Thursday, Feb 19
When I woke up, I couldn't bend my thumb; it was bruised and swollen from yesterday's crash. It was difficult putting on my gloves, but I could ski, so we all headed out for an adventure at Teton Pass.
Teton Pass is a half hour drive from Teton Village and the ski resort. You have to get there early to be sure of a parking space alongside the road. Then you hike or skin up and ski down any of the many powder slopes.
On the way, we stopped at Pearl Street Bagels in Wilson for a breakfast of coffee and bagels.
At Teton Pass, Michael, Mimi, Frank, and Julie are ready to head up at 8:15 AM.
Michael skinning up the mountain. Soon the coats would come off as the climbing warmed us up.
Julie climbing with "skins" attached to the bottoms of the skis. The little fibers of the skins keep the skis from slipping backwards, so you can ski up fairly steep slopes.
Mimi in the lead, as usual. After a short climb, we got a few excellent turns in the Powder Reserves, then the real climb up Christmas Tree Bowl began.
The eponymous "Christmas Tree" the bowl is named after.
More climbing.
Phillip taking a break.
Frank stopped to dig a snow pit on the slope we were going to ski. This helps us understand the snow stability and judge the risk of avalanche. Frank determined that the snow pack was stable, low risk.
Michael and Phillip watch and learn as Frank explains how to judge the snow stability.
There was still a lot more climbing to do.
After all the clmbing, there were sweet, sweet turns through the super-light powder and big grins at the bottom.
Phillip had his usual "powder anxiety" and cratered right next to a skier Z-ing his way up the bowl we wanted to ski. Thus I forfeited any righteous indignation at this interloper, and had to settle for the schadenfreude of watching him make a lame jump off the kicker. But as you can see from my smiling face, my last run was a lung-burning succession of super fun turns all the way down Christmas Tree Bowl. Michael's assessment: "You were a little slow at the top, but you made excellent turns at the bottom." Parents live for those crumbs of praise from their kids.
By a little after noon, Julie and Phillip are relaxing on the tailgate of Frank's truck back at the highway. Frank and Mimi once again proved to be excellent guides for a fun day of backcountry skiing.We bookended our adventure with another stop at Pearl Street Bagel. The perfect way to end the excursion: Mochas and Chai Lattes and conversation with Richard Hughes, the first person in charge of marketing for Jackson Hole Resort when it opened up back in the sixties. Mr. Hughes grew up in the circus, as a third-generation acrobat, contortionist, and magician.
Tomorrow Julie and the boys go home. So do the Sellews. Phillip will miss them all, but will try to make them proud with every run I take down the mountain.
video of Frank's snow pit
video of Julie and Mimi skiing Christmas Tree Bowl
video of Mimi stripping her skins
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