Sunday, August 17, 2008

Jackson, WY - the land of extreme sports enthusiasts

Everywhere you go in Jackson Hole, WY, you see scenery and landscapes worthy of extreme sports enthusiasts. I'm betting that Jackson has more of them per capita than most any other place! Whether back country skiing, paragliding, whitewater rafting and kayaking, mountain and ice climbing, downhill mountain biking -mere hiking and running seem tame for this city. If you're not an outdoor affeciandos before you arrive you'll have to at least try floating on the Snake river or Fish Creek on an inner tube and a six pack of coronas hanging from the side! I belong to the tame crowd so for me I'll take the floating, a trip through Yellowstone National Park and a sunrise wildlife viewing expedition. Folks here are tanned, buff and rugged - a combination seen most anywhere you go whether at the Teton National Park or local bar. Not to say that I'm a little overwhelmed and overclassed in the mountain woman category. Luckily I have a local guide, my daughter, Erin, who works as the Co Head Teacher at the Journey School at the Teton Science Center to navigate me through some of my options and keep me safe.

Today we went to the downtown Art Fair and I bought myself my first cowboy hat. Thought that since I am going to be hanging out in the West for awhile I really needed to fit in.... Then we did an extreme salon experience at the upscale Four Seasons Resort in Teton Village for four hours of hot tub, steam bath, cold water plunge bath, and peppermint pedicures accompanied by ginger root tea and peanut butter and cranberry protein bars. Somehow we survived all that relaxation to come back to Erin's home for a dinner of her homemade chicken enchiladas with green sals and spanish rice. Tomorrow is a more plebian day of bill paying, oil change and repacking but now I feel refreshed enough to tackle all of it!

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