Potatoes and Cowboys

Two weekends ago I took an extra long weekend to go out to ID/WY for some snowboarding.  We were right on the border there, so we crossed the line once or twice a day.  Jax and I met in Denver and flew into Jackson together.  Here are the highlights:

1. Getting special treatment at the B&B we stayed at.  One of my friends helps to run it and my sister knows the other couple who runs it, so we got some extra bacon during some of our breakfasts.  I would highly recommend the Fox Creek Inn if you're out that way.
2. Seeing Ananias for a couple of days.  She made the drive down from MT, and we had a few good talks.
3. Spring snowboarding at Grand Targhee.  The snow was decent (not great), but they have some nice terrain to explore.
4. The last day the weather was a little too warm for snowboarding, so we decided to go cross country skiing instead.  I learned the skate-ski style.  It was a bit challenging at first, and I may have almost regretted my choice to rent that kind for the first half mile.  After a few pointers from Mr. John, I was able to get the hang of it.
5. Warm hospitality.
6. Meeting new people who share some great stories about their faith.
7. The breakfasts.  Delicious.  Baked oatmeal, scrambled eggs, local sausage, bacon, oatmeal pancakes with huckleberry syrup and real maple syrup, cream cheese french toast casserole, sauteed steel cut oats, etc.  They all were delicious.  Oh, and the breakfast included a smoothie every morning.  Made in a Vitamix, so it was super smooth.
8. Good talks with Jax.
9. Fellowship.
10. No flight delays!  That hasn't happened for a while.

And some pictures from the trip:

This is almost worthy of its own bathroom observation post.  Beware the sensors and their assumptions!

From the chair lift at Grand Targhee

A great view of The Grand Teton from the ski slope on Friday afternoon.

Key points:  Do not trust altitude instruments.  Pilots will not wear spurs while flying.

Snow king:  allegedly the steepest slope in America.  It's where the locals in Jackson ski.  Teton village is for tourists.

We participated in a Flat Clayton project on Sunday.

Can you see the mountain sheep?  Watching them made it clear where the expression about climbing like a mountain goat came from.  Assuming sheep and goats are similar of course.

The tetons.

Jax, Mex, and Dana. With antlers. 

Jax on classic cross country skis.

Mr. John, teacher of skate skiing.

Flat MelBMarvis made a brief appearance to check out the Big Hole Mountains.

Some special friends - Jane, Bonnie, Dana, Ellen, John, and A-aron.