The Pensive Exposition: TRAVELOGUE: Jackson Hole/Targhee (Alta, WY) -- Feb. 2006

TRAVELOGUE:

MONDAY - Luckily the moon was out as we descended into the white powder pocket of Jackson Hole... in a slalom like movement, the plane made gentle twists and turns along the jagged mountain ridge to alight in the seeming sub-zero temperatures in the area known at the National Elk Refuge. After arriving at the hotel via an Alltrans airport express shuttle, we made a 10 minute walk to Subway to load up on the necessary calories for the next day's snowboarding rampage. I adjusted the boards, and made sleep right around midnight.

TUESDAY - We (Adam, Phil, and myself) scuttled out of our rooms around 6:30 AM in preparation for pickup by the Targhee Express bus, taking us on an hour and 10 minute ride to the opposite side of the mountain Range; a resort called Grand Targhee (Alta, Wyoming) (www.grandtarghee.com). We hit the lifts at 9:35 AM, and had some good runs until 3:30 PM, not including an hour lunch break. Sticking mostly to 'Blue' runs, I learned I like boarding down a mountain to the right (versus left) direction (being goofy foot), and that 'strap' bindings give you more stability, but less micro-control of the snowboard; when compared to 'step in' bindings. Even though it was under 30 degrees farenheit, we had to stuff our coat pockets with clothing layers as it got too warm rambling all over the mountain. In fact, pockets came in handy for all modes of town travel... skinny gloves, heavy gloves, scarves, hats... all for the right temperatures, etc. Dinner at the Snake River Grill (http://www.snakerivergrill.com/) was certainly an expensive treat, but very tasty. I have not had such a variety of scrumptious and diverse tastes on my pallete in a long while (orderinig Elk, a spinach dish, a potato dish, sample of buffalo carpaccio, a sort of maize-cake, and their bread). The buses start thinning out in town around 9:30 PM, and we were lucky to get on the local S.T.A.R.T line without having to wait too long in the cold. We were contemplating a taxi for the 3 mile trip...
WEDNESDAY - Sleeping in until 7:45 AM, we took a slower start getting ready... and made it to the Jackson Hole 'Teton Village side of the mountain' (http://www.jacksonhole.com) lifts around 10:15 AM. There, we perfected our skills on the 'Blue' runs of the Apres Vous lift. I'm starting to read the snow path (bumps, tracks, piles, etc) better, and find it quite enjoyable to navigate the mountain without undue vibrations and jarring made by the wrong choice of turn, etc. At 5:30 PM, I had my first full-body massage (http://www.peakbodywork.com/), and I can definitely say it helps to relieve the soreness accrued by two days on the slopes (not being in as good of physical condition as I should be). Later that evening, tried the house bottle beer at the Million Dollar Cowboy Saloon while waiting for Adam to meet me down town at the square... We then tarried over to Burke's Chop House, a very fine place to eat a variety of mountain meats, beef, and gourmet style food (and cheaper than the Snake River Grill). Caught the next-to-last bus just in time, and got to bed just before midnight.

THURSDAY - Decided to take a day off from the Mountain... slept in until 9:00 AM... scrounged the remaining breakfast stuff that the Super 8 had to offer... and made our way into town around 11:00 AM to check out the shops and find a Valentine's gift for my gal. Found a good vintage style poster remastered by a local artist/photographer circa 1930s/1940s for promoting the Teton Forest/Mountain area.

Ate a buffalo burger at Jebediah's Original House of Sourdough, a tasty little food stop that I like to make a tradition of visiting when I'm in the area. Later that afternoon, Adam and I knocked out a rough sketch for a thinking man's film screenplay... though it might even be a good play for theater at some point. While sipping organic latte's at 'Harvest' (somewhat like a small Whole Foods grocery), we got into a small and polite political conversation with another traveler. Pretty pretensious way to spend the afternoon I guess, as I was sitting in a high-backed plush armchair, and Adam and the tourist were in the leather couches. We decided to catch a film, 'Capote' - which was excellently executed, though not my favorite film of the year. Around 7:00 PM, we walked over to the Snake River Brewing Company (http://www.snakeriverbrewing.com/) via one of the great Antler Arches... splitting a few personal pizzas, a sampler plate, and some beers for two hours... followed by catching yet another bus back to the hotel, etc. Asleep around midnight again...
FRIDAY - Woke up at 5:30 AM to get ready for the airport shuttle. Had some sourdough pancakes at 'Jebediah's at the Airport...' Since the plane was a 'walk on' type out of the 1950s, I stole a few pictures of the mountains while walking on the tarmac. See especially Adam's 'Dr. Gonzo leaving on the plane' (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) pic! Included are pics of the Burton Cascade 168 I rode during the trip [$130.00 - a great deal]).