Triple Winter

B757

2009-09-08T18:19:00.001-07:00

B757
Originally uploaded by krughb

Flew in to JAC on a Delta flight with 175 seats with 25 passengers. It has been a while since I had such an empty flight.

I wonder how much money Delta lost on this flight? It was full today on the return to SLC which helps balance out the loss.

B757

2009-09-08T18:17:00.001-07:00

B757
Originally uploaded by krughb

Breaking News -- This Blog is Moving!

2009-03-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

You heard it here first, Triple Winter is on the move. Check out the new homepage for your favorite blog.

I have entertained a tremendous number of complaints from the global reader base about my meaningless URL and I finally decided to upgrade the site name. As of March 11th, Triple Winter will now be found at this site:

http://broadbandcowboy.blogspot.com/

Check out the new site, send some feedback or suggestions, sign up for an RSS feed, click on an ad to support your author and enjoy.

Ramblings on the Economy - Part 1

2009-03-08T20:32:00.000-07:00

I spent the past few days in Seattle where the current changes to our economic environment are more pronounced due to the size of the metropolitan area. During my visit I stayed in downtown Seattle and traveled to Bellevue to work on Thursday and Friday. This involves a commute over I-90, one of the two floating bridges spanning Lake Washington. A few years ago, this trip would be stop and go - bumper to bumper traffic after 7:30. A simple 12 mile commute would often take 45+ minutes between 7:30 to 9:00. Last week, I made the journey at 7:45 and 8:05 in the morning and both trips were under 20 minutes. The traffic literally disappeared.

A few friends mentioned that traffic has lightened up across the greater Seattle area in the past few months. I was astonished to see the difference first hand and it was unsettling to know that job losses were the major reason for the reduction in traffic.

4 Pines & A Flip Camera

2009-02-21T19:21:00.000-08:00

We received a flip camera and put the device to use on 4 Pines, a backcountry ski and snowboard run at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The flip is a well designed and easy to use camera, it captures video at 720p resolution (DVD quality), charges and imports video through a USB connection, and is the size of a cell phone.

Why live in Jackson?

2009-02-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

Occasionally, I ask myself this question. Living in a resort town has benefits and downsides, especially when dealing with Tourons (tourist & morons lumped into 1 body). After skiing 3 waist deep laps on Cody yesterday, I reminded myself why I live at the foot of this mountain range.

Cutter Races

2009-02-15T19:29:00.000-08:00

Every year the Shriners host Cutter Races in Jackson Hole. The races are the Cowboy States' equivalent of NASCAR and keep the rodeo boys active during the cold long mountain winter. Two horses pull a person standing on a tin can sled with wheels as the horses sprint down a 300 yard snow track while the audience bets $1 per race.

Crazy Headlines

2009-02-12T18:54:00.000-08:00

Surfing the internet is a great way to find interesting news headlines. Still, I was surprised to find this headline on the NY Times:

With elections looming, Mexico City’s mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, is giving Viagra away to poor, older men.

Do you think this will be one of the most popular stories by Friday morning?

Cell Phone Fact

2009-02-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

4 billion people on planet earth own cell phones. The total population of the planet is 6 billion people.

In Jackson, many of my friends do not have land lines and thus rely solely on cell phones. I wonder if any other personal electronic devices have been adopted by this large of a percentage of the overall population? It's astonishing when considering that 13 years ago, hardly anyone owned a cell phone (one girl in my high school had a car phone).

Ten - A sweet Ski Movie

2009-01-29T07:09:00.000-08:00

I watched a great online ski movie yesterday called Ten. The movie was produced by Guido Perrini and uses footage from his last ten years of filming. The movie is a cross between a documentary and standard ski movie, and answers the questions:

- What is Freeriding?
- Why Freeride?

As a skier and snowboarder, I enjoyed how both activities were intertwined into the movie, without requiring a specific ski or snowboard section. In the end, we are all ripping turns down a mountain, if you leverage 1 or 2 planks, its still the same process. Bottom line, this guy understands how to make a great ski movie.

You can learn more about the movie at Guido's website. Also, make a donation if you view the movie so that we have future editions to view. A streaming ski movie, what could be better?

TEN ski snowboard film www.guidoperrini.com from guido perrini on Vimeo.

Idaho Falls - Ponzi Schemes?

2009-01-28T07:02:00.000-08:00

In late December I rode the lift with a plastic surgeon from Idaho Falls who mentioned that her practice was slowing down due to the difficult economic conditions. It sounded logical, people will cut cosmetic costs as incomes and savings decrease. During the conversation she mentioned that an alleged Ponzi Scheme was being investigated in Idaho Falls and the information should hit the newspaper in the next few weeks. Well, I am sorry to say that she was right.

Man ordered to halt alleged Ponzi scheme in Idaho Falls

Idaho Falls is a small city with a blend citizens focusing on agricultural and research at the Idaho National Laboratory (nuclear engineers). It's remarkably similar to other ordinary small city's in the rural West. This would be the last place that I would identify with Ponzi schemes. If a $50 million scam grew in IF, watch out, because they must be everywhere. Apparently, the NY Times agrees with my theory.

My New Kiva Loan

2009-01-19T09:47:00.000-08:00

NY Times: Ski Area Avalanches

2009-01-09T10:49:00.000-08:00

Check out this article by the NY Times which highlights the recent inbounds avalanches at ski resorts North America. The author focuses specifically on Jackson Hole and describes our recent avalanche activity.

50+ Calls

2009-01-02T14:33:00.000-08:00

We recently placed a classified ad in the paper for a part time babysitter. During the past 8 days we received 50 voicemails and our phone has been ringing non-stop. I get the feeling that jobs in Jackson have dried up, a large number of people are looking for work and people are very excited about picking up a few shifts watching an 8 month old baby.

Cloudveil and Wells Fargo recently announced a few entry level retail positions and the word around the valley is that each company received over 150 applications for the positions. How do you narrow down a field of 150 applicants for one entry level position? Now consider that 90% of the applicants have a college degree and are overqualified for the position. Where do you start?

I wonder how this will shake out during the next few months - will people be forced to leave the valley? Will this force duress real estate sales?

Everyone is safe - Jackson Headwall Avalanche

2008-12-29T15:36:00.000-08:00

Miraculously, no one was hurt in the massive avalanche at Jackson Hole on the Headwall today. The avalanche caused extensive damage to the new lodge at the top of the mountain. The building houses a cafe, ski shop, a high end dinner restaurant and a fancy lunch cafeteria; all of which have been opened for less than 1 year. Everyone on the hill was surprised about the original plan to construct this building in an avalanche zone. Check out the pictures from TetonAT - a local search and rescue member who was called to the scene.

The pictures with the tables and chairs on his site are taken from the 2nd story -- think about how much snow is piled up outside!

Jackson Hole - Headwall Avalanche

2008-12-29T09:11:00.001-08:00

It appears that the headwall at Jackson Hole slid shortly before 10am on Monday (12/29/08). I do not think that the Gondi was open and I hope that people were not caught in the slide. You can watch the action live on the Jackson Hole webcam: http://www.jacksonhole.com/webcam/br.jpg

1st Hand Account of the Alta 2 Avalanche at Jackson Hole

2008-12-28T17:30:00.000-08:00

I found this comment on my blog today - it was left in response to the post on the avalanche on Alta 2 at Jackson Hole. This was the inbounds slide that occurred before the larger event on a similar aspect in the Paintbrush/Toilet Bowl/Tower 3 area which killed a local skier.

It is interesting to hear the perspective of this skier, especially considering he is an out of state visitor.
______________________________________________________
Hey,
I am the skier you described in the avalanche. I'm 18 and 6' 4" and this was the first avalanche I have ever been in. I got very lucky with my height to avoid getting buried and somehow I got carried in between a set of 4 or 5 trees without hitting any of them.

I have had many people ask me if I had an avalanche beacon with me. Unfortunately my response was "no" because I am from the east coast and have never even thought I would ever witness an avalanche let alone be in one.

Unfortunately someone told me that a skier named Dave was searching for his ski in the deep powder and was killed from suffocation and a broken neck as an avalanche came crashing onto him off of Thunder Lift.

Jackson Hole got too much snow and they couldn't control it, but they wanted to open the mountain for the Christmas crowds. It was a huge mistake and everyone should learn a lesson from this. Any person skiing/riding that day could have been killed like Dave and we should all take this into consideration.

Inbounds Avalanche - Jackson Hole

2008-12-27T14:13:00.001-08:00

I witnessed an in-bounds avalanche at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort today while riding the Sublette chair lift. It appeared that a group of 3-4 skiers were in the process of descending Alta 2 one by one and when the final skier was a few turns into the run the snow released. The crown of the avalanche appeared to be 2-3 feet and I would guess that it ran on the November rain crust.

The skier was carried about 100 yards downhill and managed to avoid a number of trees during the slide. It appeared that he came to a rest buried up to his waist, but mostly on top of the pile.

The lesson learned from this slide is that Alta 2 was well skied prior to the avalanche. I would guess that about 20 people skied the chute prior to the skier who set off the slide. For people who are unfamiliar with Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Alta 3 is a steep and narrow North facing chute towards the top of the mountain.

About 45 minutes after the avalanche on Alta 2 all lifts were shut down and rumors of additional avalanches were circulating. Before the lifts closed I skied the Cirque and it appeared that cracks were propagating during my run. I immediately straight lined out of the bowl and the upper mountain soon closed. The avalanche rumors are running wild and it's safe to assume that additional avalanches happened at Jackson Hole today. The snow today was "upside down" and very heavy and slabby on the top. I am sure that we will learn more about the snow conditions on the evening avalanche report and we should all hope for the safe return of all skiers.

The Tram is Back

2008-12-22T19:33:00.001-08:00

It was a deep day at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and the first true powder day for the new tram.

More Jackson Hole Real Estate Info

2008-12-21T19:53:00.000-08:00

I looked back at the number of properties sold in Teton County, WY over the past 2 years.

11/07-11/08 = 319 real estate transactions
11/06 - 11/07 = 630 real estate transactions

Looking at this trend, it's clear that the market has taken a big hit. I assume most real estate focused companies will have to continue to cut their expense structure dramatically in 2009 to survive. It will be interesting to watch how the continued real estate downturn and economic recession will impact the local real estate firms.

Real Estate Update

2008-12-19T08:18:00.000-08:00

The general thesis addressed in the Jackson Hole Real Estate post was confirmed earlier this week when Real Estate of Jackson Hole announced that it would be restructuring and perhaps filing for bankruptcy. The JH News and Guide has an article today with an interview of the two majority owners.

The real estate transaction numbers listed in the post below are incorrect. In November 2008, 7 free standing houses were sold in Teton County. While not zero, this is a minuscule number and as pointed out in the News and Guide article, the real estate firms have a cost model built around processing significantly more transactions per month.

I believe that Real Estate of Jackson Hole ran into problems for a two reasons:

1. They are one of the largest players in the market and thus have a large number of fixed costs and a significant amount of employee overhead with their support staff

2. The majority of the company was recently purchased by new owners. They now need to service a significant amount of debt in addition to paying down monthly operational costs. Not to mention that the firm was sold at the peak of the bubble. Traditionally, a real estate firm is built from the ground up/grass roots level so servicing debt is not a large concern unless capital investments are made by the owners. It will be interesting to see how the downturn effects other brokers, but I would assume that most are still controlled by the original owners and that they do not carry a large amount of corporate debt.

Madoff and Jackson Hole

2008-12-18T14:52:00.000-08:00

Anyone recognize the hat?

1 & 10%

2008-12-17T08:04:00.000-08:00

1 = The total number of properties sold in November 2008 in Teton County, WY (Jackson Hole).
10% = The percentage of Teton County, WY residents who hold a real estate license (this is the number that is toss around...I do not know the accuracy).

The Jackson Hole real estate market has caught up with global economic forces. I would assume that December and January will have very weak real estate sales, perhaps not 1 or 2 properties but under 10 each month. Looking at this as a trend over the next quarter:

1. How will real estate professionals, title companies and mortgage brokers make money during the next 3 months? The expense strucutre of the firms are setup with an assumption of a minimum of 10-20 transacations for each company per month. Think about this, most compaines tied into the real estate market had ZERO revenue in November.

2. How will this trickle down to the local economy?

An interesting piece of data to watch will be the number of properties listed on the MLS that are owned by real estate agents. That will provide a glimpse into the financial stability of local agents and their long term view of market conditions. It would be interesting to compare the current number of properties listed and owned by agents to the same date last year, but I am not sure how you could find the old data.

The one property that sold in November was $7+ million dollar house. This was most likely an all cash deal which enabled the buyer to avoid the tightening credit market which will drastically effect the price of all properties in Jackson that are under $1.5 million. This is a topic for a future post.

Google Ads Are Back!

2008-12-16T20:35:00.001-08:00

Bring on the $$$$

After the bailout - Who will buy the cars?

2008-12-12T08:15:00.001-08:00

I am surprised that members in Congress and very few in the mainstream media are addressing the real question on the US auto bailout. Who is going to purchase their cars? Currently the legacy US automakers are losing the sales battle. We can dump billions of dollars in tax payer money into the companies but the problems will continue until they have a competitive product offering. Refinancing their massive debt and reducing labor costs are short term solutions, but the companies need to fundamentally restructure, change business models and revamp their entire product line before they can be successful. In my experience, this is a very difficult tasks, especially for a large enterprise.

Government and industry leaders need to step back and look at the full spectrum of the problem and stop politicking this issue as a “job saving” program. The issue is more complex than a short term job saving measure, if the plan is structured around this concern it will not address the core failure of Detroit and it will fail in the long run.

Finally, Valley Snow

2008-12-08T10:09:00.001-08:00

2008-12-03T21:13:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed eating Shrimp Fritters in Sevilla, Spain. The Spanish do not focus on presentation. The Cuban fritters use ground up shrimp and the Spanish version uses tiny whole shrimp fried live with egg batter. When eating the fritter you can see the whole shrimp and they are about 1/4 inch long.

2008-12-03T21:01:00.000-08:00

I also had Cuban shrimp fitters in Florida.

Magic Kingdom

2008-12-03T20:14:00.000-08:00

I made a trip to the Magic Kingdom in mid-November. The Magic Kingdom is the main park in Disney World and it has not changed much since I was a kid. I experienced a bit of daja-vu walking around, riding on Space Mountain, and soaking in the scene. I would not rush back to Disney world, but it would be fun to spend 2 days roaming around the parks with a few friends when our children are older.

The park was empty during the week before Thanksgiving and I was able to walk onto most rides (I only went into the park for 2 hours after a work conference ended). What amazed me was the large number of corrals to contain people during peak days. One could easily wait for 1 hour for a 2 minute ride. Don't go to Disney World during a peak holiday time - you will be overrun with other tourists.

Do you know who lives here?

Lack of Snow

2008-12-03T07:42:00.000-08:00

We are currently experiencing a lack of snow in Jackson, WY. Current conditions as observed from my house:

- snow in the yard: 0
- snow at 7,500ft (Wilson faces): 1-2 inches
- snow at the Ski Area (Teton Village): man-made, with thin coverage above 8,000ft

We need another 20 inches to bring the backcountry into shape and about 4 feet for the resort to open more terrain. Keep your fingers crossed.

Think Before You.......Print?

2008-11-21T09:30:00.001-08:00

I spend my work day conversing with business leaders at F500 companies. I have noticed recently that a number of people have a new component in the email signature:

Save Paper: think before you print.

A movie worth watching

2008-11-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

Landing in Madrid

2008-11-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

We flew to Spain on Iberia, a Spanish airline, on a new Airbus which had a camera mounted on the tail that looked down on the plane. They played the video stream from this camera during takeoff and landing. Check out the video of our landing in Madrid. You can even hear the funky Euro music that was cranking over the speakers.

I assume that a number of people were not excited to see this video during the flight. It was played on every TV screen!

Double Summer

2008-11-06T19:06:00.000-08:00

My blog is called triple winter. I guess that is why I don't post frequently in the summer. I am busy in the summer, what can I say. If more of you clicked on those Google Ad's I would have more motivation!

Here is a recap of my double summer:
- I spent 2 months in Florida (April 7 - June 7). I actually got used to living in 90 degree heat and I would put on pants at night if the temp went below 80.

- I returned to Jackson on June 7 in the middle of a snowstorm. Hence the double summer - 2 months in FL, 2-3 months in WY (we have a short summer, usually frost hits by Sept 10th). I also returned from FL with a new baby girl, Julia.

- June 8 - September 15 I was busy with the baby. I played a ton of golf and pushed the girl in a stroller, usually for 9 holes (or until she decided that it was time to eat).

- Sept. 15 - Nov 3 was filled with travel: Bay Area to DC, NYC, BOS to NY to Spain for 2 weeks.

- November 4 was a day to remember - more later, but I'll leave most of that up to the other political bloggers.

Now, back in Jackson Hole it has started to SNOW. Grand Targhee reported 18 inches yesterday and Teton Pass was closed for a few hours. Maybe I should change the name of the blog to Quad Winter in honor of the 4th winter season of blogging.

Stay tuned -- pictures will be posted from the journey.

New Feature

2008-08-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

I figured it was time for some new content!!! So, I added an olympic widget and swipe content from anoter site!

Check back for updates -- maybe they will actually cover kayaking!

one good part about spending time in the South

2008-05-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

bumbersticker

2008-05-28T14:22:00.001-07:00

bumbersticker
Originally uploaded by krughb

Found on a car in West Palm Beach, FL.

Important Reading

2008-04-30T09:54:00.000-07:00

I suggest reading this overview of the gas tax policy put forward by a number of leading political figures.

A Must Read - written by Thomas Friedman - Dumb as We Wanna Be

Oh Yeah - New Record

2008-04-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

Well, we broke 600 inches for the ski season. The season wrapped up on April 7th with 605 inches at the Raymer plot.

What a winter - it was one to remember in Jackson Hole.

We made a pilgrimage last Thursday night

2008-04-14T11:49:00.001-07:00

Bru
Originally uploaded by krughb

Yes, this was our first baby supter-store experience.

599 inches

2008-04-03T08:02:00.001-07:00

The snowfall total at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has climbed to 599 inches. We have 3 more days before the lifts close to break 600 inches for the season. With light snow falling in the valley the 600 inch mark could be reached before closing day. Check back for updates over the next few days.

Funny Sports News

2008-04-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

I just read the headline of a great article: A-Rod makes more than Marlins roster.

One more Pow shot

2008-03-27T07:49:00.001-07:00

One more Pow shot
Originally uploaded by krughb

An example of the deep March snow on Teton Pass. The power line adds a bit of artistic quality.

Tech Support - Update

2008-03-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

After sending the home theatre projector back to Mitsubishi the pixel line has been fixed. The problem is called vertical banding and is caused by a manufacturing defect.

2 more bugs to fix, both dependent on hardware that should be delivered this week:

1. Surround sound tweaks

2. Zone 2 playback

More Snow!

2008-03-27T07:37:00.000-07:00

It's stil snowing in Jackson...will it ever end?

1 more foot today will bring us in stricking distance of 600 inches.

Record Snow in Jackson

2008-03-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

We are pulling into the end of the ski season at JHMR and we are pushing to hit the600 inch mark for snow. Currently, as of this afternoon we have received just under 575 inches and more snow is expected through this weekend. A couple of stong storms should push us over the 600 inch mark.

What a season. The one downside, the golf course and biking trails will not be melted out until June.

I consumed a bunny...

2008-03-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

Last night I had dinner at Couloir at the top of the Gondola at JH Mountain resort. One of entrees was rabbit....and...it was good. It did feel funny to eat rabbit 3 days prior to Easter.

More Powder In Jackson

2008-03-20T07:18:00.000-07:00

We have been blessed with another 4+ feet of snow during the past 2 weeks. This has brought the snow total for the winter to over 525 inches.

With the combination of new snow and Day Light Savings Time it is possible to ski after work on Teton Pass. Yesterday I hiked Glory and skied 1st Turn, a West facing ridge that drops skies about 1/4 of a mile away from the top parking lot. The snow was consolidated and contained about 14% water and reminded me of my time in the Cascades. Usually the snow in the Tetons contain around 4%-7% water!

I lugged my new K2 Anti Piste skis to the top and did not regret the decision for the descent. After skiing the new boards for 3-4 powder days I can confidently say that they are excellent powder skis. The soft tip and extra long curve on the tip force this ski to chomp up powder and provide an amazing amount of float. I highly recommend picking up a pair of these skis for powder days.

Surround Sound is Working

2008-03-14T12:59:00.000-07:00

2 more bugs to crush...

Tech Support

2008-03-12T15:18:00.001-07:00

I have been busy setting up the Home Theatre. I have a few remaining bugs to fix:

- surround sound from the computer

- playing audio in zone 2 & 3 (kitchen/living room)

- removing a pixel line when up-scaling video to 1080i

more to come...

More Controversy

2008-03-06T08:52:00.000-08:00

It looks as if Jackson Hole has another large development brewing in South Park. The question of growth in the valley will continue to divide the community.

The big question is how will this divide the South Park community? A number of Teton Meadows critics have publicly stated residential growth in South Park should be directed towards the high school. Now with this as a possibility in the near future, will the residents in the North end of South Park Loop Road battle the people living in the South end of South Park Loop Road?

Apre At Jackson

2008-03-02T17:50:00.001-08:00

Typical (sort of) Apre Ski scene at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort:

Ski Review - Almost

2008-03-02T16:02:00.000-08:00

After a week or two of being sick and a lack of new powder snow I woke up on Sunday feeling well and found 12 inches of fresh reported at JH Mountain Resort. I decided this would be a great day to test the new K2 skis. On my first run I skied through a steep powder field and dropped into the skiers right chute in Toilet Bowl and walked out of my ski. After looking down at my binding I realized it was toast -- the heel piece was blown out.

At this point I am a few turns into a chute that I can not hike out of -- looking around I realized that I was hosed. I ended up pullilng up my heel cable up into the ski/walk mode notch in my boot. This enabled me to make Alpine turns to the bottom (2,500 feet in total). However, when I arrived at the bottom I quickly found out that I could not pull the cable out of the notch and I was stuck in my ski. After about 15 minuets of messing around with the binding I was able to disconnect the cable from the springs and I was free, but stuck without skis on a powder day. I called home and arraigned to swap out skis and finished out the day in style: powder runs, deep snow in the crags, and a PBR focused apre at the mooose.

During the 1 run I enjoyed the new skis - they busted through the windslab and drove hard through the steep powder shots. The initial feedback was great - bring on more snow for future testing.

Italian is back!

2008-02-26T06:52:00.000-08:00

About 1 year ago, the OYG, a favorite restaurant of locals and visitors closed in Jackson. The owners were approached with an unsolicited offer to buy the building which encompasses the restaurant. Hey, who can blame then? Sometimes you need to cash out, move to Italy and retire.

A few weeks ago a new Italian joint opened in Teton Village: Il Villaggio Osteria..

To make a long story short, they hired the Chef and Sous Chef from OYG and we now have back a version of our old favorite. We enjoyed dinner with a group of 12 on Saturday and everything was perfect. I can't wait to return and sample more of the menu.

The Skis Arrived!

2008-02-21T16:38:00.001-08:00

Now we just need more snow in Jackson Hole. We are in a bit of a High Pressure Rut, but it's expected to break this weekend.

Sick

2008-02-20T17:10:00.000-08:00

Catching a minor cold is a bummer. It's even worse when your house is under construction and you don't have a quiet place to rest.

Cheap Skis

2008-02-14T20:51:00.000-08:00

2008 K2 Anti Piste -- 50% off at Backcountry.com
http://www.backcountry.com/store/K2S0384/K2-Anti-Piste-Telemark-Ski.html

I pulled the trigger - I hope it's not a scam.

South on Teton Pass

2008-02-13T08:35:00.003-08:00

I used the excuse of a friend from out of town visiting Jackson Hole to justify an early morning trip on Teton Pass yesterday. We skied one of my favorite areas of the pass and found boot deep consolidated powder.

I did not get a good picture of the out of town guest because we always let him have first tracks. Maybe he should have carried the camera.

Teton Pass
Originally uploaded by krughb

Teton Pass 2

2008-02-13T08:35:00.001-08:00

Teton Pass2
Originally uploaded by krughb

Teton Pass 3

2008-02-13T08:23:00.000-08:00

Culture

2008-02-10T18:02:00.000-08:00

This weekend in Jackson Hole was packed with culture. We enjoyed a unique performance from Paco Pena at the Center of the Arts on Friday night. Paco is one of the leading flamenco guitarist in the world and our small community was able to lure his guitar and dance show to our small community of Jackson.

After skiing powder for 7 hours on Saturday the Banff Film Festival Tour screened 3 hours of movies at Walk Festival Hall in Teton Village. After numerous people set high expectations for the films I was a bit disappointed with the quality of movies. One movie stood above the others, Trial and Error.

Now, on Sunday night, I am wiped out from skiing and ready to rest before the new week ahead.

Pit on Teton Pass

2008-02-07T14:36:00.000-08:00

I dug a pit on a E/NE aspect south of Teton Pass today. The snow measured 285cm or 112 inches deep. What a sweet winter.

Teton County Comprehensive Plan - Survey!

2008-02-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

Are you a Teton County Resident? If the answer is yes, please take 10-20 minutes to complete the survey below. The county is currently updating the comprehensive plan, and it will only be a success with input from residents. This is your chance to stand up for your beliefs: wildlife preservation, affordable housing, less/more development, etc.

Thank you for registering to answer questions about the Jackson Teton County Comprehensive Plan Scenarios. Your responses will be part of a non-statistical survey that will help the planning team assess community values and a preferred direction. We have been soliciting feedback through other avenues as well, including community meetings and a community survey.

This survey is divided into four parts, and may take you 20 minutes to an hour to complete. We recommend that you review the Scenarios document before you answer the questions in section four.

To take the survey, clink on the link below.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Po6A5Vr9s4A_2fLV_2fEKIdwEA_3d_3d

Thank you for participating in the Comprehensive Plan update!

Sincerely,

The Planning Team

Teton County Comprehensive Plan

2008-01-31T19:07:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-27T20:20:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-22T15:20:00.000-08:00

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

A Good Perspective

2008-01-18T09:04:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-14T17:07:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-10T11:23:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-09T17:28:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-01T11:48:00.000-08:00

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.

Tech Support?

2007-12-31T18:27:00.000-08:00

I just purchased a new reciever and a new computer which will start to form a new entertainment system. Check out the number of input & output ports on the back of the reciever! I think that I will need to call tech support more then once over the next month.

Deep Snow = Lack of Blogging

2007-12-25T18:07:00.000-08:00

Deep ski turns at Teton Pass - Santa delivered.

Targhee SnowCat Day

2007-12-17T09:45:00.001-08:00

Targhee SnowCat Day
Originally uploaded by krughb

On Sunday we used our rain checks from Cat Skiing at Grand Targhee last year. During the past week the Tetons received about 15-20 inches of snow, with 5 falling on Saturday.

Once on the hill, early season conditions existed, but the snow was between boot to thigh deep with about 1 foot of light blower snow on the top. The cat ski area at Targhee is fairly small, so it was not uncommon to feel old tracks, but every few turns the untouched patches of thigh deep snow existed.

This summer Targhee cut a few new trails for cat skiing and they represent the steepest runs the mountain. After a few more feet of snow these trails will be completely filled in and serve up excellent skiing. Overall, most of the cat ski terrain is intermediate, but the day was enjoyable with a few feet of fresh powder.

Festive Living

2007-12-13T07:52:00.000-08:00

I just purchased the first holiday gift for my wife over at Festive Living in Victor, ID today. I used their E-Commerce platform and purchased the gift online with a store pickup. It's amazing how quickly a business can build an online presence. I am heading over to Targhee this weekend so I figured that I would pickup the gift in person. It's snowing in Jackson today and I along with 5 of my good friends are hoping that the snow continues because we are going cat skiing at the 'Ghee on Sunday.

Jackson Hole Fake Snow Report

2007-12-10T21:16:00.001-08:00

I was planning on writing about the opening of the upper mountain at Teton Village, but after reading the snow report on Monday I decided to call out the emblishments. Everyone is aware of the fact that most mountains exaggerate the snow report. This ranges from forecasting Heavy Snow when the weather station calls for chance of flurries to outright deception of the current conditions. The case on Monday was closer to the latter at Jackson Hole.

Mountain Report - Monday
The snow on the upper mountain is just phenomenal! I took a run down Pepi's Ridge and found deep, bottomless, fluffy powder for most of the run. I also found untracked lines through Bird in Hand and Bivouac woods, and enough cushion to attempt a small rock drop. (Yes, I DID land it, thank you very much for not doubting me!) Even the groomed trails were super smooth, and I easily cruised back across the traverses when I wanted to return to the base. All in all, an excellent day! -AC

I agree, that on Saturday and Sunday the snow was phenomenal on the upper mountain, including Bivouac Woods. However, I skied Pepi's Ridge and Bird in Hand and both were horrid. Pepi's ridge needs another 3 feet of snow to cover the rocks/boulders. Every 3rd turn I hit a rock along with everyone else who skied the trail as evident by their tracks. Bird in Hand was even worse, rocks/boulders every turn. This run takes the skier through a feild of boulders and it needs about 5 feet of additional snow. Not to mention the sun crust that setup in this area due to the fact that it faces South. I hope these 2 runs were the wost of the year, because it does not get much worse. Don't fall for the hype.

1st Glory Lap

2007-12-07T17:08:00.001-08:00

1stturn
Originally uploaded by krughb

I made my first trip up Glory on Thursday. A accent of glory entails a 2000ft hike straight up a snow staircase followed by a quick ski run back to the car. A number of runs are possible off the top of the mountain. This picture was taken on 1st Turn a West facing ridge that drops towards the Idaho side of the Tetons.

Poachers

2007-12-03T18:44:00.000-08:00

Props to Burton for putting this together: http://www.burton.com/poachers/Default.aspx

A contest with a $5K award to the best video of people poaching the final 4 resorts where snowboarding is banned.

Busy Weekend

2007-12-03T18:24:00.000-08:00

I scored a trifecta this weekend:
1. Listend to a talk from Michael Chabon, a Pulitzer Prize winner, who told a fictional memour and then described the techniques he used when writing the tale. Overall, I rated the story as a "B" and the lesson on writing as an "A+". Despite the long fictional ramble, it was a very enjoyable evening.

2. Friday night we partied down at the Teton County Library Winter Ball. A night of drinks, food and frieds at the Four Seasons with all proceeds going to the library foundation.

3. Saturday night we listend to Wade Davis, a noted anthropologist and ethnobotanist whose work has usually focused on the observation and analysis of the customs, beliefs, and social relations of indigenous cultures in North and South America, particularly the traditional uses and beliefs associated with plants with psychoactive properties. He gave a facisinating presentation about the global loss of culture.

Sunday night I went to bed early to catch up on lost sleep.

Lined Up

2007-12-03T10:04:00.000-08:00

The snow has picked up in Jackson this morning. It looks as if the storm is lined up to Oregon. I just returned from a quick pass run where the wind was blowing hard and slabs were forming. Tomorrow could be deep, wind effected, and high avalanche danger. A quick pit on an east facing slope around 8,000 feet revealed:

1. 1 foot of new consolidated snow
2. 1-2 inch hard crust
3. 3 inches of faceted snow
4. 1 inch crust
4. 3-5 inches of faceted snow to the ground

Teton Pass - Game On

2007-11-29T12:43:00.000-08:00

Ski season has returned to Jackson. After 1-2 feet of low density snow a dawn patrol run found deep pockets of powder at Teton Pass. The lifts at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort open on Saturday, albeit a white ribbon of death, for the formal kickoff of ski season.

Today was the officially start of my Triple Winter -- two winters sandwiched between a winter in South America.

Groping

2007-11-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

On my flight back to Jackson after Thanksgiving I was groped by the 50 year old woman sitting next to me. It started off fairly standard, the typical leaning sleeper invading my personal space. After about 20 minutes of this she eventually placed her hand on my knee. When I jerked in shock she woke up, apologized, and fell back asleep one minute later. About 5 minutes later she started to lean again and placed her head on my shoulder. Another quick twitch sent her head airborne followed by another apology.

I did notice that she pounded a double Vodka early in the flight, I guess she could not hold her booze.

Bodies

2007-11-26T11:53:00.000-08:00

In Pittsburgh last weekend we viewed the Bodies Exhibit. It was an interesting show and I would recommend the experience to others. The show contained real human bodies and parts that had been treated so that all major bones, muscles, organs, and other parts, could be displayed. Very interesting - I am glad that we had the experience to view this international exhibit.

Snow is on the way

2007-11-10T15:18:00.000-08:00

Finally, a small band of snow is heading to Jackson. 6-9 inches is predicted above 8,000 feet.

And to top this off, the JH High School football team just won the state championship game in front of 4,000 fans. Thanks to KS for the fun tailgate party.

Sunset Over Teton Pass

2007-11-08T06:32:00.001-08:00

Sunset
Originally uploaded by krughb

The high ridge on the right is Mt. Glory (10,000ft). Everyone is hoping the mountians turn white soon.

Snake River Grill - Loosing Ground

2007-11-06T07:36:00.000-08:00

Over the past 10 years the Snake River Grill has been considered one of the best restaurants in Jackson Hole. Last weekend after attending the annual art auction, on a whim, we decided to have dinner at the Grill. It was the first time I have been inside the restaurant in about 5 years. Overall, I was unimpressed:

- The roasted pepper stuffed with house made lamb sausage small plate was tiny. The roaster pepper was nothing special and the lamb sausage was enjoyable, but barely enough was served to fully comprehend the taste. The presentation was not very interesting, the sausage was cut into small pieces and covered with pieces of pepper and topped with fennel.

- The Pan Seared Seared Salmon was undercooked and cold in the middle.

- The potato salmon cake was delicious and was loaded with cold smoked salmon.

- If it was not for the cheese plate I would have left hungry. I devoured a pound of buttery cheese which left me satisfied after the meal.

Overall, I rate the experience a 3 out of 5. In the past 5 years a number of excellent restaurants have opened in Jackson and they are giving the Snake River Grill a run for their money. Going to the "Grill" no longer carries the same weight with locals as it did a few years back - I bet this trend will continue over the foreseeable future.

Home Made Pie

2007-11-06T06:02:00.001-08:00

img200.jpg
Originally uploaded by krughb

Props to my new friend Ethan who hosted a part at his new log cabin in Wilson last weekend. The highlight was his homemade pumpkin pie. When was the last time that you had pumpkin pie made from fresh pumpkins? It was delicous.

Snow King

2007-10-30T16:59:00.001-07:00

Snow King, the town hill, has fired up the snow guns for the season. The ski area is located in the town of Jackson and usually tries to open 1 run by early November. The mountain attracts a number of World Cup teams for training in November before the first North American Ski Race Season. Locals usually flock to the hill for early season turns during lunch break because 2 hour lift tickets are only $15-$20.

Need a Split Board?

2007-10-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

I am selling my Burton SplitBoard on Ebay. I figured that after not using the board during the past two seasons it was time for an ebay auction. Hopefully I can unload it for $300+. Let the bidding war begin.

Addition Update

2007-10-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

Have you ever used a chainsaw to cut open a hole in the wall for a door? Our contractor thinks it's the easiest way to expand the opening for the door, especially with log walls.

Big Jay - After

2007-10-24T05:50:00.000-07:00

This picture shows the illegal cut that was made on Big Jay. The cut is the brown scar on the top of the mountain. I believe that due to the camera angle a portion of the scar is not visiable because the ridge in the center of the mountain blocks the view of the damage. This picture was taken near the top of the tram.

For additional informatin, you can view this slideshow of the damge that was done on Big Jay.

Big Jay

2007-10-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

Big Jay as of March 2007. Great skiing can be found around the cliffs in the middle of the mountain. The run does require "local knowledge" because the trees are tight at the top of the run and it hides the open glades and chutes below.

Select A Candidate

2007-10-22T07:40:00.001-07:00

Who should you vote for? Try completing this short quiz which will pick a candidate for you based upon the answers to a few hot button questions.

At the least, it makes you ponder a few interesting questions. My quiz suggested that I select a canidate whom I have never heard of -- what will yours say?

Teton Pass Snow Profile 10-21-07

2007-10-21T19:27:00.000-07:00

I toured around the top of Teton Pass today to get a sense for the current early season snow pack. The early season pack often dictates the stability of the snowpack for the entire winter. Here are a few notes after the last week of snowfall:

1. 12-18 inches of snow exist around 8,000-8,500 feet

2. 3 primary layers exist
- 3-4 inches of rounded grains resting on the ground
- 1-2 inch rain/sun crust that developed from after a previous storm
- 8-12 inches of medium density unconsolidated fresh snow

3. A number of people were skiing in various North facing areas. The skiers were not breaking through the burried crust. This protected skis from rocks and it appearted that the skiing was better then expected.

4. The burried crust has the potential to be a significantly impact snowpack stability all winter. Generally, when you can ski in October the early snow leads to futuer avalanches.

5. The picture below was taken on a NE aspect at 8,500ft. The mid-layer crust can clearly be seen.

PWO7 - Ski Movie

2007-10-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

The snow has been dropping from the sky for the past few days in Jackson. Last night we headed to Teton Village to the Mange Moose for a showing of PW07 - a ski movie dedicated to Telemark Skiing. The movie is produced by a group of skiers in Salt Lake who travel to film in Alaksa and BC. Overall the movie was enjoyable and it had a great power series at the end from the mid Feb storm that dropped 3 feet in Jackson and SLC.

A friendly moose

2007-10-19T08:52:00.001-07:00

Last night we had an unexpected visitor for dinner at our house.

First Snow (Actually 2nd Snow)

2007-10-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

We had the first snow in the valley of Jackson Hole today. It has been snowing on and off in Wilson for most of the day, but the snow is not sticking to the ground. I heard rumours that a few flakes were seen in Jackson two weeks ago when I was in Seattle. So, for me its our first snow.

Take a look at the pass, only 3-4 more feet are needed before good turns can be found!

Netflix without the shipping

2007-10-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

Last week I had my first experience with Netflix on-demand. This service allows users to stream video to a PC, avoiding downloading a large file or shipping a CD to your house. My experience with streaming the movie was a resounding success. I would prefer to stream every movie and never have to worry about going to the post office again. The quality of the image and audio was perfect and I did not encounter any breaks in quality during a 1.5 hour movie.

The movie stores that are still open better worry, if the movie in the mail concept did not knock them out of business this sure will.

Garage on Oct 10th

2007-10-12T14:01:00.001-07:00

Garage on Oct 10th
Originally uploaded by krughb

The roof should be up by early next week!