Return To Jackson, WY

Saturday morning, Valentines' Day, we motored up the Snake River highway to Jackson, WY: our old friend, Jackson, which we visited first in 1970, and to which we have returned many times, in all seasons, for hiking, backpacking, climbing, rafting, snowmobiling, and more. We fell in love with the place then, and more than once considered moving there, abandoning careers, etc., for different lifestyles. Fortunately, we didn't. Now the place is somewhat less lovable; actually, a lot less lovable. Not to mention affordable. But that's mostly just the town and the people that bought the place up in the 80s and later. Aspenization, some call it. Now we just pass through in a few hours, look for a few old haunts, entertain a few of the good memories, and move on. The economy doesn't need any stimulation. It does need snow, however.

Major location for Christie's, Sotheby's, etc.

Lunch at the new Bubba's, now owned by one of Jackson's
restaurant combines, across the highway from its original
location; worst pulled port ever, oozing grease...

Local landmark, great tobacco shop

Wort Hotel, famous landmark...

Another famous landmark, a gateway to the city square...the
National Elk Refuge is not far away; not pictured: urban elk

Another famous landmark, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar;
note Ferrari cruising past

One of the places that always cracks me up, the ski equipment
room in the thrift shoppe of the Episcopal Church of St. Matthew/
Mark/Luke/John; note crutches, a cautionary touch

Teton Mountaineering, where we have cheerfully
dropped a few coins

Does your Albertsons' sell bear spray? it's spring conditions
here, and they are coming out of their dens, hungry

After a few hours of shopping, eating, and reminiscentia, we
are over the hill and round the bend, for a first close view of
the Tetons

August 8, 1972, my first ascent

An hour later, past Moose and Moran, we are camped at a
snowmobile parking lot just short of Togwotee Pass, enjoying
a great Teton sunset