Teton County Comprehensive Plan

Last night I attended the Teton County Comprehensive Plan meeting. During the meeting we were presented with a number of options involving the future of our community. The topics discussed ranged from growth, conservation, affordable housing, and transit.

I was surprised with the demographics of the group. The average age was over 50, and I wonder how many people owned homes. Due to the pending development South a large percentage of attendees resided in this area.

During the meeting, I was very surprised about the lack of support for affordable housing. When an affordable house hits the market hundreds of people enter to win the lottery for the house. Where were these people during the meeting, both the people who live in affordable housing and the people who have not won lottery. This was one of the chances given to the community to impact the future development plan in the county and advocate for more affordable housing. Maybe the housing authority should add an additional question on the affordable application: Have you attended public meetings to support affordable housing?

10 Days - Jackson Hole

10 days -- the total number of days in the 2007-2008 ski season to date that Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has not received snow. 3 of the days happened last week and the number will not increase for the next 5 days if the weather forecast is correct.

Social Network - MLB Steroids

Check out the interesting social network outlining the connections in the MLB Steriod Rerport on Slate.

A Good Perspective

Jackson Hole residents are constantly exposed to people who take extreme amounts of risk with their life, and others, in the winter season. Every week people roll the dice by skiing closed areas or aspects prone to avalanches. This ranges from ducking ropes to jump Alta Zero at Teton Village, skiing the gut of Mt. Glory solo after 1 foot of fresh overnight, or dropping the Rubber Neck/Break Neck ridge on Cody during a considerable avalanche warning.

Finally, someone had the guts to stand up and tell the truth. My guess is that 95% of the full time valley residents over the age of 27 agree with the post on The Snaz. I bet the majority of young folks who are seasonal residents disagree with the post because they have not lived in JH during the years with multiple avalanche deaths. After the next local dies skiing, I assume that people will dial back the aggressiveness again until a new crop of early 20-something folks move to the area and then the clock starts all over again.

Also, why do people insist on skiing in winter closures? I am glad to see this person had a scary ride -- maybe it will teach a lesson to all. Everyone knows the snow in the Taco Bell wind lip is junk - why take the risk - especially when an avalanche can easily carry a rider into a creek.

I am glad to see the local bloggers revolting against the stupidity.

'08 Storm Cycle

The first big Jackson Hole storm cycle in 2008 has ended after 2 days of inversions and high pressure. Currently, we are experience a few Arctic cold fronts pass through the region with light snow and bitter cold temps (-15F).

Don't forget how good the skiing has been over the past few weeks. Here is a shot from Teton Pass from last week when the snow was about as deep as possible.

Select A Candidate

Update: My "preferred" candidate from the online selection tool for the Presidential race is no longer in the running. I guess I need to take the test again. I hope that I don't have to change my beliefs to select the eventual winner.

Teton Pass - Deep Powder

The snow on Teton Pass was so deep yesterday that I made the local paper:


I'll post the rest of the series when I receive the digital copies. The picture shown in the paper was taken when I was going straight (click the image for a larger view). A few shots were taken during the turns, but the snow was so deep that I disappeared. Apparently this does not make a good cover shot for a newspaper.

The picture was taken on KB Ridge on the South side of Teton Pass in Jackson, WY.

Fried Oysters

I have been experimenting in the kitchen with Fried Oysters. We had 100 oysters shipped to Wyoming from Maine for the holidays. After frying about 25 oysters the best receipt I created is listed below:

1. Shell oysters and discard juice
2. Mix salt and pepper with 1/2 cup of flour
3. Mix 1/2 cup of corn meal or polenta with garlic powder (as much as you prefer)
4. Dredge oysters in flour followed by polenta
5. Fry in a sauce pan with hot oil until golden brown

I also tried beer-battered, but this did not compare to the receipt above.

World Cup Crash

US Ski Team member and local Jackson resident Resi Stiegler was banged up in a crash in Europe recently. It looks like she will be off skis for some time - I hope the recovery process moves along quickly.