Hundred Days 027
Riding in the Storm
Day 027: 01/22/12 – Riding in the Storm
Written by: Stephen Williams
Photography by: Jake Johnston
“Bluebird days, the dream of every skier and snowboarder.” Well almost every skier and snowboarder. Sunny skies, calm winds and crystal clear visibility? Nah, that’s just not for me. When I am heading out to snowboard, I want snowfall. I’m ready for gusting winds and I expect to be cold sitting on the lift. After working outside in Jackson Hole for five winters, I’ve learned to tolerate the elements, and also accumulated the adequate gear to withstand them. Workers gloves, fog-prone goggles, and flimsy base layers just do not cut it out here. For me, snowboarding is a sport that embraces bad weather, and being exposed to this weather in the mountains is what draws me to it.
Now, I’m not trying to be a tough guy. There have been plenty of days snowboarding in Jackson Hole that I have turned around at the top of the pass because of blustering winds, taken shelter in Nick’s after feeling the first stages of frostbite on my cheeks, or just straight up called it quits at Grand Targhee because I couldn’t see a thing past my fingertips. Winter weather in Wyoming is no joke; its severe, unpredictable and downright f*cking freezing sometimes. It is hard to imagine how early settlers in the Valley were able to survive winter storms like the one pummeling us at the moment, or why they decided to stay through the summer just to do it all over again next season.
This last Saturday at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort was my kind of day: Storm riding at its finest. Snow continually fell from the time we boarded a Tram at 8:45, until the time we finally gave into burning legs in the afternoon. Winds whipped at the top of the Bowl as we waited for the light to turn green. As we descended below the exposed massif of Rendezvous Mountain, those gusts turned to a cool Wyoming breeze. Visibility allowed just enough planning for the first three turns down the rocky top of Alta 2 chute, but just enough mystery to keep me constantly on my toes for what awaited me at the bottom. Short lines at the Sublette chair barely gave us enough time to catch our breath before loading, and the lift was just long enough for snow to accumulate on outerwear and give us a slight chill by the top. The sun stayed away, keeping the snow on the upper mountain dry and soft throughout the day, and tracks were consistently refilled by the accumulating snowfall.
Screw google tans. Give me a beard caked with ice and snow. Forget about warm, cozy lift rides; vacation at the beach in Mexico if you can’t take the cold. Dry gear at the end of the day? Pfffft, I prefer a puddle of melted snow under my barstool at the Moose. And as for bluebird powder days, let California and Colorado keep them. This is Wyoming. This is why I live here.
Other Posts from The Mountain Pulse
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
02/18/14 - A break in the storm reveals the sight that never gets old, a breathtaking sunset in Grand Teton Nation Park. Photographer: Stephen Williams
Previous Photos
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
The 43rd Annual Shriner's Cutter Races
Previewed By: Adam Glos
Saturday, February 15th // Sunday, February 16th
Melody Ranch // Jackson, WY
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
General Admission: $15
This weekend, give your ski ...
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
The 2014 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
Sponsored By: Skinny Skis
Previewed By: Adam Glos
Saturday, Feb. 8th / 8 pm // Sunday, Feb 9th / 7 pm
Jackson Hole High School ...
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
Moon Taxi
Previewed By: Ellie Stratton-Brook
Saturday January, 25th
Pink Garter Theatre // Jackson, WY
With special guests the Acoustic Weapons
Doors - 8:00pm // Show - 9:00pm
Tickets: $14 in advance // Buy Tickets ...
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
2014 Coldsmoke Awards
Previewed By: Stephen Williams
Saturday January, 18th
Emerson Cultural Center, Bozeman MT
North of the Sun - Filmhuset AS
Never Not Part 2 - Nike
Valhalla - Sweetgrass Productions
Previous Photos
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
Warren Miller's Ticket to Ride
Previewed By: Stephen Williams
Friday December, 20th
Pink Garter Theatre
All Ages Showing - 6:00 pm
21+ Showing - 9:00pm
$16 / Buy Tickets Online
Read More
Avalanche Awareness Night
Thursday 12/05 - 6:30 to 9:30pm
Jackson Hole Center for the Arts
$5 Donation benefits Teton County Search and Rescue
Previewed by: Stephen Williams
From the time that Powder Magazine's annual Buyer's ...
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
03/20/14 - Spring is right around the corner and with such a high snowpack in Jackson Hole, the touring season will be awesome. Doug Hayden, Kevin Salys and Tyler ...
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
03/15/14 - What a perfect day to be in the mountains. Fresh snow, clear sunny skies and just a little wind. Alex Howell takes a moment to take in ...
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
03/11/14 - Springtime pow surfing with Kyle Martin from Dragon Alliance as he rips into 13" of new snow under bluebird skies at Grand Targhee Resort. Photographer: Kevin Cass ...
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
03/10/14 - 2nd Annual Ski Joring Championships
Written and Photographed By: Stephen Williams
Ski Joring is an event with a perfect mix of Jackson Hole's historic cowboy culture and the new ...
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
Canyon Kids Release Double EP
Written By: Adam Glos
Photos by: Christie Quinn
In case you missed it, the debut album from Canyon Kids hit the electronic shelves recently, proving once again ...
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
<
Head for the Hills
Previewed By: Ellie Stratton-Brook
Thursday March, 6th
Town Square Tavern // Jackson, WY
9:00pm // Tickets: $10 // Buy Tickets Online
Although you may have seen many bluegrass bands around ...
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
03/02/14 - Mark Byall slashes a line in the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort backcountry as the consistent flow of snow continues into March. Photographer: Stephen Williams
Previous Photos
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
02/23/24 - A skier flies off a jump being pulled behind a horse racing down a track at Melody Ranch just south of Jackson for the 2nd Annual Ski ...
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
02/22/14 - February has been incredible in Jackson Hole and it's not quite over yet. Marian Herbick digs into the bottom half of Four Pjnes with more fresh snow ...
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
02/21/14 - Nick Grenoble left his snorkel at home and had to come up for air between trips to the whiteroom. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort was unbelievably deep today ...
Read More
Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s);if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
The 2nd Annual North American Skijoring Championships
Previewed By: Adam Glos
Saturday, February 22nd - 12:00pm
1 Sunday, February 23rd - 11:00am
Melody Ranch // Jackson, WY
General Admission: $10 // Kids 12 and ...
Read More