A bird's eye view

 

(Editor's note: I'm going to start posting the last several installments of my Excursions column, which appears every other week in the Jackson Hole News&Guide)

By Amy Schenck

What: tandem paragliding

Who: with Matt Combs of Jackson Hole Paragliding

Where: from the top of the gondola at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Cost: $225

As a ski instructor at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, I’ve watched countless 6 year olds stare awe struck at paragliders circling overhead.

“Amy, look!” they shout, eyes glued to the ski and finger pointing overhead.

Truth be told, I feel my own wave of awe on each of these occasions. Something about a nylon wing skimming the horizon gives flight to the imagination in a way the cold, hard metal of an airplane never could.

Two weeks ago, more than just my imagination got to lift off the ground.

I was headed up the gondola for lunch when I got a call from Matt Combs, with Jackson Hole Paragliding.

The conditions are perfect, he said. Would I want to go on a tandem flight? Matt and I arranged to meet an hour later on top of the gondola.

Serendipitously, I happened to have everything I would need with me: a helmet, goggles, warm layers and even my camera. My skis stayed behind, a seemingly mundane mode of travel compared to what I was about to experience.

The pre-flight preparation went by in a flash. I signed away my life in several pages of paperwork. Matt unfurled the wing, clicked each of us into our harnesses and offered a few instructions for takeoff. Then, without hesitation, he gave the signal: “run.”

My ski boots dug into the snow, as I fought against the resistance of the wing inflating with chilled mountain air.

Within just a few moments I found myself kicking at the gap growing ever wider between the two of us and the slope below.

We soared out above the mountain. We veered right to get a bird’s eye view of Casper Bowl and the Craigs. Casper chairlift seemed to tickle my toes, appearing to be nothing more than a few stitches on a snowy white canvas.

Calm coursed through me. The quiet of the sky felt all the more palpable having launched from the spring break mayhem still carrying on below.

Matt and I talked about the type of lift paragliders use to gain altitude – thermal lift, convergence life and ridge lift.

A healthy dose of instability in the air made for strong thermal activity. We chased down the warm columns, catching them and then riding them upward by spinning in circles.

After playing with thermals for a while, we cruised out over Teton Village. Matt showed me how to slow down, speed up and turn the glider. He then let me take control of our overhead wing.

I piloted the glider in long looping circles, leaning hard in the direction I wanted to go while simultaneously tilting the wing.

Before taking off, Matt had asked me if I like roller coasters. I told him I did, but would surely get nauseous if we did too many acrobatics. So, we agreed to leave the “ride” for the end.

In the last two minutes before coming in for a landing, Matt sent us swinging, plunging, spinning and twirling. I let out a cry of part terror and part delight.

Just as I was beginning to wonder if my stomach could take it any longer, Matt swooped the glider down toward the resort’s cross-country ski track and we came in for a soft landing.

In the afternoon sun, I found myself absolutely grinning, from ear to ear.

Matt rolled up the wing with extraordinary efficiency – just one of the many signs that he’s been at this sport for several years.

We hopped back on the gondola. Matt was after another flight and I needed to retrieve my skis.

In addition to tandem flights, Jackson Hole Paragliding offers instruction. Classes begin May 1. The cost starts at $1,500 and goes up to $1,900 during peak season. The price includes a minimum of 25 flights using Jackson Hole Paragliding’s gear. During those flights students learn how to do high wind launches, low wind launches, 360 degree turns, figure eight turns and spot landings, among other skills. At the end, students earn their novice rating.

The novice rating can be earned in as little as two weeks, but most students take longer, because of work and weather conflicts, said Scott Harris, co-owner of Jackson Hole Paragliding.

Scott suggests interested students start with a tandem flight to figure out whether they’re interested in spending the time and money to pursue the sport.

The $225 price of a tandem goes toward the price of lessons.

Scott said that paragliding in Jackson is unsurpassed by anywhere else in the country because of the amount of vertical and number of launch sites in the area’s vicinity.

“If you learn to fly here you can fly anywhere,” Scott said. “It’s kind of like of skiing, if you can ski Jackson, you can ski anywhere in the world.”

Clowning around

Every year April 1 is a big dress up day at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. It's known as "Gaper Day" and the idea is to mimic the most ridiculous and absurd skiers who have showed up to Jackson over the years ... but the beauty of Gaper Day is that anything goes ...

My dear Auntie Kathe made me clown costume sized to be worn over ski clothes ... and I used Gaper Day to make its debut. What a hit! I was teaching ski school that day, and the kiddos just went wild ... "Look, it's a clown!!!!" All day long I honked my noise and smiled. One 3-year-old in particular just starred at me wide-eyed ... eventually his instructor brought him over "to meet the clown."

Just can't get enough

The last week has been one of the best ski weeks of my life. It all started with Grand Targhee last Friday (a full week ago) when knee-deep powder and bluebird skies coupled up to bring heaven here to earth.

Then on Saturday I taught my last day of ski school at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Snow absolutely hammered the mountain that day ... and my supervisors pulled through to give us Rough Rider instructors a chance to do a Gondola lap while the kids were in an "extended story time." That lap proved to be one of the most amazing runs of my life ... I felt totally free and totally on fire ... the turns seem to flow in perfect rhythm right out of the core of my being. The face shots frosted the cake.

On Sunday my friends descended on the mountain ... it was the last day it was open to the public and yet another storm cycle made for buttery conditions. Karen, Martha and I adventured together ... dropping into chutes none of us had explored before ... specifically Tower 3 and the Mushroom Chutes ... divine.

That night I partied like a rock star, and still managed to wake up and make the first tram for employee-only ski day on Monday. I laid the very first tracks into Expert Chutes (Ooops ... couldn't resist the chance to brag), and then headed back to Tower 3 and Mushroom Chutes ... where a fresh coat of snow made conditions even better than the day before. By this time I had found a groove, and my confidence level was sky high. I looked at my friend Jim, who's a pretty darn awesome skier, and asked if he'd go with me to the famous - or perhaps infamous - Corbet's Couloir. He agreed. For those that don't know, Corbet's gets it's rap because it requires a wicked drop in ... and can be seen from all over the mountain ... the tram passes right above it. On Monday there was a pretty substantial - and uncovered rock face - that required a fairly precarious maneuver. Jim went first and flawlessly showed me how to do it. Mimicking his every move, I took a huge deep breath and dropped ... clatter, clatter, clatter ... I pulled off the move, but the DIN setting on my skis was set too low and they popped right off. I cartwheeled down the mountain a couple of times before self arresting. A super nice fellow who dropped into Corbet's after me, picked up my skis, saving me a long hike. The ski down the rest of the couloir can't fully be put into words ... waist deep, cottony soft ... basically a perfect way to end the season at the Village (the name locals use for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort).

When Tuesday rolled around I decided it was time for a break, but by Wednesday I couldn't contain the need for floating free. Josh, a new friend who recently moved to the area, and I headed up to Teton Pass for a sunset ski. We hiked up Glory and dropped into Coal Creek ... taking advantage of good snow in the north facing trees. We got back to our car at 8:20 p.m., just as the last rays from the day were falling away to the west.

Inspired, I called Karen that night, and we met at 6:15 a.m. the following morning (Thursday) to do the exact same run. The sunrise proved to be just as beautiful as the sunset, and the snow just as nice. I kept thinking to myself ... "Wow, I can't believe I live in a place where I can go for a sunset backcountry ski and then wake up the following morning for a dawn patrol."

Not surprisingly, when Friday rolled around and the opportunity popped up to tail Marc on an outing to one of his favorite (and somewhat secret) backcountry runs, I jumped. The limitless blue skis and gentle breeze made the day ideal, and north facing woods once again proved to contain the goods - plus, like each of the proceeding days, the company was great.

Now as I sit here on Saturday, tapping away at the keyboard, I feel totally content to take a rest day ... "a" being the keyword ... I've already starting planting seeds and scheming up plans to pick up the parade tomorrow.

Amelia and Jim look back as we head up the lift for more face shots at Grand Targhee.

Amelia and me on the lift at Targhee.

Jim, Amelia and I ... what a spectacular day to ski freshies.

Josh hikes up the final pitch of Glory.

The sunset view while hiking up Glory to ski into Coal Creek.

Frosted prayer flags on top of Glory.

Zippy says, "Mom, this place ain't too shabby."

Karen gets ready for an early morning descent.

Karen salutes the endless skis and horizon.

Time to pull off the skins and adjust the pack ...

Marc adjusts his sunglasses while taking in the view.

A silly Saturday

For the last Saturday with Rangers (my group of local 3 year olds who I skied with all season) we all dressed up, went through a race course while parents watched and cheered, and partied with cake and other goodies. It was super fun day ... and also a good day to reflect. I remember teaching these kiddos how to make a pizza to stop on the magic carpet ... now we can all ski the chairlift together ... very cool to see that progression! Saturday in many ways felt like the beginning of the end ... it seems like the ski season just started ... and now there are only a few short weeks left before the mountain closes. On that note, enjoy the photos ... I sure had fun putting my costume together.

Powder: a family bonding experience

My mom, dad and Auntie Kathe came to visit me here in Jackson Hole a couple of weeks ago. Their timing was impeccable - they showed up for the two of the best powder days we've had all month. We teled the first day at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and the second day at Grand Targhee. All in all a great visit!

Group portrait next to the "Bottom of the Hobacks" sign. Yep, that's right. For our "warm up" run, I took my family into Rendezvous Bowl and down the Hobacks, a continuous vertical drop of more than 4,000 feet. (To my credit, I did give them the option, and, really, who can resist first tracks on a powder day).

Dad, Auntie Kathe and Mom

Me dropping in knee in fresh powder at Grand Targhee

Dad has nothing but good things to say about two straight days of fresh pow-pow

Mom gets low

The tele gang at Grand Targhee - we're about ready to drop into our favorite tree run.

Zippy takes is job as co-captain seriously. It's a wonder anyone arrives anywhere without a Zippy to help navigate.

The crew enjoying coffee at the Hard Drive Cafe before heading to the airport

The skisters

Here some more images of the little skisters from Saturday ...



To see the images full size or download copies click here.

January in Jackson

From my 3-year-old youngsters who I ski with every Saturday and my adaptive ski buddies (a program I volunteer for every Tuesday) to the best powder and bluebird days of the season ... the following is a montage of Jackson Hole in January.



To see or download the full-res photos click here.