magicalwonderlandcarnivalco

The February-March visit to Wyoming was epic!  Loni and I stayed at Alan's old yurt in Kelly. In Yellowstone Park. Wild, wonderful paradise. Wendell, our amazing painter friend, made Alan's old yurt his home. Alan's energy is still there when I visit & I love that!  We traveled over the hill into Idaho for three nights. 
Dr. D known for his elagance, hosted us in Jackson. Excellent digs, dynamite timing for the TownDownhill. B-Side Players, veteran musicians from San Diego(I used to see these guys often in Pacific Beach) played at the finish of the race. Food booths, beer stands. 100 year anniversary of Snowking was celebrated along with the TownDownhill.  I'd big hopes for myself this year for the race but I double ejected...double ejected...and never finished.  Still playing that scene in my mind over and over.  My training run was smokin'.  I still don't know what the hell actually happened.  Just blew out of my bindings & cartwheeled down the hill like tumbleweeds in the desert. 
At Hub&Lauren's we walked over to Melody Ranch for 'Ski Journing' which I learned is totally insane.  A fast, daring combination of horsemanship, ski carving & wild west madness.  A rope pulling menicial ride through tight gates & constructed jumps straight to a finish line.  The horse runs straight down the snowy track. There was some impressive crashes that day.  On Sunday, the last day in their gorgeous cabin we humbly enjoyed a mature Barn Owl perched an arms reach from their cabin. 
Stayed with J. Kusmin a sceond. Always entertaining.  Has a sense of humor that never quits. He and I religiously after the powder on Teton Pass each day. 5am runs with Matt, Hub & headlamps. The love for backcountry skiing when I moved to Jackson in the early '90s happened. The glory temple. The access & authentic raw energy goes very deep in my heart.  It's one of my favorite places on planet earth. Transition, gather supplies, and safe inside the protected walls. Out into powe zone.

Glory Hut before another descent!