished painting - she paints Sumi-e, the ancient art of Asian brush painting

One of our favorites of the night & the highest bid at the auction (unfortunately not our bid)

That's the update from the wild west! Party on tonight at your Super Bowl Parties and have a wonderful week. Looks like most of you are going to be out of the wicked winter weather of the past week. We are looking forward to a forecast of much needed snow over the next few days - a foot predicted for tonight! Funny thing is that this is expected/normal/wanted, and will not make any national news or have local news headlines and regular programming break-ins of "Stormcast 2011!" Bring it on!

Jackson Hole (Wyoming) Interesting Fact:

Wyoming's massive energy operations pay hefty sums to the state, generating enough money so that the general public doesn't have to pay state taxes, whereas people around the country pay an average of 6.5%. There is a plethora of natural resources in Wyoming, including coal. Coal accounts for 50% of the electric power used in the US, and Wyoming's coal accounts for 20% of that power! Coal is the main export of Wyoming. So, another perk to living in JH: no state income tax!

Snow Palooza!

Currently the weather in Jackson Hole is 8 degrees with clear, sunny skies and endless views of the mountains! We are praying for snow, but don't have any in the forecast until next week - bummer. We have gotten over 27 feet of snow so far this winter and we want more! The weather is supposed to warm up in the next few days for another "warm" glorious weekend of groomer skiing - our favorite type! Barry & I are just fine without all of the "pow" (that is Jackson Hole lingo for powder - new fresh snow; a big "dump" of snow is referred to as "cow pow")! Here are some pictures of this last weekend, the weather was in the high 20's and low 30's - felt like spring skiing. The Resort even broke out the BBQ Grills and we enjoyed lunch outside at the top of the mountain! Completely amazing, especially considering it is January.

Perfect Ski Day! Gotta love that we have this in our backyard:)

Lunch Al Fresco at the Gondola

 Endless views - Mountain top to the Valley

The true irony is that all of our family and friends throughout the Midwest, and as far south as Dallas/Fort Worth, are in the middle of the worst winter storms in recent history. Current conditions in Kansas City - 16 degrees and snow; Dallas/Fort Worth - 19 degrees and snow and Chicago - 24 degrees and snow with a blizzard warning. You all should be out here in Jackson Hole having fun in the sun! But, there is "snow" excuse not to have fun with your winter storms!

An Associated Press article that ran in our weekly paper has some great ideas for all of my friends and family who are experiencing the latest blizzard-like conditions across the country. So, while you lounge at home - as schools, work and life is on hold - here are some ideas to keep you busy:

"Frightful Weather or Fun-Filled Day?" New York (AP) -

Another day, another blizzard. Here are some was to spend a snow day:

•  Make an abominable snowman. It's like a regular snowman, but less friendly to passers-by.
• Practice multiplication and script with your kids. That'll put them in a REALLY good mood.
• Make snow ice cream, slushies, or snowtinis. Harvest icicles for the latter.
• Put on your fanciest evening dress and jewelry, grab your cocktail and pretend you are in an old movie. That sounds a lot better than, "Sit around your apartment [house] and get wasted."
• Fill squirt bottles with water and food coloring and make art on the snow. Let your dog help out.
• Wash the floors by hand. Or with a toothbrush.
• Do that mending and ironing that you've been putting off since 2004.
• Groom the dog. Then suck all the fur off your couch.
• Make freeze-ahead dinners. The ones you wish you had right now.
• Go rooftop luging.
• Shovel through piles of climate change theories.
• Shred your pile of old documents. Better yet, multi-task. Use them to light up the fireplace.
• Find all the lids to the Tupperware.
• Play Monopoly with the rules that make the game go slower.
• Go through your junk drawer. Do not be afraid.
• Make a master calendar for gift-giving dates. Shop ahead online. Or for yourself. Pretend there are sales.
• Make a list of all the things you love about your valentine for a card or scrapbook. Make stuff up if you have to.
• Scan old photos and make a photo book. Then force your kids to look at pictures of their parents when they were little.
• Chug a shot and break open your financial portfolio.
• Order seeds and plants for your spring garden. Yes, spring will come eventually.
• Upload your CD's, finally. Now this may be difficult:  Toss the CD's and the CD player.
• Take out all the beach chairs, umbrellas, and boogie boards and make a beach day in the snow.
• Google yourself.
• Write a letter [to Michele]. You know the kind, with pen and paper.
• Make snowflakes out of paper. Tape them to your windows to block out the white piles outside.
• Teach Haiku - five, seven, five - and make a book of illustrated snow Haiku.
• Create airfare alerts for deals to your dream destinations.
• You know that neighbor that won't stop blasting music? That's where your shoveled snow goes.
• Play family-friendly spin the bottle with your chore list. Hope it doesn't point to you when its time to clean toilets.
• Experiment all day on devising the ultimate chocolate chip cookie.Tasting mandatory.
• Sleep. If that doesn't work, make more snowtinis.
• Send hate mail to your friends and relatives in warm weather places. Or block them on Facebook.

So there you have it - plenty of ideas to keep you busy and happy over the next few days! If you can figure out a way, send some snow our way.  I guess the difference lies in where you live and what you can do with your snow....and most importantly  how the city (town in our case) is able to handle the snow. SO, hopefully you all will keep warm, stay safe, and enjoy some quality time inside with your families and friends! In the meantime I am heading out to enjoy the dog park with Bella!

Happy Snow Days!

Jackson Hole's version of the Super Bowl!

As usual, there is never a shortage of things to do in Jackson Hole. Our weekend starts tonight (Thursday) as we head out to the National Museum of Wildlife Art for the "Winter Quick Draw." Our friend, Kay Stratman, will be participating in the event, so it will be extra special! We are looking forward to watching more than 10 contemporary artists race the clock to complete a work of art from start to finish in one unforgettable hour. The artists will also include emerging artists from high schools in Jackson Hole.  All works of art will be available for purchase by silent auction the evening of the event. To round out the evening there will be the Rising Sage Café’s famous "Chilly Bar" and the Snake River Brewing Company's "Beer Quick Draw," - that was the ringer for Barry's attendance!  So, a night of art, no cooking and Snake River Beer...TGIT - a great way to kick off the weekend!

National Museum of Wildlife Art

Our weekend festivities will continue as we celebrate the JH version of our "Super Bowl," with a kick-off party on the Town Square on Friday night. The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) will start in downtown Jackson Hole on Friday night, with 21 teams of sled dogs mushing along Broadway. The IPSSSDR is the largest sled dog race in the Lower 48. The IPPSSSDR was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley (A Jacksoninte) to showcase the state of Wyoming and to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public. With its unique stage stop format, the IPSSSDR has become a popular mushing event attracting the world’s top competitors.Teasley expects large crowds at all the stage stops as the race hosts 25 mushers—an expanded roster from recent years, this year including a team from Jamaica (Cool Runnings)! Four-time Iditarod winner Lance Mackey and Blayne “Bud” Streeper, winner of the IPSSSDR in 2004 and 2010, will be two of the teams competing for the IPSSSDR title “It’s a mushing dream come true,” says Teasley. “It’s like the Super Bowl of mushing.” Each year the race makes a contribution to communities on the race route for childhood immunizations.

 Check out the website www.wyomingstagestop.org/  if you are interested in keeping track of the race results day by day; or go to this link for a great video of last year's race events: http://dai.ly/fhNjfv

IPSSSDR Route Map

1/30 - Lander Lollypop Loop South Pass 9 AM 42 miles
1/31 - Pinedale to Cora 10 AM 38 miles
2/1 - Big Piney/Marbleton race 64 miles
2/2 - Alpine/Greys River to Box Y 9 AM 54 miles
2/4 - Bridger Valley Stage 10 AM (45) miles
2/5 – Park City Race Start 12 PM 2 PM Finish (8 miles)

 A little bit about the race:
The Race aims are to determine which musher’s team will cover the race trail distance in the shortest time in compliance with the regulations established by the IPSSSDR. The fastest team each day will start in the last position the next day. This procedure will be followed throughout each stage of the race. The overall leader and/or the previous stage winner may be required to wear the designated leader bib.

SLED
Each musher may choose his own sled providing that it meets the necessary IPSSSDR requirements, that is tandem hitch with one tow line and not fan type hitch. Braking devices must be placed between the runners and not extend beyond the length of the runners; all sleds must be provided with a brush bow. The sled must contain a sled bag capable of hauling any injured dogs as well as carrying mandatory equipment and food.

A musher may start the race with no more than twelve (12) dogs on the tow line at any time. No dogs will be allowed in the basket. Dogs will be chosen from a maximum pool of sixteen (16) dogs. No dog may be added to a team once a stage has started.

So it is a weekend of "fast and furious" here in Jackson Hole! We are off to the starting line.....

Fun and Games!

Life continues to be full of fun and games here in Jackson Hole!

The College Bowl games are finally over, not that I didn't enjoy watching them 24/7 (ha) - Barry LOVES that he can ski all day and tape all the football games and come home and watch them all night! We were thrilled to watch TCU end up undefeated, Rose Bowl Champions, and ranked #2 in the AP Poll...GO FROGS! Now it is on to Pro football play-offs and College basketball - doesn't seem like I will get much time for viewing "Live to Dance" or "Parenthood" anytime soon.

There were lots of fun and games going on in Kansas City yesterday as my Mom celebrated her 75th Birthday! As most of you would agree, she is one of the youngest 75 year-olds around! Need some proof? She won an I-Pad at work for having the highest sales volume - she's a ringer. And my brother got her a Wii Fit for her birthday since she had so much fun playing with his kids in Florida over Christmas. So my Mom is one cool and in touch Grandma sporting her new I-Pad and Wii! Hope you had a HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! See you next week to continue the celebration in Texas.

Closer to home, we have had some exciting fun and games happening in Jackson Hole:

Nachtspektakel - it is difficult to pronounce, but "easy to do" (according to locals). Jackson Hole celebrated its first Nachtspektakel last week. It is a "night spectacle" ski tour, an age-old European tradition made popular in Germany where skiers can eat, drink and ski. Sounded like all the makings for a fun evening...and you know me, anything that I can do to become more "local" is on my list! The fee was only $20 and it included drinks and appetizers, as well as demo skis from Dynafit...what a great deal! The problem arose when I read on further and they noted that "participants will 'skin' up to Casper Lodge starting at 5:30." Okay, I can eat and drink and ski, but I don't "skin" (unless of course they were talking about bacon and cheese potato skins). I learned that skins are something that you put on your skis so that you can hike UP the mountain to the Casper Lodge (conveniently located about 3/4 of the way up the mountain) for drinks and light fare. They then went on to promote the evening as follows, "the event will culminate with a group descent at 8:00 pm lit by headlamps." Okay, a few more obstacles - first, I surely would still be trying to "skin" up the mountain at 8:00 pm; secondly I don't have (nor do I have it on my wish list at Nordstrom)  a headlamp! So needless to say, we did not participate in Jackson Hole's inaugural Nachtspektakel. I believe I am going to seek out the parties that are "bring your favorite appetizer to share" or "BYOB!"

Enjoying Nachtspektakel!

US Ski Mountaineering National Championships - Since we are on the theme of climbing UP the mountain, I might as well report on the US Ski Mountaineering National Championships that were held in Jackson Hole last weekend. This event includes a small group of U.S. athletes who start at the bottom of the mountain with skis on their feet (using skins of course), climb mountains, ski them, then repeat the climb several times with varying courses and elements in what you are climbing up and skiing down. This feat is performed as fast as they possibly can (and not even drinks and food for them along the way at the Casper Lodge)! For the lesser of us, there are chairlifts. These athletes scoff at the idea, "you big sissies," they comment. By the time that Barry and I arrived at the mountain to ski our groomed blue runs (via chairlift) on Saturday, these athletes were already home resting for stage two of their competition on Sunday at Grand Targhee Resort. These are what I consider "Mountain Athletes!"

U.S. Ski Mountaineering National Championship - Jackson Hole

Do Moose Play Hockey?

In Jackson Hole they do...last night we went to the Jackson Hole Moose Hockey Club's game against the New York St. Nicks. The Moose compete nationwide in the highest level of USA Hockey's governing board - the Senior Elite Division. Unfortunately we did not win, but it was a fun evening of priced-right entertainment (admission only $8...cheaper than a movie), and the club has a good message:

Melody Ranch Hockey - We also have a neighborhood outdoor Hockey Rink right down the street from our house! This is actually our pond near the walking path, which has frozen  just in time to  let the neighborhood kids and Dad's have regular matches. So, our hockey playing friends (Jeff P.), be sure to pack your skates when you come out to visit!

Melody Ranch Hockey

Moose be fun to live in Melody Ranch - Our resident Melody Ranch Cow Moose and her calf continue to "hang out and play" in the neighborhood. They have really made Melody Ranch "home." It is amazing to watch them just relax in our yards and munch on all of our trees and bushes. Last weekend the Cow Moose was literally standing on our front porch, with her behind in our window, eating our bush near the front door! They discourage people from disrupting the wildlife - if they are in your driveway, you should just call in late to work etc. And if they eat all of your landscaping, you should just replant next spring. We are here to co-exist!

The Cow resting outside our neighbor's
house after eating their apple tree!



Captured this picture from Ashley's bedroom window.
These are our neighbors in the back!
Bet the moose wants to jump on the trampoline!

Not so fun....American Airlines Plane has a "runway excursion." It is funny to me that they create terminology to make things seem "minor."

Crews work to dig out an American Airlines 757 airplane that slid more than 650 feet off the end of the runway after landing at Jackson Hole Airport in early January. The pilot told passengers the brakes on the jet did not work (really??). Luckily nobody was hurt.

Now erase that last picture from your memory, and come on out for some fun and games!

New Years + 10

Happy 2011! I thought that since I did not get to blog about our wonderful New Year's celebration in a timely fashion that I would wait and report about it on a cool day - 1-11-11....almost like New Year's Day!

Jackson Hole proved to be a fun place to ring in the New Year. Unfortunately, the days following New Year's caught me down with a terrible cold or mini-flu, so no blogging was accomplished. Then we found ourselves out and about again enjoying the winter activities - so blogging has  been on the back burner.

Back to New Years...first you need to understand that there are two distinct areas here in Jackson Hole. There is "Teton Village," which is where the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is located (ski area). It is a great little area with world class hotels, fabulous restaurants, shopping, beautiful homes and most importantly skiing! We live about 15 miles from the Village - an easy and absolutely beautiful drive. Then there is "Town," Jackson Hole's downtown area (don't even think city). This is where the Town Square is located, which is surrounded by wonderful shops, art galleries, restaurants and many local motels. In "Town" we also have another small ski area called Snow King Resort. We live about 5 miles south of "Town." It is about a 20 minute drive between the Village and Town, so most people staying at the Village for the ski resort, frequent our Town Square.


Jackson Hole, WY


 We started our New Year's celebration out at the Village. The weather was about 10 below zero when we arrived to watch the Torchlight Parade and fireworks. We tried out the seats around the large fire pit outside, but due to the extremely cold temperatures we opted for a cozy place in the Four Seasons Resort at the bar to wait until dark! This is rated as one of the top resorts in the World, and the finest in the Four Seasons chain of hotels - worth at least a drink in the bar or dinner when you visit. We met some very interesting people, who no doubt did not make it all the way until New Years, but they made for fun "pre-parade" conversation. The Village was really bustling with tourists and those who "winter" here in Jackson Hole (if you "winter" or "summer" here, you most likely have a beautiful, multi-million dollar second, or third, home located here). It was amazing to us the difference in the feel of the area once it filled with tourists - probably the first time that I did not feel like I was the one on vacation! The torchlight parade is open for anyone to participate in - it will have to be much warmer before you find me in the parade! Once it was nightfall, the skiers start at the top of the North side of the mountain and ski down carrying torches - it was awesome to watch them descending the mountain and as they got closer to the base all of the New Year's revelers started cheering and clapping - what a thrill it was....I almost forgot that I was freezing to death. But nobody could have been as chilly as the participant who skied down the mountain naked (well he did have his torches) - YIKES! The Parade was followed by a beautiful fireworks display over the Village.

 

 We really enjoyed the festivities and excitement of being at the Village to start our evening. The only down side was that we were REALLY COLD (did I mention that already?)! When we ran back to our car, it was 15 below zero. I will remember to wear long underwear next year! We had planned to head into town to catch an early movie, but we needed to make one stop on our way to pick up some "warming agents" to enjoy at the movie with our popcorn & diet coke!

The Village Liquor Store :)

 
On our way from the Village into Town we were able to see the Torchlight Parade that they had at Snow King Resort - what a great celebration....two parades in one night! We saw "The Tourist," which turned out to be better than we expected. Their lives in the movie were a bit more action-packed than our "tourist" experiences in JH! We then went and enjoyed a delicious dinner at Burke's Chop House in Town. We came home to ring in the New Year (can't be out too late when you have to get up and ski the next day) watching the tape-delay of Dick Clarke from NYC - I love that guy from my days of watching American Bandstand! We were still so cold when we came home (partially due to the heat going out in the restaurant for a part of the evening), that we rang in the New Year in our coats and hats (consider them the JH version of a party hat)!

Cheers!

Skol!

Yummy, cheesecake with Amaretto & champagne!
Happy 2011!

 We woke up bright and early on New Year's Day so that we could enjoy a day of skiing before returning home to watch some football. On or way out to the Village we were greeted by this jolly fellow along Village Road:

This snowman was erected by Yellow Iron Excavating to convey holiday wishes.
The snowman is about 20 feet tall, and a 55-gallon trash can serves as its hat!

So the New Year has officially begun with a bang. We continue to feel like we are on vacation and can't wait to have some visitors to our winter wonderland to enjoy all that Jackson Hole has to offer!

Best Wishes for a very Happy, Healthy and Beautiful 2011!

PS - Our holiday cards just got sent out yesterday - consider them a Martin Luther King card if you wish!!