Planet JH 1.20.16

JACKSON HOLE’S ALTERNATIVE VOICE | PLANETJH.COM | JANUARY 20-26, 2016

The Ambassador As more backcountry users flock to Teton Pass, Jay Pistono works to protect a playground of powdery possibilities.

BY JULIE FUSTANIO KLING

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

2 | JANUARY 20, 2016

JANUARY 29TH

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JACKSON HOLE'S ALTERNATIVE VOICE

VOLUME 14 | ISSUE 2 | JANUARY 20-26, 2016

9 COVER STORY

THE AMBASSADOR As more backcountry users flock to Teton Pass, Jay Pistono works to protect a playground of powdery possibilities.

Cover photo by Sargent Schutt

4 OPINION

18 GET OUT

8 THEM ON US

20 WELL, THAT...

14 CREATIVE PEAKS

27 COSMIC CAFE

16 MUSIC BOX

30 SATIRE

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COPY EDITOR

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January 20, 2016

By Meteorologist Jim Woodmencey

S

ome famous sports figure once said that, “records are meant to be broken.”

They were referring to athletic records, but that could also be said about weather records. January’s records in Jackson however are kinda tough to beat, especially when it comes to its record high and record low temperatures. Our record high of 53-degrees this week dates back to January 21st, 1951 and the record low of 44-degrees below zero dates back to January 25th, 1949.

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Some records are built to stand the test of time, and most of the daily record low temperatures for Jackson during January that still exist today were established between 1940 and 1980. There are a handful of days with low temperature records earlier than 1940, and just one that dates to as recent as 1989. Thirteen out of the 31 days in January have record cold temps that were set during the 1970’s, and seven of those occurred in January of 1979 alone.

Oddly enough, as cold as those decades were from the 1940’s to the 1970’s, there are still a few record high temperatures from that era that have also stood the test of time, particularly in the 1950’s. This week’s record high of 53-degrees from 1951 is one of those records. The daily record high temperatures are distributed more evenly, ranging from some record highs established in 1925, to a few more recent ones in the 2000’s.

AVERAGE PRECIPITATION: 1.5 inches RECORD PRECIPITATION: 4.9 inches (1969) AVERAGE SNOWFALL: 19 inches RECORD SNOWFALL: 56 inches (1969)

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JANUARY 20, 2016 | 3

Jim has been forecasting the weather here for more than 20 years. You can find more Jackson Hole Weather information at www.mountainweather.com

WHAT’S COOL WHAT’S HOT

NORMAL HIGH 28 NORMAL LOW 7 RECORD HIGH IN 1951 53 RECORD LOW IN 1949 -44

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JH ALMANAC

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4 | JANUARY 20, 2016

GUEST OPINION The right way to play The power of engaging in local politics

BY CRAIG BENJAMIN

I

t’s a moment that changed the trajectory of my life, and like other important moments in my life, it took place at a dive bar. My wife Stacy and I met at the Log Cabin Saloon.

In 2006, Stacy and I left our skid-luxury life in Jackson Hole so I could pursue a Master’s in Public Administration at the University of Washington to get the skills and knowledge to create a better future. My first quarter in graduate school I took a class in Legislative Relations co-taught by Jim McIntire, then Chair of the Washington State House Finance Committee (now the Washington State Treasurer), and Scott White, then Chief of Staff for the King County Council.

To kick off the class, Jim asked us to explain our experience working in the legislative arena. I spoke to the incredible summer I spent between my junior and senior years of college working as an intern and then legislative correspondent for Congressman Jay Inslee who is now the Governor of Washington. I explained how, “This experience working for Jay restored my faith in politics and got me stoked to pursue a career in federal politics.”

After class we all headed over to Kai’s for a drink (one of the best dive bars around). Scott sat down next to me and asked me to consider a career in local politics. He explained there’s nothing better than the feeling of walking on the sidewalk or riding the bus line you helped fund, playing with your kids in the park you played a role in getting built, splashing with them in the creek you helped restore, or seeing the faces of families moving into their new affordable home you secured a grant to construct.

In local politics you can literally see how your work makes people’s lives better. Perhaps more importantly, he continued, it’s nearly impossible to effect change at the federal level, but at the local level, you can get things done. This

conversation shifted my life-trajectory into the fulfilling and impactful world of local politics.

In addition to being able to get things done, one of my favorite things about local politics is that it’s a lot like sports.

Former Jackson mayor Mark Barron once explained the similarity to a class of our Conservation Leadership Institute – a program that has empowered 77 of your friends and neighbors with the skills and knowledge to create a better future for our community. “Local politics is a full contact sport. A fun contact sport,” Barron said.

Here’s the thing. As with sports, there’s a right way and wrong way to play politics. Fortunately, here in Jackson Hole, we generally play the right way. For example, take last Tuesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, January 12, the Jackson Town Council and the Teton County Board of Commissioners met to determine how to move forward on two issues that will shape the future of our community: (1) how to align our investments with our values to address our housing and transportation challenges, and (2) how to ensure our land use rules encourage walkable neighborhoods where at least two-thirds of people who work here can afford to live here, surrounded by protected open space, working agricultural lands, and connected wildlife habitat.

In order to determine the most productive path forward, our elected representatives listened to dozens of people with diverse opinions who constructively made their voices heard through our civic process. Then our elected representatives thoroughly reviewed the facts and data presented by their staff, thoughtfully considered how their decisions on these issues would help implement our Comprehensive Plan, and ultimately took two important steps forward.

Specifically, our local elected representatives voted to provide our community with the opportunity in November to support a consistent and predictable funding source – a general sales tax – to address our housing and transportation challenges. They chose to prioritize housing the middle class over more Marriotts by voting unanimously to move forward with land use rules that will limit new commercial and lodging development potential while encouraging housing affordable to people who work here in addition to respecting the conservation of open spaces and wildlife habitat.

“Local politics is a full contact sport.

A fun contact sport.”

– Mark Barron

SNOW PACK REPORT W

ow, was I wrong last week. Not afraid to admit it though when we got, literally, buried in snow. When I wrote last week’s pack report, the weather forecasters were talking about the most snow coming Wednesday night and Thursday bringing about eight inches total. What we got was about forty inches over four days. Ridiculous, does not even start to describe how memorable the pow has been.

I got out on my usual days off from work to tour on Sunday and Monday to find all of the powder that everyone has been talking about. Sunday we skied an east-facing shot topping out at 9,500 feet. If you remember, the avy danger that day was a “High” rating for elevations between 9,000 and 10,500 feet.

Needless to say it was dicey out there with a windy, soft slab on open, unsheltered faces. No whumps were heard that day but cracking, propagating slabs were seen and could continue to be an issue this week. The temperatures that day were oddly warmer than expected, walking out my front door at 28 degrees.

While our community could stand to improve our civility and the level of respect we show folks with different opinions, last Tuesday provides a great example of the right way to play local politics and how our American democracy is supposed to work.

Then, there’s the wrong way to play politics.

You’ve probably heard that a few weeks ago, armed extremists took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. This attack is unfortunately merely the latest effort in a well-orchestrated campaign funded by big corporations (led

by Koch Industries) to privatize America’s public lands – including national forests and national wildlife refuges – so they are open to fossil fuel and mineral extraction.

Since this anti-government effort to seize and sell our American public lands is deeply unpopular across the West, the militants involved with this campaign have resorted to illegal tactics like an armed takeover of a wildlife refuge in a troubling and dangerous attempt to advance their extreme agenda.

Look, we all have concerns with the way our public lands are managed, but this is no excuse for an armed takeover of a national wildlife refuge. None of us would stand for people showing up at town hall with guns if they didn’t like the decisions of our town council.

America’s public lands belong to every American, which means we all have a voice in their management. Through our elected representatives in Congress, public meetings, and many opportunities for public process, every American has a say in how our public lands are managed. Our public lands are in fact a pillar of our democracy – and an attempt to seize those lands and lock the rest of us out is an attack on that pillar.

Let’s play the right way and make sure our elected representatives know we oppose the extreme agenda of those seeking to privatize our American public lands. PJH

P.S. This piece is dedicated to Scott White, who died tragically on October 21, 2011, from a cardiac problem linked to a previously undiagnosed enlarged heart. Scott left behind a wife, two young children, and hundreds of friends and colleagues touched forever by the role he played in our lives.

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On Monday we skied the Do It’s a Northeast shot. What we found there was still solid snow but an upside-down snow pack. The temperatures that day were about the same and felt warm for a mid-January day. It skied great but you could feel that the snow was a little denser. No major cracking was seen.

For the upcoming week, be wary of the newly formed wind slabs that could consolidate with the rising temperatures. It is looking like another week of snow, not guessing how much, but it could be a similar week to last week. Soft, propagating wind slabs could be a problem out there and you should take note of any cracking (red flag) that you notice out there. There was natural activity out on 25 Short on Monday with a few natural slides. As something that gets skied regularly in the Park, when that slides, anything steeper is probably ready to go as well. Just needs a trigger.

Stay safe out there friends and pray for (more) snow.

– Steve Weiss

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6 | JANUARY 20, 2016

THE BUZZ Winds of Change Citizens are heard on commercial, but tax tango irks some.

BY JAKE NICHOLS

T

he joint town and county meeting (JIM) on January 12 promised to be groundbreaking. Indeed, it did not disappoint. Wearied from talking a good game, when it came to doing something about the shortage of affordable housing and transportation concerns in the valley, elected officials had still gridlocked on identifying a potential revenue source.

Civic leaders were also tasked that Tuesday with making a final decision on nonresidential development potential, especially commercial, and whether to freeze it at the existing latent 5.1 million square feet in the county (1.9 million SF in town). County leadership has been on board with holding to 1994 Comp Plan guidelines capping nonresidential where it is today. Town officials, however, have been less willing to ice commercial development, believing it could stifle growth and urban renewal.

Targeting a tax A previous vote last month deadlocked town and county leaders regarding which tax should be used to fund a Community Priority Fund (CPF) that would provide money for the valley’s housing crisis that had mysteriously picked up a hitchhiker in START Bus for the ride and now, at the JIM, town administrator Bob McLaurin also crammed Budge slide into the picture.

“Budge is an unfunded liability, a public safety issue,” McLaurin warned. “There can speculation on whose fault it was and whose fault it wasn’t, meanwhile it’s still moving at an eighth of an inch a month. If that ruptures the public utilities water tank, water for the entire west part of Jackson will drain in a matter of hours and you’ll be left with a 15 to 20 foot hole in the middle of Broadway.”

Commissioner Paul Vogelheim said later he was caught off guard by the last minute inclusion of the slide, which, for him, just stirred muddy waters even more.

“That surprised me a bit. I didn’t feel good about that one,” Vogelheim said. “Instead of figuring out how we were going to split housing and transportation – 50-50 or however – we were suddenly talking now about Budge slide and whether [the county] is really even prepared to share equally with the town on that. I don’t know. But it’s another reason to keep it with SPET. Then voters would have weighed in on that argument and had a chance to parse out what they are willing to tax themselves for or not.”

McLaurin suggested SPET would be a good place to beg money from citizens – $3.4 million has been raised to date but complete mitigation is expected to run toward the $20 million mark. He also coaxed the joint board toward adopting the general fund penny for the CPF that was suddenly becoming the CPF&B. Politicos took their positions. Not much had changed since December’s vote. Mayor Sara Flitner asked for a motion. That’s when Vogelheim made a fatal mistake. He put forward the SPET notion and virtually guaranteed its demise.

Given that the joint boards had not come to an agreement before when they voted down the use of a general tax last month, and given that public pressure had boiled to a point where it was highly unlikely electeds would get out of the Town Hall chambers alive without coming up with something, anything – someone was going to have to change their stripes.

Flip-flopping on issues is normally a cardinal sin in the political realm. But if elected leaders were offered the opportunity to go on record with their personal inclination in a failed vote, and then still be able to heroically set aside those convictions in the interest of appearing to take public hardship and outcry over housing and traffic to heart, well, that was

too irresistible to pass up. So whatever measure went first was doomed after it failed.

“In retrospect, yeah, I see that now. Later that night I was kicking myself,” Vogelheim said. “But I honestly didn’t think we would or could come back to a reconsideration [of the failed December vote] to use general.”

Vogelheim’s motion to use SPET went nowhere at the JIM. When an attempt to try general revenue was proposed, Vogelheim cried no fair. “We already had this vote at our last meeting, is this a motion to reconsider?”

Flitner appeared ready for the challenge and immediately summoned county attorney Erin Weisman to weigh in.

Actually, Weisman seemed to summon herself to the dais, suddenly appearing to assure Vogelheim the vote was legit.

“You have to go to law school if you are going to argue with that,” Flitner told Vogelheim after Weisman’s testimony.

“I talked to both Sara and legal afterword and apparently there was a discussion last Friday that wasn’t shared with the electeds,” Vogelheim said. “It’s not over. I don’t think it’s done.

It’s going to come back on a vote to pass this resolution. I’ve talked to more than a couple of people who said we are placing a bet here that is all or nothing. And if this fails at the polls you will have ultraconservatives like the Tea Party excited about the prospect of reducing our taxes.”

The general revenue tax passed the BCC 3-2, with Allen and Vogelheim opposed. It flew by the town council with Flitner flipping and Frank being coerced to side with A or B instead of C. Lenz stood fast to SPET saying, “Down the line this is going to get precarious; it’s going to get messy.”

Allen sided with Vogelheim believing a general revenue tax allows government to collect and spend how it wishes, sidestepping the specificity of a SPET initiative which would presumably allow voters the chance to target their penny toward housing, transportation or Budge.

Electeds on funding Community Priorities Paul Vogelheim: “SPET has worked effectively over the years. It would force additional discussion about details and accountability for the voters.”

Mark Newcomb: “General revenue is the best way to make sure we are addressing all the community’s needs, including wildlife habitat. The public will still have substantial control on how this money is spent.”

Natalia Macker: “I support general revenue. It gives the public a chance to fund priorities. I’m also open to an interim SPET measure as a separate conversation.”

Smokey Rhea: “I’ve never waivered from wanting it to be general [revenue]. We’ve said all along we wanted a new, dedicated revenue source. SPET is not new. It’s just robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Jim Stanford: “I favor general revenue. What we’ve seen is we don’t have the money to pay for the operational costs and these capital improvements. A general penny is more strategic and less haphazard.”

Barbara Allen: “If I went to the bank with no business plan I wouldn’t get funding. We don’t even have a Housing Authority structure or staff in place. General is just giving government more money when they’ve proven they can’t be accountable with it. SPET is the most effective tool to reach our goal at this time.”

Don Frank: “I wonder why we are talking only about two choices instead of three. I lean toward the third option [half-and-half blend of general and SPET].”

Bob Lenz: “I lean toward SPET. You can’t earmark general at all. Once voted in, electeds can do whatever they want with that money. SPET is more specific and the public can follow it.”

Sara Flitner: “I continue to favor SPET. It’s strategic and not philosophical. I don’t believe any of us wants to give government a blank check. SPET is going to be easier for the community to digest and vote for.”

Deep-freezing commercial

Headed into the JIM, the gathering’s second agenda item appeared to be a slam-dunk. County commissioners had long since come into alignment with the impression that nonresidential development was unneeded. A latent 5.1 million square feet of commercial potential was still undeveloped in the town and county since the 1994 Comp Plan was adopted.

Town reps, in contrast, favored the notion that commercial, especially lodging, was a necessary component in fighting stagnation in the town’s crucial District 2 zone and would encourage more urban renewal projects. After public pushback, councilmembers buckled at a recent meeting when they voted unanimously to present a united front to the joint meeting about standing pat with the town’s current 1.9 million square feet of commercial potential on the books.

Staff had also recommended freezing commercial.

Chamber president and CEO Jeff Golightly opened the public comment period. “The Chamber is not interested in growth for growth’s sake, but I also don’t think we should just stick to the ‘94 plan,” he said. “The community’s will is for a revitalization of downtown. Commercial development would be punished here at a time when other sectors, like institutional, are currently driving growth more.”

Alliance head Craig Benjamin disagrees. “Institutional build out follows commercial and lodging development,” he said. “When we create more jobs and more people move here, then they would like to have more things like churches and nonprofits. It’s a trailing indicator, not a primary driver.”

After Golightly, public comment swung heavily in favor of building housing. Emotional pleas bordering on tears followed one after another, urging the board to stop building stuff that exacerbated tight housing conditions and to please give them a chance to make Jackson home.

Just when it seemed the argument was exhausted and Flitner on the verge of closing the comment period, former mayor Mark Barron slowly walked to the front of the room for the final say.

“I find this disappointing,” he began. “We talk about commercial development and small business operators like they’ve become some kind of undesirable thing. We worked for five years on a master plan resisting the urge to fill the public with fear because of build out numbers that in practical terms would never reach their potential because we have an engaged public and a responsible elected board to keep them in check. Take a good look at ‘town as heart,’ because we are about to kill it, strangle it. There has never been any discussion about building workforce housing outside the town of Jackson. Ask yourselves why that might be. Town is going to be the institutional and nonprofit center of Teton County.”

The electeds’ discussion included a “perplexed” Frank, who didn’t understand why ballooning institutional growth wasn’t part of the equation.

“I don’t know how or why the debate has been framed to make commercial the great and lurking hazard when it’s actually institutional growth that is the major and unchallengeable driver to housing needs,” he said.

Flitner agreed the situation was complex and institutional growth played some role, but said she was ultimately comfortable with 1994 numbers that provided “plenty of room for commercial growth.”

Allen, who reminded the room she was on the planning commission for many years and is a working real estate agent, said other incentives or disincentives like parking requirements could be explored to help foster more commercial vibrancy, especially in town.

“This is not meant to be disrespectful of anyone’s property rights, but just adding more commercial to add commercial doesn’t make any sense,” Allen argued.

As the vote passed unanimously, Barron stormed out of the room in noticeable disgust, using the back door.

Benjamin called the vote a victory for the people. “It’s fantastic our elected representatives listened to the people and voted to house our middle class over more Marriotts,” he said.

PJH

The New Grade Inflation

NEWS OF THE

WEIRD

They are simply “‘spas’ designed to attract teenagers,” according to one university official—plush, state-of-the-art “training” complexes built by universities in the richest athletic conferences to entice elite 17-year-old athletes to come play for (and, perhaps, study at?) their schools. The athletes-only mini-campuses include private housing and entertainment (theaters, laser tag, miniature golf)—but, actually, the schools are in a $772-million-plus “arms’ race” (according to a December Washington Post investigation) because soon after one school’s sumptuous, groundbreaking facility opens, some other school’s more-innovative facility renders it basically second-rate. And of course, as one university official put it, the “shiny objects” have “nothing whatsoever to do with the mission of a university.” (Donors and alumni provide much of the funding, but most schools by now also tap students’ “athletic fees.”)

Redneck Chronicles

Police in Monticello, Ky., charged Rodney Brown, 25, with stealing farm animals and equipment from a home in December—but offering to return everything if the victim (a man) had sex with him. Brown allegedly took 25 roosters, a goat and some rooster pens and other rooster-care equipment. (Because Brown also supposedly said he’d beat the man up if he called police, a “terroristic threatening” count was added to “promoting prostitution.”)

Made in Heaven

William Cornelius, 25, and his fiancee, Sheri Moore, 20, were arrested at the Bay City (Michigan) Mall in January, charged with theft. Police found a pair of earrings and a necklace swiped from Spencer Gifts on her, but she refused to “snitch” on Cornelius, who had minutes earlier proposed to her via a Wal-Mart loudspeaker and given her a ring, to applause from onlooking shoppers as she accepted. Cornelius, holding $80.93 worth of goods (a watch, an edible thong, a vibrator and “BJ Blast” oral-sex candy), was apprehended at the mall food court, having apparently (according to the police report) “fallen asleep at a table while tying his shoe.”

Latest Religious Messages

n A Washington state uncle complained in December that a WolVol toy airplane he bought for his nephew on Amazon.com, instead of making engine noises, recited spoken words—which a Whatcom County Islamic Society spokesman said was actually a prayer that hajj pilgrims speak when they journey to Mecca. (WolVol said it would investigate.)

Wait, What?

Weird Science

The most promising current concussion-prevention research comes from a study of … woodpeckers (according to a December Business Week report). Scientists hypothesize that the birds’ apparent immunity from the dangers of constant head-slamming is because their neck veins naturally compress, forcing more blood into their craniums, thus limiting the dangerous “jiggle room” in which brains bang against the skull. A team led by a real-life doctor portrayed in the movie “Concussion” is working on a neck collar to slightly pinch the human jugular vein to create a similar effect. n Researchers from the University of York and the University of St. Andrews wrote in the journal Biology Letters in December that they observed wild male parrots using pebbles in their mouths to help grind seashells into powder and hypothesized that the purpose was to free up the shells’ calcium in “vomitable” form so that they could pass it to females before mating, to help improve their offspring’s health outcomes.

The Continuing Crisis

RABBIT ROW REPAIR WE SERVICE THEM ALL …

Factory worker Thanakorn Siripaiboon was arrested in December in a Bangkok suburb after he wrote a “sarcastic” comment on social media about the dog that belongs to Thailand’s king. For the crime of “insulting the monarch,” Thanakorn faces 37 years in prison. n Michael McFeat, a Scottish man working on contract for a mining company in Kyrgyzstan, was arrested in January after he (on Facebook) jokingly called the country’s national dish “horse penis.” (“Chuchuk” is indeed a sausage made from horsemeat.) The crime he was charged with carries a five-year prison term.

Leading Economic Indicators

The government of the Netherlands, seeking to boost the economy while simultaneously improving highway skills, enacted legislation in December to allow driving instructors to be paid in sexual services provided the student is at least 18 years old. Though prostitution is legal, the transport minister cautioned that the “initiative” for the new arrangement must be with the instructor so that the country gains better-trained drivers as a result.

Great Moments in Leadership

In November, the president of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, in the stands but “bored” with his country’s “Super Cup” soccer final that had been tied, 1-1, for a long stretch, ordered officials on the field to stop play abruptly and proceed to a game-ending 10-kick “shootout.” (The Tevragh-Zeina team won.) n Jorge Servin, Paraguay’s head of indigenous affairs, was fired in November after he apparently kneed an indigenous woman in the stomach as she protested her people’s treatment by the government. n The head of Croatia’s human rights committee, Ivan Zvonimir Cica, posing alongside President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic to commemorate International Human Rights Day in December, had his pants inexplicably come loose and fall to his ankles.

Thanks This Week to Eddie Earles, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Ric Adams, Harry Thompson and Rob Zimmer, and to the News of the Weird Board of Editorial Advisors.

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JANUARY 20, 2016 | 7

NPR’s “Morning Edition,” reporting on the violent tornadoes that hit North Texas on the night after Christmas, interviewed one woman who said she was luckier than her neighbors because of her faith. She was entertaining 10 relatives when she heard the “train-like” sound of the winds approaching and took everyone outside to confront the storm: “We … started commanding the winds because God had given us authority over … airways.

And we just began to command this storm not to hit our area. We spoke to the storm and said, go to unpopulated

places. It did exactly what we said to do because God gave us the authority to do that.”

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

A geography class at Riverheads High School in Augusta County, Va., alarmed some parents in December when students were assigned to copy an Arabic script to experience its “artistic complexity.” However, the phrase the teacher presented for copying was the “shahada” (“There is no god but Allah”). District officials called that just a coincidence—that the phrase was presented only for calligraphy and never translated.

By CHUCK SHEPHERD

By JAKE NICHOLS

Primitive warfare MOUNTAINDWELLER/OUTSIDE

Here’s one for the lumbersexuals–a hipster trend we thought (hoped) would be buried with 2015. Outside Magazine’s lede was irresistible: “It’s seductive, manly, and primal–and really damn hard. After a few whiskeys, our writer tries to master the art in Jackson Hole with the guys at New West Knives.”

We’re talking a 700-word article on the art of throwing a tomahawk.

Freelancer Graham Averill began, “I had been drinking whiskey for a solid 30 minutes before I started throwing the tomahawk…”

Tossin’ the ‘hawk is pretty manly but eventually Averill got down to the pitch: “The tomahawk that wooed me in Jackson Hole, the New West Thrower, is a thing of beauty. A handforged 1095 steel head slips over a tung-oiled hickory handle for a relatively lightweight, perfectly balanced hatchet designed for throwing.”

Averill did provide the key to sticking the stump.

“The process is less macho and more Zen. The key to throwing hawks successfully is learning how to get out of your own damn way. It’s like skiing on powder skis in a knee-deep fluff—you have to let the gear do what it’s designed to do. Don’t try to muscle it.”

Ka-boom doom

GETTY

It’s the story that refuses to go away. If and when Yellowstone blows its top makes for sensational headlines and pseudo-news copy on a slow day. Express, out of the UK, is never a publication to shy away from shock journalism. Their latest headline reads: “WARNING: Arctic blast across Britain could cripple YOUR smartphone.”

On January 7, it was “Yellowstone about to blow? Scientists warning over SUPER-VOLCANO that could kill MILLIONS.” Apparently we are in a period of increased volcanic activity, globally, with eruption frequency at its highest level in 300 years. Yellowstone is one biggie scientists claim is “likely to go off” sometime in the next 80 years. Later in the story the percent chance was listed as five to 10 percent.

Experts at the European Science Foundation said super-volcanoes like Yellowstone’s massive caldera measuring 34 by 45 miles, pose more threat to Earth and the survival of humans than asteroids, earthquakes, nuclear war and global warming.

We’ve been warned.

GETTY

Thou cuisine of yore Noted chef Matthew Secich has gone lo-fi with his kitchen. Way low.

The classically trained executive chef who helped put Jackson Hole’s Alpenhoff Lodge on the map has opened his latest eatery, and this one is unlike anything he’s ever done.

Charcuterie opened recently in the tiny village of Unity, Maine. The rural town of 2,000 is known for its Amish population. In keeping with the Amish anti-tech stance, Secich must operate everything in the restaurant like it’s 1816 instead of 2016.

Wood stoves, oil lamps, even a walk-in freezer chilled by blocks of ice from a nearby lake.

All meat is ground by hand.

Secich studied cuisine at Johnson and Wales University before working at landmark sites like Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago and The Oval Room in Washington, DC. He told People Magazine he still hadn’t found what he was looking for until now.

BUSINESS2COMMUNITY.COM

Boy Jackson again?

As we all, undoubtedly, eagerly await the 2015 list of most popular baby names by state, Good Housekeeping ran last year’s rankings past us. According to Social Security data, the top names for newborns in Wyoming for 2014 were a tip of the cap to our valley.

Jackson was the most popular boy’s name in the Equality State, followed by Mason and William. Olivia topped the list for girls but that was more following the national trend.

Brooklyn was an odd second place finisher considering the name didn’t crack the top three anywhere else in the country including New York. Jackson’s only other appearance as a boy’s name was found as the third place finisher in New Hampshire.

The face of retail North Face landed some face time in the Washington Post. The outdoor retailer was taking part in the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in NYC. North Face unveiled their new online shopping experience at the expo – a “personal shopper” utilizing IBM Watson technology.

Just ask her anything, North Face says, like, “I’m looking for something that will be good to wear in Jackson Hole in February.” PJH YOUTUBE

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

8 | JANUARY 20, 2016

THEM ON US

“A

human migration corridor for thousands of years, Teton Pass is a place of harmonic convergence. For skiers, it is quickly attainable turf for training, testing, proving, socializing, and pure fun. For snow, it is a natural funnel into which storms are gently coaxed, and where fluff is piled deeply and consistently onto an abundance of varied terrain. But aside from an exciting adventure in celebrated snow, every ski run on Teton Pass is steeped in legend, which creates a bond with every other skier—past, present, and future—possessing a passion to ski this magical place,” – From Thomas Turiano’s new book, “Teton Pass Backcountry Guide” Teton Pass Ambassador Jay Pistono loves his job. Aside from emptying the garbage of dog poop, what’s not to like? He is a professional ski bum paid to ski in the backcountry approximately six days a week while ensuring it remains an accessible playground for myriad backcountry users. He also gets to bring his 15-year-old dog Molly to work. Last week his housekeeping duties didn’t take long. While big flakes of powder fell on the ground, Pistono posted signs about a public comment period on a proposed leash law for dogs in the parking area, then he spray painted “no parking” in neon

orange on freshly carved snow banks so the plows have room to do their job. As more people ski the pass, the ambassador’s duties include not only promulgating safe behavior there, but working with the enforcement agencies “that hold the key to the playground”– Wyoming Department of Transportation, the Forest Service and Teton County Search and Rescue–particularly after incidents, such as skier-trigger avalanches, close down the road.

It’s a brisk Wednesday at the top of the pass and Pistono is counting the number of out-of-state plates in the 50-spot lot, which handles overflow parking for more backcountry users thanks to a road crew’s rotaries. The crew has also widened the road to make it safer for hitchhiking. Pistono encourages people to park close together to reserve space for others and tells folks to leave their keys in the car in case he has to make space while people are busy slashing powder. It’s not easy trying to preserve the sprawling 14,000 acres that comprise the backcountry runs on Teton Pass, especially as more and more people come to ski them. But Pistono, 59, speaks their language well. Riders get “agro” about parking on a powder day and they often throw his avalanche warning signs on the ground when he’s not looking “because it harshes on their buzz.”

Visitors, who are skiing an estimated 100,000 runs per winter, kick down a total of $100 for an end-of-season pizza party. Yes, there is

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

The Ambassador As more backcountry users flock to Teton Pass, Jay Pistono works to protect a playground of powdery possibilities.

JANUARY 20, 2016 | 9

SARGENT SCHUTT

BY JULIE FUSTANIO KLING

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

10 | JANUARY 20, 2016

a collection box for the people who work on the pass. The meager container sits on the south side of the road where recreationists usually click into their bindings and check to see if their beacon is working.

When he is not skiing or digging snow pits to check for avalanche danger, Pistono is interfacing with skiers and snowboarders. He talks to people about the snow pack and makes sure they are aware of their surroundings and their responsibilities. Adam Carman, a Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club coach, has been skiing the pass for most of his life. “I usually don’t come on big powder days because of the crowds,” he said. “I wish that I could have skied it back in the 70s.” But that was before his time. Carman was happy to pause for a minute to talk about some partial fractures in the snow that he had seen as he prepared to hike up Mt. Glory to ski Coal Creek. Ever the diplomat, Pistono gave him a packet of energy goo to thank him for his time.

“Did you see his pack?” Pistono asked. “Now those are the guys who know what they are doing. They had some big packs.” Pistono is increasingly concerned about the rising number of people who come ill prepared with skinny backpacks. Without the proper gear–Pistono carries a beacon, probe, first aid kit, extra layers, water, a thermos and snacks–skiers and snowboarders stand to risk their lives and endanger the lives of their ski partners should disaster strike. “You see a lot of people with a g-string and skis. That’s what I call it.”

Indeed, with the swelling chaos at many resorts around the West, and as the snow piles up on the pass, more and more people are experimenting in the backcountry. “We’ve been getting a lot of out-of-towners,” Pistono noted.

“There are days where about a quarter to a third of the parking lot is out-ofstate. For a while, we were getting all the snow refugees. Last year Oregon had no snow and there was one group I called ‘the Benders.’ They were coming here for day trips, driving 10 hours, they would take turns, load up the car, ski all day and then drive back.”

Backcountry skiing, Pistono says, just seems to have high reward for the effort one puts into it. “Even with all the work involved in getting to the top of a run and the threat of avalanches and the time required to get a run in, people keep doing it–more and more and more people keep doing it,” he said.

Pistono admits he has a soft spot for the old-timers. There are about 12 to 15 people who ski here every day, he explained. People like Garrett Seal who complained about the “sick gravel” he got sprayed with as he hitchhiked up the pass. “I’m selfish. The biggest issue I see up here is not enough fresh tracks,” he said. Seal, like Carman, has a lot of respect for Pistono and the work he does. After all, it’s pretty unique to have a person dedicated to protecting the powder and ensuring continued backcountry access for the masses.

“It is an open job description that I wrote up with the Forest Service and WYDOT,” Pistono explained of his role as Pass ambassador. “I try to do a lot of Glory laps a day and make contact with people who are visitors, or someone who is going down Twin Slides (I told you not to go down that exit shoot, I’ll say). I also work on Old Pass Road and Phillips–and I have [the Forest Service] working with me on Little Tuck’s and Unskiabowl.”

The path to the pass

Backcountry guide and guidebook author Thomas Turiano began skiing the pass back in 1985 with a busboy from the Cadillac Grill. “It’s always been a kind of place where I cut my teeth in Jackson Hole,” he said. “Then once I started getting more into mountaineering I didn’t go to the pass as much. It was a place to go when weather was bad or avalanche danger was high or you needed a quick hit because you couldn’t go out for long.

“It has been such a gift to our community, but it is not a given,” he said.

In his book, “Teton Pass Backcountry Guide,” slated to hit local bookshelves and in ski shops this week, Turiano maps out all of his favorite backcountry ski routes on the pass.

Pistono calls the guidebook “contentious” because “people who need a guidebook are the people you don’t want up here. It’s a tough issue,” Pistono continued. “I’ve skied here since the 70s. You don’t want to alienate the people with origins here. It could piss a lot of people off.”

Pistono hitchhiked from Illinois to Wyoming in 1978. He arrived in Jackson with $11 in his pocket. “I lucked out having connected with Paul Petzoldt and Jackson Hole Mountain Guides.” Petzoldt, a legendary mountaineer who climbed and skied with Glenn Exum back in the late 1920s, was the founder of the National Outdoor Leadership School.

Turiano says he hopes the routes outlined in the book help spread people out to preserve the powder while fostering respect for the backcountry. The

book also includes some new history about Fred Brown, one of the pioneers of Teton Pass skiing. In the 1940s, Brown used to hitch a ride with the mail on a horse-driven sleigh to make turns on the pass. “Mike Menolascino found this map in the basement of Trail Creek Ranch of what Fred was skiing in the 40s,” Turiano said. “He was skiing everything.”

Teton Pass, forged by mountain men in the early 1800s and Mormon settlers in covered wagons at the end of the 19th century, was always a place to be reckoned with, especially in the winter. But Wilson residents have fought to keep it open ever since the U.S. Forest Service built Old Pass Road in 1913. They hoped the road would make it easier to get to the Oregon Short Line railroad in Victor, ID. In 1940, a group of Wilsonites, led by Mayor Harry Clissold, even commandeered snowplows after the Wyoming Highway Department said it was too costly to keep the road open, according to Doris B. Platts handwritten book, “The Pass.” Skijoring, being pulled by a horse or motor vehicle, was a lot more popular back then. And people even cleared ski trails and hosted events like an exhibit hosted by the championship Dartmouth ski team in 1937, viewed by 200 spectators.

JANUARY 20, 2016 | 11

While we are unlikely to see that happen again in our increasingly litigious society, the number of riders skiing at their own risk on the pass has swelled in recent years, causing concerns about backcountry access. With so many cars and an increasing number of skiers triggering avalanches that have closed the road, the future is uncertain. Pistono noted several near-fatal incidents, including two snowmobilers who performed a self-rescue after a massive avalanche in Horseshoe Bowl. Luckily, there have been no deaths. “If there is a fatality, [Teton County] has to do an investigation–CSI the thing and close it down … I have talked to the WYDOT guys about temporarily shutting down [Teton Pass] to wake people up, much like when Cache was closed to dogs for a week.”

One avalanche recently closed the road. That’s when talk about losing access to the pass, if WYDOT sees fit, comes into play. “In the last slide that closed the road, a guy got buried in the flatbed of a pickup truck driving up the pass,” Pistono said. “If you think about it from a commuter’s perspective, a thousand people can be stuck because of one idiot.

“One of the things I have been emphasizing is how we share the road,” Pistono continued. “Four or five years ago, there were not as many people hiking Glory, but now a lot of people are transitioning from alpine gear, and they have snowboards–so that’s an easy thing for them to access. If you look at the terrain from the Northeast Ridge and then if you run it all the way over to Coal Creek, it does not involve the necessity of skins and it makes a lot of sense why so many people would climb Glory ... and then there is the athleticism–longer runs than the south side.” After their run, however, Pistono says this puts a lot of folks on the road hitchhiking at various spots or even hiking up the road. But when conditions are slick and there is low visibility, Pistono says WYDOT doesn’t want folks hitchhiking.

Turiano also urges backcountry users to acknowledge the immense responsibility that comes with skiing the pass. “We need to think creatively; figure out how to reduce traffic, and people need to be mindful about where they are skiing. Most people who ski up there aren’t very mindful … they are having so much fun, they ski fast and recklessly because they are focused on fun. They are not thinking about their effect on others.”

After the new pass road was built in 1969, there have been experiments such as a bridge on the road over Glory Bowl to let the avalanches slide beneath, Pistono said. But powerful avalanches meant the bridge didn’t last long. The sign: “Be avalanche aware. People have died skiing this bowl,” was taken down so many times that it has been replaced by “Stay out of Glory Bowl, Twin Slides and road cuts during periods of increasing avalanche hazard.”

Pistono said it’s amazing how many people don’t read the signs.

“Sometimes seeing me digging a snowpit is a better way for them to pause and consider the avalanche risk.” Upon special request, Pistono teaches a course to backcountry skiers where he digs a burial pit to simulate what it feels like to be buried in an avalanche.

“When people are going by, it really gets their wheels turning,” he said.

Having been above and below avalanches and having dug people out who’ve lived and died, Pistono is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience. “One time, in the 80s, there was a family on the top of Glory Bowl and I looked up at them suggesting they wait. I don’t know why, I just had

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

SARGENT SCHUTT

Endangered access

Teton Pass Ambassador Jay Pistono uses a serrated edge knife clipped to the bottom of a ski pole to cut around the extended column test pit he creates every day. First, he digs down about five feet with a shovel and then presses down on top, counting the number of times he compresses the snow before it fractures. There was a partial propagation at 17, giving the snow a quality rating of 2. Without getting too deep into the science of it, he says, the snow is more faceted than normal and has deep slab instability at the foundation. “In places it is starting to mend, but this snow pack is a weak snow pack,” he said.

Respect for the backcountry is an essential component of what Pistono teaches. He has given his avalanche course, which includes a burial pit simulating what it feels like to be in a real avalanche, to his wife Patricia and two kids, David, 25, and Mary Elizabeth, 22. He’s also worked with U.S. Special Forces for winter training and has hosted the Wounded Warriors veterans program.

“Being in the backcountry can be pretty simple and very humbling and healing. The thing about a lot of these wild areas that can be available to all of us is that it’s the place that’s important,” Pistono said.

The avalanche report is updated every day by the Bridger Teton Avalanche Center, a division of the US Forest Service. You can log a weather and snow observation on the website: www.jhavalanche.org/ index.php.

this intuition to skin up to them.” Pistono arrived to the family moments before an avalanche triggered.

Pistono has memorized a verse that’s etched up on the repeater, a large metal screen near the top of Mount Glory that used to get the television signal from Idaho. “Above all, to thine self be true. So why do I risk my life telling you, a thing about life you already knew. We are one, me and you.” He has been approached by all kinds of artists and poets to put more work up on the repeater, but he said he’s not the one to ask. So he refers them to the Forest Service.

As the number of skiers and riders grows, another issue to consider is snowmobiles that have limited access to the northeast quarter of the pass. Turiano said it’s hard to justify keeping snowmobiles. “You don’t need to snowmobile to access the pass for skiing because it is so close,” he said. “It would be nice to conserve that close access for skiers, and skiing is growing so much.”

Brian Close, a skier who frequently rides his snowmobile near Ski Lake, says he’s never had a negative encounter with a skier. “They may complain that we are loud and smelly, but we are in and out and we have as much right as anyone to be up there.” Besides, he said, the terrain by Phillips Canyon, where snowmobilers park, (with no hassles from others by the way), is “kind of worthless skiing for the Jackson mentality.”

Powder to the people

Turiano believes there should be two or three pass ambassadors instead of one. The ambassador position, which was created 12 years ago by the Forest Service, is funded in part by Friends of Pathways. In the past, Patagonia, Outdoor Research and other private donations have helped fund the job. Pistono, who travels to Colorado and other mountain communities to talk about his job, has a unique role to give order to the chaos and mitigate real safety hazards on the pass. Before he was hired, he volunteered eight years of his time on the pass.

“I always try to do my stuff from a guideline perspective, not from a rule perspective. When it’s a safety issue, I’ll be a little more authoritative, like telling people to wait when someone else is skiing below them and at risk,” Pistono explained. The way he sees it, he has five responsibilities: 1) Always work with the agencies: Search and Rescue, the state highway departments, and the Forest Service. 2) Take care of problems as they arise whether it’s with hitchhiking, parking or dogs. 3) Encourage carpooling and parking tight.

4) Encourage skiers and snowboarders to ride with respect and humility. 5) Spread the good word.

“Good powder gets people in the most amazing mood,” Pistono smiled. “It’s really the best drug.” PJH

SARGENT SCHUTT

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

12 | JANUARY 20, 2016

In the Pit with Pistono

THIS WEEK: January 20-26, 2016

WEDNESDAY JAN. 20

n Free Tax Prep: Volunteer Training New and Intermediate Preparers, Intake, Translators 3:00pm, Teton County Library Computer Lab, Free, 307-7332164 n ACT Prep Options 3:15pm, JHHS Auditorium, Free, 307-733-2164 n Chess Club: Grades K to 12 3:30pm, Teton County Library Youth Auditorium, Free, 307733-2164 x118 n Snowflakes 3:30pm, Art Association of JH, $40.00, 307-733-6379 n Afterschool Monthly Workshops 3:30pm, Art Association of JH, $180.00, 307-733-6379 n Chess Club 3:30pm, Teton County Library Youth Auditorium, Free, 307733-2164 n Apres with Maw Band 4:00pm, Mangy Moose, Free, 307-733-4913 n Winter Wonderland: Ice Skating on Town Square 4:30pm, Town Square, Free n English (ESL) Class Registration 4:30pm, Center for the Arts, Room 305, Free, 307-734-3429 n Comunidad Latinos - Then & Now and The Awareness Project JH 5:00pm, The Center Theater, Free, 307-733-4900 n Evening Yoga 6:00pm, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025 n Great Until Late 6:00pm, Local Businesses, Free, 307-201-2294 n 11th Annual Backcountry Film Festival 6:00pm, Pink Garter Theatre, $15.00 - $18.00, 307-699-1936 n Barbara Trentham Life Drawing 6:00pm, Drawing, Painting + Printmaking Studio, $10.00, 307-733-6379 n Camp GROW Informational Party 6:00pm, Teton Search and Rescue, Free, 304-222-5052 n CONTENT MARKETING What is it? Why do you need it? How do you use it?

6:00pm, CWC-Jackson, $40.00, 307-733-7425

n Open Gym - Adult Basketball 6:30pm, Teton Recreation Center, $3.75, 307-739-9025 n Bridge 6:30pm, Old Wilson Schoolhouse, Free, 307-413-9507 n Salsa at Dancers’ Workshop 7:00pm, Dancers’ Workshop, $12.00 - $16.00, 307-733-6398 n STACKHOUSE 7:00pm, Mangy Moose, Free, 307-733-4913 n Tavern Trivia 7:00pm, Town Square Tavern, Free, 307-733-3886 n Oneness Deeksha Meditation 7:30pm, Akasha Yoga, $5.00, 307-413-3965 n KHOL Presents: Vinyl Night 9:00pm, The Rose, Free, 307733-1500 n Brad O’Brien 10:00pm, Town Square Tavern, Free, 307-733-3886

THURSDAY JAN. 21

n Kettlebells 7:00am, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025 n Zumba at Dancers’ Workshop 8:30am, Dancers’ Workshop, Free, 307-733-6398 n Yoga 9:00am, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025 n Intermediate/Advanced Ballet @ Dancers’ Workshop 9:30am, Dancers’ Workshop, $12.00 - $16.00, 307-733-6398 n Tech Tutor 10:00am, Teton County Library, Free, 733-2164 ext. 218 n Curious Kids 10:15am, Jackson Hole Children’s Museum, $8.00, 206733-3996 n Storytime 10:30am, Teton County Library Youth Auditorium, Free, 307733-2164 n Storytime 11:00am, Teton County Library Youth Auditorium, Free, 307733-2164 n JHCM Bat Exhibit Opening!

11:00am, Jackson Hole Children’s Museum, $8.00, 307733-3996 n World Eats, Jackson Hole 11:00am, 14 Local Restaurants, $15.00 - $150.00, 307-732-3700

January 22nd-31st 2016

Teton Valley, Idaho FRIDAY, JANUARY 22 Snowscapes Snow Stomping

Backcountry Film Festival

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23

Skijoring Competition Snowplane Rally & Exhibition Spud Chase Nordic Race

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29 Backcountry Skiing 101 Nordic & Skate XC Ski Clinic Snowscapes Snow Sculpting

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 Snowscapes Viewing & Awards

Avalanche Awareness Clinic

Eukanuba Stage Stop Sled Dog Race

Cowboys, Sledheads, & Skibums

Backcountry Skiing 101

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24

Snowball V

Skijoring Competition

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31

Fat Bike Clinic & Demos

Snowscapes Viewing

Ice Skating Kotler Arena

XC Wildlife Ecology Tour Snow Tubing & S’mores Women’s Skate Ski Clinic

TETONVALLEYFOUNDATION.ORG/GREATSNOWFEST 208-201-5356 • INFO@TETONVALLEYFOUNDATION.ORG

JANUARY 20, 2016 | 13

SEE CALENDAR PAGE 15

Compiled by Caroline Zieleniewski

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

n Boot Camp 7:00am, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025 n Pilates Mat Classes at Dancers’ Workshop 8:30am, Dancers’ Workshop, $12.00 - $16.00, 307-733-6398 n Toddler Gym 8:30am, Teton Recreation Center, $0.00 - $2.50, 307-7399025 n Yoga 9:00am, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025 n Portrait Drawing Club 9:00am, Drawing, Painting + Printmaking Studio, $10.00, 307-733-6379 n Toddler Gym 10:00am, Teton Recreation Center, $0.00 - $2.50, 307-7399025 n Tech Tutor 10:00am, Teton County Library, Free, 733-2164 ext. 218 n Story TIme - Victor 10:00am, Valley of the Tetons Library, Free, 208-787-2201 n Open Hockey 10:15am, Snow King Sports & Event Center, $10.00, 307-2011633 n Fables, Feathers, and Fur 10:30am, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Free, 307-733-5771 n Lap Sit 11:00am, Valley of the Tetons Library, Free, 208-787-2201 n Public Skating 12:00pm, Snow King Sports & Events Center, $6.00 - $8.00, 307-201-1633 n Adult Classic Ski Lessons at Wilson Centennial Trail 12:00pm, Wilson Centennial Trail/Stilson, 307-739-9025 n Total Fitness 12:10pm, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025 n Ranger-led Snowshoe Hike 1:30pm, Grand Teton National Park, Free, 307-739-3399 n Genealogy: Ancestry for Beginners: Learn to Search, Save & Print 2:00pm, Teton County Library Computer Lab, Free, 307-7332164 n Freestyle Skating 3:00pm, Snow King Sports & Event Center, $10.00, 307-2011633

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

14 | JANUARY 20, 2016

CREATIVE PEAKS Drag Delights The Center gets glammed up with new age vaudeville acrobatics.

BY KELSEY DAYTON

B

urlesque, aerial stunts and tumbling in six-inch heels, the Caravan of Glam has it all.

“It basically encompasses everything you see when you go to a circus, except the animals,” said Justin Buckles, executive producer and creator of the traveling show.

And everyone loves the circus, especially when it comes with a glamorous twist you haven’t seen before.

The Caravan of Glam rolls into Jackson with two shows. One a family-friendly spectacle for all ages, complete with a magician, aerialist and a ringmaster-narrator with a gaggle of characters and pets. The interactive show brings kids up on stage to participate. While the show starts at 6 p.m., those that arrive early can meet the performers, who will be decked out in full hair, makeup and costume, in the lobby before the show begins.

The later show is for those 18 and older and features many of the same elements as the earlier version–acrobatics, LED work, performers in drag, and audience participation–but with an adult twist inspired by “American Horror Story: Freak Show.”

“It will be an envelope-pushing, jaw-onthe-ground, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe that

just happened,’ type of show,” Buckles said.

Those attending the later show can mingle with the cast after the performance.

Both shows offer totally fresh material designed specifically for the Jackson performance.

Buckles grew up in a small town on the Oregon Coast and was always interested in show business. At age 21 he moved to Los Angeles, eventually ending up as a production assistant on “American Idol,” and working his way up to production manager and running the audition tour. He did similar work on other shows like “So You Think You Can Dance,” before moving back to Oregon where he started producing shows in Portland with local talent often in drag.

Growing up in a small town, Buckles knew more rural communities didn’t often have access to LGBTQ shows. He decided to take his show on the road.

As he dreamed up his traveling show it expanded beyond just drag to burlesque, singing and acrobatics.

“I wanted something that was for every single person in that audience,” Buckles said.

While the show is made up of individual performers, they come together as a cast for group numbers. They are all trained dancers and choreographers, bringing together various acts in a cohesive way.

The entire show is meant to be a spectacle.

“It’s a visually stunning production, from the costuming, to the lighting, to the music, to the performances,” Buckles said. “We will be working every corner of the stage and we’ll have a few people out in the audience.”

The production gave national audiences a taste of what it offered on season 10 of “America’s Got Talent.” The show also has toured 10 states and is building a name for

itself.

“We’ve been coined as a new age vaudeville cabaret act,” Buckles said.

They’ve also been compared to Cirque du Soleil, with the variety and acrobatics the show offers, but on a smaller scale and budget.

The Jackson show is the largest and most detailed performance Buckles has produced since he started the show about three years ago.

“It evolved quickly and we’re still evolving today,” he said.

One thing that Buckles has maintained is the approachability of the cast, which includes up to 40 performers. Before each show they meet and greet audience members in full costume. They keep the shows interactive, pulling people onstage and performing in the aisles.

The show begins even before performance day. When the Caravan of Glam arrives in Jackson Friday, the cast will “put on their faces,” and costumes–minus the high heels because Buckles is worried they might slip on the ice–and check out Teton Village and Jackson.

“If you have a bunch of drag queens out in the snow, it’s going to cause a scene,” Buckles said. “Drag queens cross-country skiing; now that would be pretty amazing.”

While they likely won’t be on skis, they will visit various bars around town and people are encouraged to say hello, chat with them, and take pictures. PJH

Caravan of Glam, “The Circus,” an all ages show, 6 p.m.; “Freakshow,” a show for 18 and older, 9 p.m.; Saturday at Center for the Arts. $15 to $20.

Caravan of Glam is a traveling show of drag queen and circus sensibilities. Two shows–an all ages performance and an 18-and-older show–happen at the Center for the Arts this weekend.

FRIDAY JAN. 22

n Boot Camp 7:00am, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025 n Toddler Gym 8:30am, Teton Recreation Center, $0.00 - $2.50, 307-7399025 n bootybarre® at Dancers’ Workshop 9:00am, Dancers’ Workshop, $12.00 - $16.00, 307-733-6398 n Yoga 9:00am, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025

n Ballet Workout at Dancers’ Workshop 9:30am, Dancers’ Workshop, $12.00 - $16.00, 307-733-6398 n Zumba at Dancers’ Workshop 10:00am, Dancers’ Workshop, $12.00 - $16.00, 307-733-6398 n Teton Valley Great Snow Fest 10:00am, Downtown Driggs, Free, 208-201-5356 n Toddler Gym 10:00am, Teton Recreation Center, $0.00 - $2.50, 307-7399025 n Open Hockey 10:15am, Snow King Sports & Event Center, $10.00, 307-2011633 n Curious Kids 10:15am, Jackson Hole Children’s Museum, $8.00, 206733-3996 n Imagination Detectives 11:15am, Jackson Hole Children’s Museum, $25.00 $55.00, 307-733-3996 n Yoga 12:00pm, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025 n Public Skating 12:00pm, Snow King Sports & Events Center, $6.00 - $8.00, 307-201-1633 n Adult Skate Ski Lessons at Wilson Centennial Trail 12:00pm, Wilson Centennial Trail/Stilson, 307-739-9025 n Feathered Friday 12:00pm, Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, Free, 307-201-5433 n Total Fitness 12:10pm, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025 n Story Time - Driggs 1:00pm, Valley of the Tetons Library, Free, 208-787-2201 n Ranger-led Snowshoe Hike 1:30pm, Grand Teton National Park, Free, 307-739-3399 n Winship & Sneed at the Trap 3:00pm, Grand Targhee Resort, Free, 800-TARGHEE n Freestyle Skating 3:00pm, Snow King Sports & Event Center, $10.00, 307-2011633 n Winter Wonderland: Ice Skating on Town Square 4:30pm, Town Square, Free n English (ESL) Class Registration 4:30pm, Center for the Arts, Room 305, Free, 307-734-3429 n The Upper Snake River Basin Exhibition 5:30pm, Art Association Gallery, Free, 307-733-6379

SATURDAY & SUNDAY BRUNCH 10:30am - 3:00pm Bottomless Mimosas & Bloody Marys $15

HAPPY HOUR

1/2 Off Drinks Daily 5-7pm

•••••••••••

Monday-Saturday 11am, Sunday 10:30am 832 W. Broadway (inside Plaza Liquors)•733-7901

2016 MOUNTAIN STATES REGIONAL USA YOGA ASANA CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2016 Hosted by USA Yoga and WY Yoga Sports Club wyyogasportsclub@gmail.com / 307.231.2716 Registration for all Athletes Due January 28, 2016 Doors Open at 3pm - Performances start at 4pm PINK GARTER THEATRE: YOGA ON THE STAGE! 50 W Broadway, Jackson, WY

Admission at the Door

$10

USA Yoga - Wyoming Yoga Sports Club - Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board Teton Spirit Connection - Inversion Yoga - Bikram North Shore - Wind River Yoga Antler Inn - K & K PR - Pink Garter Theatre - 49er Inn - Healthy Being Juicery

JANUARY 20, 2016 | 15

SEE CALENDAR PAGE 18

n Silversmithing: Projects & Stone Setting 6:00pm, Art Association of JH, $65.00, 307-733-6379 n Tricks of the Trade: Keys to Sharper Images 6:00pm, Art Association of JH, $35.00, 307-733-6379 n Sustainability Series Presents Healthy Homes: Radon Awareness Month 6:00pm, Spark JH, Free, 307732-8409 n FOOD LABELS What’s on the label? What’s in the food?

Is it good for me?

6:00pm, CWC-Jackson, $20.00, 307-733-7425 n Open Gym - Adult Soccer 6:30pm, Teton Recreation Center, $3.75, 307-739-0925 n Exploring the Heart of the Swiss Alps Armchair Adventure 6:30pm, Teton Recreation Center, 307-739-9025 n Free Public Planetarium Programs 7:00pm, Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community Center, Free, 307-413-4779 n JH Community Band Rehearsal 7:00pm, Center for the Arts Performing Arts Wing, Free, 307-200-9463 n Major Zephyr 7:30pm, Silver Dollar Showroom, Free, 307-732-3939 n Mahjong and the West 7:30pm, Center for the Arts, $12.00, 307-733-4900 n Salsa Night 9:00pm, The Rose, Free, 307733-1500 n Disco Night 10:00pm, Stagecoach Bar, Free, 307-733-4407 n BOGDOG 10:00pm, Town Square Tavern, Free, 307-733-3886

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

n Open Gym - Adult Basketball 12:00pm, Teton Recreation Center, $3.75, 307-739-9025 n Public Skating 12:00pm, Snow King Sports & Events Center, $6.00 - $8.00, 307-201-1633 n Teton Toastmasters 12:00pm, Teton County Commissioners Chambers, Free n Adult Intro to Skate Skiing Lessons 12:00pm, JH Middle School/ Summit High School Ski Track, 307-739-9025 n Freestyle Skating 3:00pm, Snow King Sports & Event Center, $10.00, 307-2011633 n Culture Through Clay 3:30pm, Art Association of JH, $150.00, 307-733-6379 n Apres with Stack and the Attack 4:00pm, Mangy Moose, Free, 307-733-4913 n InDesign Fundamentals: Brochure, Flyer and Book Layout 4:00pm, Art Association of JH, $130.00, 307-733-6379 n Yoga 4:15pm, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025 n Winter Wonderland: Ice Skating on Town Square 4:30pm, Town Square, Free n English (ESL) Class Registration 4:30pm, Center for the Arts, Room 305, Free, 307-734-3429 n Jazzercise 5:30pm, Teton Recreation Center, $10.00, 307-739-9025 n Total Fitness 5:30pm, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025 n Nature Mapping Certification Training 5:30pm, Teton County Library, Free, 307-739-0968 n Health Insurance Marketplace Assistance 5:45pm, Teton County Library Computer Lab, Free, 307-7332164 n Friends and Family Mental Health Support Group 6:00pm, Board Room of St. John’s Medical Center, Free, 307-732-1161 n Great Until Late 6:00pm, Local Businesses, Free, 307-201-2294 n Beginning Throwing Hustle 6:00pm, Art Association of JH, $225.00, 307-733-6379 n Drink + Draw 6:00pm, Art Association of JH, $45.00, 307-733-6379

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

16 | JANUARY 20, 2016

MUSIC BOX The Social Animals Persevere Portland indie-rock/pop band will make their Jackson debut.

BY AARON DAVIS @ScreenDoorPorch

I

n the current age of indie act touring, bands fighting for your attention with every inkling of an opportunity to step it up to the next level, it’s refreshing to get to know a great sounding band that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The Social Animals, a Portland-via-Duluth quartet, speak through elegantly sarcastic and thoughtful lyrics splattered across a canvas of indie rock and Americana instrumentation.

It further explains via their website that, “They don’t do backflips at their live shows or slide across their knees into guitar solos. Instead, they play their music passionately and honestly, leaving room for a shirt-staining dance party in a crowded club, or one too many glasses of wine and a cab ride home from a listening room. Between songs, their dry commentary on the status of their lives and the world around them often causes people to look up from their phone screens, an action known to be scary and difficult for people throughout the nation.”

Band members Dedric Clark (vocals, guitar), Tony Petersen (vocals, banjo, guitar), Boyd Smith (drums), and Roger Whittet (vocals, bass) debuted in 2014 with the self-titled release “Dedric Clark and the Social Animals.” Just a couple of year’s after diverting from playing under the Diet Folk moniker during their previous run in Minnesota, they eventually dropped Clark’s name, settling on simply The Social Animals. Birthed from an array of songs and collaborators across a three-year timespan and recorded in the iconic Oceanway Studios in Nashville under the guidance of Grammy-winning producer/engineer Ben Fowler (Clapton,

The Social Animals are unleashed on the Town Square Taven Tuesday. On Saturday Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation delivers his skills behind the decks during a special DJ set at the Pink Garter.

Skynyrd, Rascal Flatts), the debut album marks a turning point in the band’s career.

“Ben saw our video for ‘Cold’ and invited me to his home studio. It was like a mini-audition that I didn’t know was going to be an audition at the time,” Clark told Unsung Musicians. “He asked me a lot of questions about what I was about and had me play a few songs. Afterwards, he told me he would love to work together. He’s helped me and helped all of us move forward into music we never would have been able to make otherwise.”

Since that interview, the band has had a trying year on the road. From losing all their gear from the back of a crummy trailer, to constant breakdowns both mechanically and mentally, it’s the stage that truly makes them Social Animals.

The Social Animals, 10 p.m., Tuesday at Town Square Tavern. Free. 733-3886.

Thievery Royalty Returns When founding Thievery Corporation member Rob Garza steps behind his rig for a DJ set, it’s an altered wall of sound.

After bringing the house down during his performance with Thievery Corporation this past summer at Contour Fest, Garza has left Jackson audiences sick with anticipation for

his return.

Influenced by international travel, his involvement with La Santanera and Canibal Royal in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, as well as his move from D.C. to San Francisco, Garza draws energy and inspiration from intimate audiences and immediate culture.

“When I first came to San Francisco, I returned to my electronic roots in the dance community while also spending a great amount of time in Mexico, where there is a great dance music scene,” Garza said. “There’s so much going on in terms of people taking influences from all these different genres – like house and dub and new wave and disco – and putting it all together in a way that’s very new and original and inspiring to my own music.”

While Garza’s style is often referred to as deep house and nu-disco, his electronic flares have an infusion of dub, trip-hop, reggae and Bossa Nova. Rob Garza DJ Set, 9:30 p.m., Saturday at the Pink Garter Theatre. E.R.A. opens. $20.

PinkGarterTheatre.com, 733-1500. PJH

Aaron Davis is a songwriting troubadour, multi-instrumentalist, founding member of Screen Door Porch and Boondocks, and host of Songwriter’s Alley.

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S A L E S ASSO CIATE

Teton County Commissioners voted YES to invest in the future sustainability of our community.

Dedicating 1% of sales tax to housing and transportation is a commitment to strategic and thoughtful planning for 2016 and beyond. On behalf of our board, staff and 361 current Housing Trust applicants, THANK YOU.

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

POSITION

On January 12th, the Jackson Town Council and

ARE YOU MOTIVATED, HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR AND DO WHAT IT TAKES TO GET IT DONE?

PLEASE SEND YOUR RESUME AND A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF WHY YOU THINK YOU’RE THE ONE TO: JEN@PLANETJH.COM

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www.HousingTrustJH.org Find us on

JANUARY 20, 2016 | 17

Planet Jackson Hole is currently looking for an Advertising Associate who can help us stay in touch with some of our awesome advertisers as well as be our on-the-streets super star for Planet JH. The ideal person will be outgoing, hard-working, a team player and must have some experience.

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

18 | JANUARY 20, 2016

ELIZABETH KOUTRELAKOS

n Friday Night Meditation 6:00pm, Zendler Chiropractic, Free, 307-6998300 n Great Until Late 6:00pm, Local Businesses, Free, 307-201-2294 n Open Gym - Adult Soccer 6:30pm, Teton Recreation Center, $3.75, 307739-0925 n Pam Drews Phillips Plays Jazz 7:00pm, The Granary at Spring Creek Ranch, Free, 307-733-8833 n Sneaky Pete & The Secret Weapons 7:30pm, Silver Dollar Showroom, Free, 307733-2190 n Backcountry Adventures Film 7:30pm, Pink Garter Theatre, Free, 307-7331500 n Lounge on Fire 9:00pm, Mangy Moose, $5.00, 307-733-4913 n DJ Therapy 10:00pm, The Rose, Free, 307-733-1500 n Intrepid Travelers 10:00pm, Town Square Tavern, , 307-733-3886

GET OUT

SATURDAY JAN. 23

n Zumba at Dancers’ Workshop 9:00am, Dancers’ Workshop, $12.00 - $16.00, 307-733-6398 n Women’s Skate Ski Workshop 9:30am, Wilson Centennial Trail/Stilson, 307739-9025 n Teton Valley Great Snow Fest 10:00am, Downtown Driggs, Free, 208-2015356 n Teton Valley Winter Farmer’s Market 10:00am, MD Nursery, Free, 208-354-8816 n Health Insurance Marketplace Assistance 10:00am, Teton County Library Computer Lab, Free, 307-733-2164 n Photographing the Snake River 10:00am, Art Association of JH, $130.00, 307733-6379 n Tram Jam 11:00am, Base of the Bridger Gondola, Free n Winter Wonderland: Ice Skating on Town Square 12:00pm, Town Square, Free n Ranger-led Snowshoe Hike 1:30pm, Grand Teton National Park, Free, 307739-3399 n Raptor Encounters 2:00pm, Teton Raptor Center, $10.00 - $12.00, 307-203-2551 n Genealogy: Ancestry for Beginners: Learn to Search, Save & Print 2:00pm, Teton County Library Computer Lab, Free, 307-733-2164 n Chanman Solo in the K BAR at the Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa 4:00pm, K BAR, Free, 307-413-1348 n Great Until Late 6:00pm, Local Businesses, Free, 307-201-2294 n Caravan of GLAM Presents “The Circus” All Ages / Family - America’s Got Talent 6:00pm, Center for the Arts, $15.00 - $20.00, 503-706-2335 n Open Gym - Adult Soccer 6:30pm, Teton Recreation Center, $3.75, 307739-0925

SEE CALENDAR PAGE 19

Peaceful Pow Enjoying solitude and untracked champagne in an unlikely place.

BY ELIZABETH KOUTRELAKOS

I

don’t love powder days. Nope, those 24 hours subsequent to precipitation of substantial amounts of snow just doesn’t do it for me. Don’t get me wrong, I like the fluff, but the white stuff comes with a certain communal tension that I would rather pass up. Those partaking in pow days seem to walk around with an air of a robot on too much battery power – tromping around on a mission yet unsure of their next decision. The normal working humans seem to be saddened about the old Fear of Missing Out. While substantial FOMO exists in most nooks and crannies around this town, I decided to avoid the powder day frenzy all together. What if I could get through the day interacting with no one except for my ski partner?

I found the prospect somewhat plausible on this particular day. The specific period seemed uncontrollably stormy and while skiing a resort with the hoards may have been the easier choice, the prospect offered no innate relaxation. Running a little low on the tension reduction front, I brainstormed for this precious day off. After ruling out Teton Pass, Snow King and Teton Village, I got in touch with the inner mellow – a quintessential part of my existence that Jackson attempts to stifle. More than 17 inches of new

A skier drinks in the view at the top of Blacktail Butte. snow in the past day coated the valley and I desired views, safety and solitude. Hence, a decision was made to ski the little neighborhood peak: Blacktail Butte.

I always think of this thing as the town hill even though it’s not. Although people considered making Kelly the main town, this idea was thwarted once they realized it was prone to flooding. Often times, I wonder what would be on this precious piece of paradise had civilization decided to garner its electrical wires, ski slopes and restaurants upon it.

To my current delight, this hill seems minimally attractive to most, but offers wonderful views and a place for those who want to exercise amidst the prospect of mass amounts of new snow.

My friend and I parked and made our way across the flats. The most dangerous part about the beginning of this mission entails tanglings of sage and other unidentifiable sticks and sedimentary rock. While the hill appeared to be covered from a distance, parts of the old slope still held rocks on the windward slopes. A little ways up, I eyed grass, moose tracks and frozen poop organized in little balls battling the wind. Though the first bout was steep, upon gaining the ridge the trip felt sheltered and scenic. For those wondering which ridge was gained, it’s hard to specify for this little knoll has multiple ridges that ultimately lead to the same place.

Nearing the summit, we meandered through the trees, knowing if we kept going up, the vertical would eventually near an end. Upon reaching the “true summit” the views of the expansive Gros Ventres seemed to roll endlessly. On the other side, the dramatic Teton Range shed snow and as it stood solid in the grey blur of weather. All around

us, the winter storm rolled in and out, sending gusts of wind and graupel onto our faces.

The sun provided us one of the few constants of the day. While precipitation and blowing snow battled the tips of our noses, the sun never left our little blue hole of life. Another perpetual friend of the day consisted of a circling bald eagle flying ‘round and ‘round, swooping and sailing in all directions.

The true summit hosts a variety of runs, only to be explored by the creative at heart.

While this mountain seems mellow, one must be particular in choosing a route. Like most areas in this region, avalanches can happen anywhere, anytime. There are pretty steep chutes on the southeast side that looked a little sketchy. We opted for a safer route down and lapped the bowl on the west side of the butte. This little nook in the world provided a plethora of features, from wind fins to lone trees, to pure open powder skiing.

I must say that every run created smiles and did not leave much to be desired.

I really don’t know why people choose not to ski this thing. There are so many “untouched lines” and I thought people in Jackson Hole love “untouched powder.” I secretly think that some residents like to say they prefer to ski places with no people but in reality find comfort in seeing some sort of human existence.

One moment, I thought I heard people chatting. I stopped and listened to see where that high-pitched cackle was coming from, but only spotted a few ravens chasing each other around in the wind. For me, this mild moment of observed tension was minimal compared to the typical pow day in Jackson Hole. PJH

Elizabeth Kingwill,

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Licensed Professional Counselor • Medical Hypnotherapist

Counseling: • Individual • Premarital • Marriage/Family • Anxiety, Stress

• Anger Management • Pain Relief • Depression • Stop Smoking

733-5680

Practicing in Jackson since 1980 • www.elizabethkingwill.com Flexible Hours - Evening & Weekends • Now Accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield

Caravan of GLAM “Freak Show” 18+ Saturday, 9pm at Center for the Arts “FreakShow” will take you places and show you things you have never seen before, hence the age restrictions. A non-stop visually stunning production featuring some of the top performers on the West Coast.

SEE CALENDAR PAGE 20

n Boot Camp 7:00am, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025 n Pilates Mat Classes at Dancers’ Workshop 8:30am, Dancers’ Workshop, $12.00 - $16.00, 307-733-6398 n Toddler Gym 8:30am, Teton Recreation Center, $0.00 - $2.50, 307-7399025 n Jazzercise 9:00am, Teton Recreation Center, $10.00, 307-739-9025 n Zumba at Dancers’ Workshop 9:30am, Dancers’ Workshop, $12.00 - $16.00, 307-733-6398 n Kindercreations 9:30am, Art Association of JH, $85.00, 307-733-6379

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CONTACT SALES@PLANETJH.COM OR 732.0299

AD RESERVATION DEADLINE: FRIDAYS BY 4PM

JANUARY 20, 2016 | 19

n Nature Photography: Dawn and Dusk 7:00am, Art Association of JH, $160.00, 307-733-6379 n Teton Valley Great Snow Fest 10:00am, Downtown Driggs, Free, 208-201-5356 n Jackson Reads 12:00pm, KHOL Radio Show, 307-733-2164 n Winter Wonderland: Ice Skating on Town Square 12:00pm, Town Square, Free n Short Interpretive Walks 1:00pm, Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, Free

MONDAY JAN. 25

n Teton Valley Great Snow Fest 10:00am, Downtown Driggs, Free, 208-201-5356 n Toddler Gym 10:00am, Teton Recreation Center, $0.00 - $2.50, 307-7399025 n Open Hockey 10:15am, Snow King Sports & Event Center, $10.00, 307-2011633 n Little Hands, Little Feet 11:00am, Art Association of JH, $85.00, 307-733-6379 n Public Skating 12:00pm, Snow King Sports & Events Center, $6.00 - $8.00, 307-201-1633 n Total Fitness 12:10pm, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307-739-9025 n Ranger-led Snowshoe Hike 1:30pm, Grand Teton National Park, Free, 307-739-3399 n Freestyle Skating 3:00pm, Snow King Sports & Event Center, $10.00, 307-2011633 n HANDBUILDING CLAY WITH MIXED MEDIA ADDITIONS 3:30pm, Art Association of JH, $195.00, 307-733-6379 n After School Kidzart Club 3:30pm, Art Association of JH, $195.00, 307-733-6379 n Apres with Tucker Smith 3-piece band 4:00pm, Mangy Moose, Free, 307-733-4913 n Missoula Children’s Theater Tryouts “Aladdin” 4:00pm, JHHS Auditorium, Free, 307-733-2164

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

SUNDAY JAN. 24

n Open Gym - Adult Volleyball 4:00pm, Teton Recreation Center, $3.75, 307-739-9025 n Apres with Major Zephyr 4:00pm, Mangy Moose, Free, 307-733-4913 n Stagecoach Band 6:00pm, Stagecoach, Free, 307-733-4407 n Taize 6:00pm, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Free, 307-733-2603 n Great Until Late 6:00pm, Local Businesses, Free, 307-201-2294 n Hospitality Night 9:00pm, The Rose, Free, 307733-1500

ACTUAL AD SIZE

n Sneaky Pete & The Secret Weapons 7:30pm, Silver Dollar Showroom, Free, 307-733-2190 n Caravan of GLAM “Freak Show” 18 + - America’s Got Talent 9:00pm, Center for the Arts, $15.00 - $20.00, 503-706-2335 n Lounge on Fire 9:00pm, Mangy Moose, $5.00, 307-733-4913 n Rob Garza 9:30pm, Pink Garter Theatre, $20.00, 307-733-1500 n Canyon Kids 10:30pm, Town Square Tavern, 307-733-3886 n Spiritual Care Volunteer Training St. John’s Medical Center, Free, 307-739-7541

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

20 | JANUARY 20, 2016

TUESDAY JAN. 26

n Kettlebells 7:00am, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307739-9025 n Zumba at Dancers’ Workshop 8:30am, Dancers’ Workshop, Free, 307-7336398 n Yoga 8:30am, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307739-9025 n Ballet Workout at Dancers’ Workshop 9:30am, Dancers’ Workshop, $12.00 - $16.00, 307-733-6398 n Teton Valley Great Snow Fest 10:00am, Downtown Driggs, Free, 208-2015356 n Toddler Time 10:05am, Teton County Library, Free, 733-2164 ext. 118 n Open Gym - Adult Basketball 12:00pm, Teton Recreation Center, $3.75, 307739-9025 n Public Skating 12:00pm, Snow King Sports & Events Center, $6.00 - $8.00, 307-201-1633 n MELT at Dancers’ Workshop 12:10pm, Dancers’ Workshop, $12.00 - $16.00, 307-733-6398 n Freestyle Skating 3:00pm, Snow King Sports & Event Center, $10.00, 307-201-1633 n Video Editing & Uploading 3:00pm, Teton County Library Computer Lab, Free, 307-733-2164

SEE CALENDAR PAGE 21

ODDSSKARÐ.IS

n Barre Fusion at Dancers’ Workshop 5:30pm, Dancers’ Workshop, $12.00 - $16.00, 307-733-6398 n Library Book Club: “All the Light You Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr - Ordway Auditorium 5:30pm, Teton County Library Ordway Auditorium, Free, 307-733-2164 n Hootenanny at Dornans 6:00pm, Dornans, Free, 307-733-2415 n Evening Yoga 6:00pm, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307739-9025 n Great Until Late 6:00pm, Local Businesses, Free, 307-201-2294 n Beginning Throwing Hustle 6:00pm, Art Association of JH, $225.00, 307733-6379 n Printmaking 101 6:00pm, Art Association of JH, $145.00, 307733-6379 n Foreign Policy Series: Middle East Alliances 6:00pm, Teton County Library Ordway Auditorium, Free, 307-733-2164 n Cheese 101: Tasting Regional and Local Cheeses 6:00pm, CWC-Jackson, $60.00, 307-733-7425 n Skiers can Tango, and so can You! 6:30pm, Center for the Arts, Free, 917 613-3176 n Open Gym - Adult Basketball 6:30pm, Teton Recreation Center, $3.75, 307739-9025

WELL, THAT HAPPENED

Trading Trams for Rope Pulls Welcome to East Iceland’s best and only ski resort, 2,700 feet above sea level.

BY ANDREW MUNZ

T

he wind blew over the top of the ridgeline, icing over every inch of the run that it touched. I was at the top of a run called Goðahlið—literally, “the good side”— and my arms were sore, due to me clutching the rope pull as it dragged me up the mountain in the relentless wind. When I made it up there, a big-bellied Icelander with a frosted beard called at me in Icelandic. I told him I didn’t understand and he translated, “Don’t go down fast. There’s ice.”

“I know, it’s crazy!” I yelled, as if we were atop Everest. “I’ll be careful!”

The man aimed his skis downward and disappeared into the blizzard.

I realized I was the only person left up there and then I saw that the the rope pull had stopped moving. The wind had gotten so rough that they decided to shut it down for the day. There are no chairlifts at the Oddsskarð

Growing up shredding Snow KIng, the columnist has been groomed for the icy runs of Iceland.

Skiing Area and there are no current plans to build one. The wind can get so intense during the winter that the chairlifts might be yanked clean from the cables. I sat in the snow trying to will myself to take the plunge, but every time I stood up, the wind pushed me that much further towards a series of rocks that jutted out of the mountain.

So, I shimmied down this section on my butt like a true gaper.

Considering the uneven terrain that surrounds Oddsskarð, it’s a wonder the ski area functions at all. But the area has strong local support. Icelanders are passionate skiers for sure, but apparently their passion is nowhere near the fanaticism that is so prevalent in areas like Jackson Hole. Here, people understand that you can’t ski forever.

“It’s fun to do sometimes, but we don’t go all the time. We go for fun. It would be boring if we did it every day,” said Anna Rósa, a mother of two who I met on the slopes.

Shots fired, shred heads.

With the limited sunshine in the winter, skiers really only have a five-hour window of daylight before the sun sets again behind the southwestern mountains. Currently it’s only open from 1 to 5 p.m. The ski area does offer some night skiing, but by the time the sun sets, the wind picks up and the slopes turn into vertical skating rinks. Once March comes, there’s more snow and sunlight and the resort opens earlier in the day.

Three rope pulls lead to 23 runs that range from easy bunny slopes to challenging

double diamonds that could launch you off a cliff if you aren’t too careful. Plenty of backcountry freeriding is allowed around the designated slopes, but one wrong move could send you on a collision course into Reyðafjörður, the fjord of ice-cold Atlantic waters that sits directly below you.

And with absolutely zero trees or bushy vegetation to break your fall, you’d be a goner.

By the time I shimmied my way down to the midpoint of the ski area, the clouds broke and I was able to get the perfect view of the little town of Eskifjörður, population 1,043.

“So, Wyoming,” my friend Martin called out, meeting me at the bottom. (It’s impossible to lose your group on this mountain.)

“How do you like it?”

The wind wasn’t letting up and the spine-scratching sound of other people’s skis scraping across ice filled my ears. Sure I’d skied more difficult mountains than this one, and years on Snow King certainly prepared me for this amount of ice.

I gave him a thumbs up.

I unbuckled one of my boots from my snowboard and hobbled back to the rope pull. I held strong against the wind, stuck the rubber circle between my legs and ever so slowly made my way back up the mountain.

Whether you’re on skis or a snowboard, in Iceland or America, no one looks cool on a rope pull. PJH

CINEMA Master of Puppets Charlie Kaufman’s ‘Anomalisa’ searches for humanity through stopmotion figurines.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW @scottrenshaw

M

Michael (David Thewlis) and Lisa (Jennifer Jason Leigh) in ‘Anomalisa.’ him as having the same indistinguishable monotone voice (perfectly pitched by Tom Noonan) leads him to an impulsive desire to connect with Lisa (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a shy telephone customer service rep who is attending the conference to hear Michael speak—and whose own unique voice sounds to Michael something like salvation.

It would be easy to spend pages cataloguing merely how astounding “Anomalisa” is as a technical achievement. Kaufman and Johnson are meticulous about every mundane detail of Michael’s surroundings, right down to the roll of toilet paper in his hotel room bathroom with a first sheet shaped into a triangle. The character figures are animated with the same level of precision, capturing wonderfully telling gestures like Michael nervously drumming his fingers while awaiting Bella’s arrival in the hotel bar, or Bella getting her purse strap caught on the chair the first time she tries to pull it away, or Lisa constantly pulling her hair to cover a scar by her right eye. And it will be hard for any sex scene you see between living people to match the sweetly awkward authenticity of the encounter between Michael and Lisa.

But “Anomalisa” also proves to be much more than a gimmick, even a brilliantly-executed gimmick. It would be easy to dismiss Michael’s plight as the woe-is-me moaning of a privileged middle-aged white guy, and it may be almost too obviously ironic when Michael launches into his speech about respecting that “the customer is an individual.” But Kaufman makes it clear that Michael’s inability to distinguish between voices is a product of his own instant

TRY THESE Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) Jim Carrey Kate Winslet Rated R

ANOMALISA BBB.5 David Thewlis Jennifer Jason Leigh Tom Noonan Rated R

Synecdoche, New York (2008) Philip Seymour Hoffman Samantha Morton Rated R

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) George Clooney Meryl Streep Rated PG

FOR COMPLETE EVENT DETAILS VISIT PJHCALENDAR.COM

JANUARY 20, 2016 | 21

Being John Malkovich (1999) John Cusack Cameron Diaz Rated R

irritation with small talk and social niceties; as soon as he recognizes flaws and imperfections, everyone is tossed in his mind into the same drone of background noise. There’s something almost noble in the way Kaufman can recognize when someone’s unhappiness is entirely of their own making, yet still feel compassion for them.

Not surprisingly for Kaufman, there’s a density to the writing that doesn’t open itself up all at once, and almost certainly requires multiple viewings. There’s an extended nightmare sequence, the odd role of an antique Japanese sex automaton (and its possible connection to Lisa), and even Kaufman’s decision to set the events very specifically in 2005, including a framed portrait of George W. Bush on someone’s wall and Michael’s political rant in the middle of his speech. Those who have found Kaufman’s work deliberately opaque in the past aren’t likely to change their minds now, but there’s more to “Anomalisa” than tricks, whether literary or technical. He’s interested in showing that you have to be willing to see the individuality of human lives—even if you’re not actually looking at a human when you see it. PJH

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

ichael Stone (David Thewlis), the protagonist of “Anomalisa,” is in many ways a very ordinary man.

He may be successful in his field—the author of a popular how-to book on improving customer service—and he may get to stay in an upscale Cincinnati hotel room for his speech to a group of conventioneers. But he’s also vaguely dissatisfied with his marriage, and struggles with tiny frustrations and indignities, like a hotel room electronic key that doesn’t quite work.

Also, when he hears people talk, every voice sounds exactly the same. Also, he’s a puppet.

That latter point is not merely a figure of speech. Writer Charlie Kaufman and animator Duke Johnson have crafted “Anomalisa” as a world of stop-motion figurines—and if you’re familiar with the cinematic work of Charlie Kaufman, this kind of strange device shouldn’t be a surprise. This is, after all, the writer who invented a portal through which you could take over the life of a famous actor in “Being John Malkovich,” and posited a procedure through which unpleasant memories could be surgically removed in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” A mournful sense of disconnected, frustrated humanity permeates Kaufman’s work, so what better way to convey that than to make his characters not actually human?

That doesn’t mean that Michael Stone isn’t a fully realized character, albeit a sad and fairly pathetic one. Though married with a young son, Michael can’t stop himself from looking up Bella, an old girlfriend who lives in Cincinnati, and who still hasn’t fully recovered from Michael abruptly abandoning her for no apparent reason.

And his perception of every person around

n Winter Wonderland 3:30pm, Art Association of JH, $40.00, 307-7336379 n Afterschool Monthly Workshops - All Sessions 3:30pm, Art Association of JH, $180.00, 307733-6379 n Apres with Fresh Roy and the Winch Cats 4:00pm, Mangy Moose, Free, 307-733-4913 n White Lightning Open Mic Night 4:00pm, The Trap Bar & Grill, Free, 307-3532300 x 1360 n InDesign Fundamentals: Brochure, Flyer and Book Layout 4:00pm, Art Association of JH, $130.00, 307733-6379 n Down Under the Tram: Australia Day at the Event’s Tent 4:00pm, Teton Village Event’s Tent, Free, 307733-2292 n Yoga 4:15pm, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307739-9025 n Winter Wonderland: Ice Skating on Town Square 4:30pm, Town Square, Free n Teen Creative Writing Club 4:30pm, Teton County Library Youth Auditorium, 307-733-2164 n Jazzercise 5:30pm, Teton Recreation Center, $10.00, 307739-9025 n Total Fitness 5:30pm, Teton Recreation Center, $8.00, 307739-9025 n Teton Raptor Center Ambassador Orientation 5:30pm, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Free, 307-203-2551 n Great Until Late 6:00pm, Local Businesses, Free, 307-201-2294 n Beginning Throwing Hustle 6:00pm, Art Association of JH, $225.00, 307733-2164 n Screenwriting 6:00pm, Art Association of JH, $160.00, 307733-6379 n Native Plant Society Social and Plant Collage 6:00pm, Teton County Library, Free n Scholarship Application Help Nights 6:00pm, Teton County Library Computer Lab, Free, 307-733-2164 n Introduction to Digital Photography 6:00pm, CWC-Jackson, $80.00, 307-733-7425 n Open Gym - Adult Volleyball 6:30pm, Teton Recreation Center, $3.75, 307739-9025 n Hip Hop at Dancers’ Workshop 7:00pm, Dancers’ Workshop, $12.00 - $16.00, 307-733-6398 n Language Exchange Night 7:00pm, Valley of the Tetons Library, Free, 208-787-2201 n One Ton Pig 7:30pm, Silver Dollar Showroom, Free, 307732-3939 n The Social Animals 10:00pm, Town Square Tavern, Free, 307-7333886

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

22 | JANUARY 20, 2016

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Best Thai Restaurant

Best Rafting Company

Best “Under the Radar” Restaurant

Best Snowmobiling Company Best Fishing Outfitter Best Gear Shop (skis/snowboards, kayaks, climbing/camping gear, etc.)

Best Bike Shop Best Veterinary Clinic Best Yoga/Fitness Spot Best Pet Supply Store Best Pet Care Provider Best Cleaning Company Best Place to Buy Booze Best Florist Best Taxi Service Best Produce Best Bank Best Customer Service Best Place to Buy Drugs Best Shop to Buy Bling Best Resale Store Best Place to Buy a Car Best Local Website

Best Restaurant Best New Restaurant Best Chef Best Wait Staff

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Best Musician (Under 17) Best Classical Musician Best Teton Valley Musician Best Church Choir Best Club DJ Best Live Entertainment Venue Best Outdoor Concert Series Best Local Sports Team Best Local Sporting Event Best Shake-a-Day Best Local CD Release (2015) Best Western Art Gallery Best Contemporary Art Gallery Best Emerging Artist Best Established Artist Best Artist (Under 17) Best Photographer Best Illustrator Best Actor/Actress Best Dancer Best Place to Get Your Groove On Best Place to Pick up a Honey Best Theater Production Company Best Filmmaker Best Local Film Best Ski Run Best Liftee Best Chairlift Best Golf Course Best Question We Left Out

JANUARY 20, 2016 | 23

FOOD & DRINK

Best Sports Bar

Best Musician

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

Best Eco-friendly Business

Best Italian Restaurant

Best Band Playing Original Songs

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

24 | JANUARY 20, 2016

BEER, WINE & SPIRITS

Bargain Red Roundup A six-pack of quality red wines under $13.

BY TED SCHEFFLER @critic1

D

uring the cold of winter I really focus my wine palate on reds. While you can certainly spend a fortune doing that, you really don’t have to. Here are six very versatile, enjoyable and, best of all, economical red wines that are inexpensive enough to enjoy year-round. They might not have made the Wine Spectator Top 10 list for this year, but they’ll fit into even the slimmest of wine budgets.

I had to get out my reading glasses the first time I picked up a bottle of Acinum Chianti DOGG at the wine store. The price couldn’t really be a mere $6.90, could it? Yes it could, and is. Acinum is an Italian wine producer imported in the U.S. by Italian wine expert Fabrizio Pedrolli. I’m a big fan of Acinum Valpolicella Ripasso DOP and Acinum Soave

Classico DOP, which come from the Veneto region, but they sell for considerably more than Acinum Chianti, from Tuscany. I’m not certain of the makeup of this Chianti, but I’m guessing it’s 100 percent Sangiovese. This is a great pizza wine: light-bodied with blackberry, cherry and spice notes, plus good complexity and finish, remarkable for the price.

Moving over to France, there are plenty of so-so, mediocre Côtes du Rhône reds to yawn about. Delas Saint-Esprit Côtes du Rhône 2013 ($12.98) isn’t one of them, however. The wine is a bit unusual for a Côtes du Rhône insofar as it’s 75 percent Syrah and 25 percent Grenache, not the more typical “GSM” blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvédre. I think that the large percentage of Syrah gives this wine a little more complexity than predominantly Grenache-based Côtes du Rhône.

Mocha and plum are the main flavors here, with a bit of green pepper on the finish. Try it with a simple pepper steak.

When it comes to Bordeaux, you tend to get what you pay for… usually. In the case of Château Les Verriers Bordeaux 2014 ($10.99), I believe you get more than you paid for. Now, you’re not going to confuse this with a 1st Cru Bordeaux. Châteaux Margaux it ain’t. But for $11, this 85/15 percent Merlot/ Cabernet Sauvignon Bordeaux blend— although very young—is very pleasant, with dark fruit and pepper flavors and persistent minerality. Bargain Bordeaux, indeed.

IMBIBE

fruit-driven wine with blueberry and cherry notes on the nose, more dark fruit on the palate, soft tannins and hints of vanilla from French oak.

14 Hands Winery ‘Hot to Trot’ Red Blend 2012 ($12.99) comes from Washington’s Columbia Valley and is named in the spirit of the wild horses— measuring 14 hands tall—that once roamed the Columbia River Basin. Hints of baking spices bring to mind a cherry and plum pie in this wine. Don’t take it too seriously; just enjoy. PJH

From South Eastern Australia comes one of my favorite new reds: 19 Crimes 2015 ($10.99). Like its name—which refers to 19 different crimes that turned British rogues into Australian colonists— this red blend is whimsical, almost tasting like a chocolate-vanilla shake in a wineglass. It’s also a fruit bomb, bursting at the seams with currants and dark fruit flavors. I haven’t even tried to pair it with food; I’ve just been enjoying it all on its own.

Truvée means “to find” in French. Truvée McBride Sisters winery is the result of two sisters—Robin and Andrea McBride—finding one another after growing up independently in two different wine regions of the world: New Zealand and California.

Truvée Red Blend 2015 ($12.99) is made from California Central Coast Grenache and Syrah. It’s a

SCOOP UP THESE SAVINGS Local is a modern American steakhouse and bar located on Jackson’s historic town square.

Serving locally raised beef and, regional game, fresh seafood and seasonally inspired food, Local offers the perfect setting for lunch, drinks or dinner.

Lunch 11:30am Monday-Saturday Dinner 5:30pm Nightly

Trio is located just off the town square in downtown Jackson, and is owned & operated by local chefs with a passion for good food.

Our menu features contemporary American dishes inspired by classic bistro cuisine. Daily specials feature wild game, fish and meats.

Enjoy a glass of wine at the bar in front of the wood-burning oven and watch the chefs perform in the open kitchen.

Dinner Nightly at 5:30pm

HAPPY HOUR Daily 4-6:00pm

307.201.1717 | LOCALJH.COM ON THE TOWN SQUARE

45 S. Glenwood

1/16TH COLOR AD • FREE PRINT LISTING (50-75 WORDS) • FREE ONLINE LISTING ON PLANETJH.COM • 6 MONTH MINIMUM COMMITMENT • $25 A WEEK CASH OR $40 A WEEK TRADE ON HALF OFF JH

BUY 1 GET 1 APPETIZERS

CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE WEST BROADWAY 307-733-9168 TODAY TO LEARN MORE LIMIT 1 PER A TABLE

Available for private events & catering

265

For reservations please call 734-8038

JACKSONHOLESUSHI.COM

SALES@PLANETJH.COM OR 307.732.029

Featuring dining destinations from buffets and rooms with a view to mom and pop joints, chic cuisine and some of our dining critic’s faves!

ASIAN & CHINESE TETON THAI Serving the world’s most exciting cuisine.

Teton Thai offers a splendid array of flavors: sweet, hot, sour, salt and bitter. All balanced and blended perfectly, satisfying the most discriminating palate. Open daily. 7432 Granite Loop Road in Teton Village, (307) 733-0022 and in Driggs, (208) 787-8424, tetonthai.com.

THE LOCALS

FAVORITE PIZZA 2012, 2013 & 2014 •••••••••

$7

$4 Well Drink Specials

LUNCH

SPECIAL Slice, salad & soda

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

TV Sports Packages and 7 Screens

Under the Pink Garter Theatre (307) 734-PINK • www.pinkygs.com

KAZUMI Kazumi is a family-owned and operated restaurant serving unique sushi rolls, fresh sashimi and nigiri, and off-the-charts specialty items. Located near the Town Square, we also feature hot noodle soups and the spiciest rolls in town! Open Monday through Saturday at 11 a.m - 9:30 p.m. 265 West Broadway, 307-7339168, jacksonholesushi.com.

KIM’S CORNER Best ski food in the area! Korean and American style, from breakfast sandwiches, burgers, chicken tenders, Philly cheese steaks to rice bowls and noodles. Something for everyone!

Open Tuesday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

At base of Snow King between the ski patrol room and the ice rink. 100 E. Snow King Ave. Order ahead (307) 200-6544, facebook.com/ Kimscornercafe.

cool ways

to PERK

UP

THAI ME UP Home of Melvin Brewing Co. Freshly remodeled offering modern Thai cuisine in a relaxed setting. New tap system with 20 craft beers.

New $8 wine list and extensive bottled beer menu. Open daily for dinner at 5pm. Downtown at 75 East Pearl Street. View our tap list at thaijh. com/brews. 307-733-0005.

CONTINENTAL THE BLUE LION

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

A Jackson Hole favorite for 37 years. Join us in the charming atmosphere of a historic home. Ask a local about our rack of lamb.

Serving fresh fish, elk, poultry, steaks, and vegetarian entrées. Live acoustic guitar music most nights. Open at 5:30 p.m. Off Season Special: 2 for 1 Entrees. Good all night. Must mention ad. Reservations recommended, walkins welcome. 160 N. Millward, (307) 733-3912, bluelionrestaurant.com

CAFE GENEVIEVE

The Deli That’ll Rock Your Belly 307-733-3448

Sun-Wed 11am-4pm, Thur-Sat 11am-8pm 180 N. Center St. | 1 block n. of Town Square Next to Home Ranch Parking Lot

ELEANOR’S Enjoy all the perks of fine dining, minus the dress code at Eleanor’s, serving rich, saucy dishes in a warm and friendly setting. Eleanor’s is a primo brunch spot on Sunday afternoons. Its bar alone is an attraction, thanks to reasonably priced drinks and a loyal crowd. Come get a

1110 W. Broadway • Jackson, WY Open daily 5:00am to midnight • Free Wi-Fi

JANUARY 20, 2016 | 25

Steamed Subs Hot Dogs Soups & Salads

Serving inspired home cooked classics in a historic log cabin. Enjoy brunch daily at 8 a.m., dinner nightly at 5 p.m., and happy hour daily 3-5:30 p.m. featuring $5 glasses of wine, $5 specialty drinks, $3 bottled beer. 135 E. Broadway, (307) 732-1910, genevievejh.com.

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

26 | JANUARY 20, 2016

®

belly-full of our two-time gold medal wings. Open at 11 a.m. daily. 832 W. Broadway, (307) 733-7901.

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

Large Specialty Pizza ADD: Wings (8 pc)

Medium Pizza (1 topping) Stuffed Cheesy Bread

$ 13 99

for an extra $5.99/each

(307) 733-0330 520 S. Hwy. 89 • Jackson, WY

20%OFF ENTIRE BILL

Good between 5:30-6pm • Open nightly at 5:30pm

733-3912 160 N. Millward

Make your reservation online at bluelionrestaurant.com

FAMILY FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT PIZZAS, PASTAS & MORE HOUSEMADE BREAD & DESSERTS FRESH, LOCALLY SOURCED OFFERINGS

Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

Dining room and bar open nightly at 5:00pm (307) 733-2460 • 2560 Moose Wilson Road • Wilson, WY

A Jackson Hole favorite since 1965

WWW.TETONLOTUSCAFE.COM

- Snow King Mountain -

Cafe

KOREAN & AMERICAN

Celebrate 50 Years of Fine Dining!

ALPENROSE • ALPENHOF BISTRO 307.733.3242 | TETON VILLAGE

The deli that’ll rock your belly. Jackson’s newest sub shop serves steamed subs, reubens, gyros, delicious all beef hot dogs, soups and salads. We offer Chicago style hot dogs done just the way they do in the windy city. Open daily11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Located just a short block north of the Town Square at 180 N. Center Street, (307) 733-3448.

LOCAL Local, a modern American steakhouse and bar, is located on Jackson’s historic town square.

Our menu features both classic and specialty cuts of locally-ranched meats and wild game alongside fresh seafood, shellfish, house-ground burgers, and seasonally-inspired food. We offer an extensive wine list and an abundance of locally-sourced products. Offering a casual and vibrant bar atmosphere with 12 beers on tap as well as a relaxed dining room, Local is the perfect spot to grab a burger for lunch or to have drinks and dinner with friends. Lunch Mon-Sat 11:30am.

Dinner Nightly 5:30pm. 55 North Cache, (307) 2011717, localjh.com.

LOTUS CAFE

••••••••• Open daily 8am 145 N. Glenwood (307) 734-0882

TAKE OUT AVAILABLE

FULL STEAM SUBS

BREAKFAST & LUNCH BURGERS • FRIES RICE BOWLS • NOODLES Tues-Thur 9:30am-7pm | Fri-Sun 9:30am-4pm 100 E. Snow King Ave

(at Snow King Mtn between Ski Patrol & Ice Rink)

307.200.6544

Serving organic, freshly-made world cuisine while catering to all eating styles. Endless organic and natural meat, vegetarian, vegan and glutenfree choices. Offering super smoothies, fresh extracted juices, espresso and tea. Full bar and house-infused botanical spirits. Open daily 8am for breakfast lunch and dinner. 145 N. Glenwood St., (307) 734-0882, tetonlotuscafe.com.

MANGY MOOSE Mangy Moose Restaurant, with locally sourced, seasonally fresh food at reasonable prices, is a always a fun place to go with family or friends for a unique dining experience. The personable staff will make you feel right at home and the funky western decor will keep you entertained throughout your entire visit. Teton Village, (307) 733-4913, mangymoose.com.

SNAKE RIVER BREWERY & RESTAURANT America’s most award-winning microbrewery is serving lunch and dinner. Take in the atmosphere while enjoying wood-fired pizzas, pastas, burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts. $9 lunch menu. Happy hour 4 to 6 p.m., including tasty hot wings. The freshest beer in the valley, right from the source! Free WiFi. Open 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. 265 S. Millward. (307) 739-2337, snakeriverbrewing.com.

SWEETWATER

Mangy Moose Restaurant, with locally sourced, seasonally FRESH FOOD at reasonable prices, is a always a FUN PLACE to go with family or friends for a unique dining experience. The personable staff will make you feel RIGHT AT HOME and the funky western decor will keep you entertained throughout your entire visit.

Reservations at (307) 733-4913 3295 Village Drive • Teton Village, WY

www.mangymoose.com

Take-out just got easier!

Order online at PizzeriaCaldera.com or via our app for iOS or Android.

11am - 9:30pm daily 20 W Broadway 307 - 201 - 1472

Satisfying locals for lunch and dinner for over 36 years with deliciously affordable comfort food.

Extensive local and regional beer list. Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. features blackened trout salad, elk melt, wild west chili and vegetarian specialties. Dinner 5:30 to 9 p.m. including potato-crusted trout, 16 ounce ribeye, vegan and wild game. Reservations welcome. (307) 7333553. sweetwaterjackson.com.

TRIO Owned and operated by Chefs with a passion for good food, Trio is located right off the Town square in downtown Jackson. Featuring a variety of cuisines in a relaxed atmosphere, Trio is famous

for its wood-oven pizzas, specialty cocktails and waffle fries with bleu cheese fondue. Dinner nightly at 5:30 p.m. Reservations. (307) 734-8038 or bistrotrio.com.

ITALIAN CALICO A Jackson Hole favorite since 1965, the Calico continues to be one of the most popular restaurants in the Valley. The Calico offers the right combination of really good food, (much of which is grown in our own gardens in the summer), friendly staff; a reasonably priced menu and a large selection of wine. Our bar scene is eclectic with a welcoming vibe. Open nightly at 5 p.m. 2560 Moose Wilson Rd., (307) 733-2460.

MEXICAN EL ABUELITO Serving authentic Mexican cuisine and appetizers in a unique Mexican atmosphere. Home of the original Jumbo Margarita. Featuring a full bar with a large selection of authentic Mexican beers.

Lunch served weekdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nightly dinner specials. Open seven days, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 385 W. Broadway, (307) 733-1207.

PIZZA DOMINO’S PIZZA Hot and delicious delivered to your door. Handtossed, deep dish, crunchy thin, Brooklyn style and artisan pizzas; bread bowl pastas, and oven baked sandwiches; chicken wings, cheesy breads and desserts. Delivery. 520 S. Hwy. 89 in Kmart Plaza, (307) 733-0330.

PINKY G’S The locals favorite! Voted Best Pizza in Jackson Hole 2012, 2013 and 2014. Seek out this hidden gem under the Pink Garter Theatre for NY pizza by the slice, salads, stromboli’s, calzones and many appetizers to choose from. Try the $7 ‘Triple S’ lunch special.Happy hours 10 p.m. - 12 a.m. Sun.Thu. Text PINK to 71441 for discounts. Delivery and take-out. Open daily 11a.m. to 2 a.m. 50 W. Broadway, (307) 734-PINK.

PIZZERIA CALDERA Jackson Hole’s only dedicated stone-hearth oven pizzeria, serving Napolitana-style pies using the freshest ingredients in traditional and creative combinations. Five local micro-brews on tap, a great selection of red and white wines by the glass and bottle, and one of the best views of the Town Square from our upstairs deck. Daily lunch special includes slice, salad or soup, any two for $8. Happy hour: half off drinks by the glass from 4 - 6 daily. Dine in or carry out. Or order online at PizzeriaCaldera.com, or download our app for iOS or Android. Open from 11am - 9:30pm daily at 20 West Broadway. 307-201-1472.

ALPENHOF Serving authentic Swiss cuisine, the Alpenhof features European style breakfast entrées and alpine lunch fare. Dine in the Bistro for a casual meal or join us in the Alpenrose dining room for a relaxed dinner experience. Breakfast 7:30am-10am. Coffee & pastry 10am-11:30am.

Lunch 11:30am-3pm. Aprés 3pm-5:30pm. Dinner 6pm-9pm. For reservations at the Bistro or Alpenrose, call 307-733-3242.

What If… Why our survival and well-being hinge on our resilience.

“A

ll truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed.

Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”

—A. Schopenhauer 1788-1860 As we know, people once believed Earth was flat and if you got to the edge, you’d fall off and perish. Outdated beliefs about our planet, about ourselves, and about the cosmos can be amusing to us. And yet it is now our turn to be on the threshold of radically new thought-changing, belief-changing, life-changing discoveries, with mind-blowing potential.

The nature of beliefs Beliefs are a curious and powerful phenomenon of our consciousness. Once we form a belief and hold it as truth, the brain will ignore and/or censor out any data which conflicts with that belief. Therefore, once we hold a belief about something or someone, the only information we allow ourselves to be aware of is data confirming our conclusion. Beliefs may or may not be based on anything objectively true, and you can see they play a big role in determining what possibilities we are capable of experiencing.

Play with this

Mind-Blowing Expansion 2: New perspectives about us • We are souls and we have a physical body.

• When the pure awareness of the soul temporarily links with the physical body, it allows the soul to experience itself in this exquisite and limited physical reality.

Consciousness also survives the death of the physical body.

• Even with all we think we know, we can only perceive less than 1 percent of the visible light spectrum, the electromagnetic spectrum and the acoustic spectrum.

• There is no junk DNA; there is DNA, which is not yet activated.

• Regardless of our current levels of intelligence, we use only a small percent of the potential capacity of our brains. The rest of our brain capacity is not online…yet.

Mind-Blowing Expansion 3: Extra-terrestrials here then and now • Extraterrestrial archaeology focusing on off-planet ruins has located remnants of intelligent civilizations on the moon, on Mars and on some of the moons of Saturn and Jupiter.

• Sculpture, art and literature from every ancient civilization credits ET contact with accelerating our human evolution.

• People with credible positions in military, government and civilian life have experienced contact with ET intelligence, and have gone on record describing what transpired.

• Many credible sources attribute our current, rapid acceleration of technologies to information captured from, shared from and/or reverse engineered from ETs. • U.S. Navy Admiral Byrd flew over the north and south poles of the Earth in the 1900s and experienced an anomaly at the poles. He reported entering there into the inner earth and discovering an inhabited resource-rich land inside the planet. He introduced the Hollow Earth Theory.

There are continuous sightings of UFOs emerging from and re-entering the inner earth.

Relax Have fun noticing what comes up for you as you read some of the items above. Maybe they challenge some of your old beliefs and/or maybe they confirm your intuitions. Google the topics mentioned in this article for more information and resources.

PJH

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TetonWyo.org The public meeting agendas and minutes for the Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission can also be found in the Public Notices section of the JH News and Guide.

JANUARY 20, 2016 | 27

Carol Mann is a longtime Jackson resident, radio personality, former Grand Targhee Resort owner, author, and clairvoyant.

Got a Cosmic Question? Email carol@yourcosmiccafe.com

For all MEETING AGENDAS AND MINUTES WEEKLY CALENDAR JOB OPENINGS SOLICITATIONS FOR BIDS PUBLIC NOTICES AND OTHER VALUABLE INFORMATION

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

I thought it might be fun to share three topics currently gathering evidence and probability, which could change everything.

You might enjoy observing how open minded and resilient you are in relation to these likely “coming attractions,” which invite belief-busting potential.

Mind-Blowing Expansion 1: There is intelligent life everywhere in the universe more advanced, as advanced, and less advanced than we are in both technology and consciousness.

• UCSB Science Line reports there are about 100 billion stars in our galaxy.

• They have discovered that solar systems form around many stars.

• If only 0.1 percent of stars in our Milky Way have orbiting planets, that means there are still 10 million solar systems in the Milky Way alone.

• There are untold numbers of planets orbiting their suns at approximately the same distance from their sun star as is Earth. Not to mention that there would be life forms unknown to us, which are perfectly adapted to environments we could not inhabit.

• There are 3 thousand billion galaxies in the known universe.

| PLANET JACKSON HOLE |

28 | JANUARY 20, 2016

SUDOKU

Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to 9.

No math is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. Solving time is typically 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your skill and experience.

L.A.TIMES “FARE PLAY” By Fred Piscop

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2016

ACROSS

10 Skier’s mecca 50 South-of-the-border currency 90 Hillside home attraction 14 Lucky break 19 “Dizzy Red Riding Hood” (1931) cartoon star 20 Domingo delivery 21 Prefix with face or faith 22 Of the ear 23 Fare after successful medical treatment?

25 Angry fare?

27 Took charge of 28 Skyline standouts 30 Crispy Crunchy candy bar maker 31 Tool used on pineapples 33 School attended by 007 34 Take a load off 35 Far from wimpy 38 Pasture portion 40 Colombian city of two million 41 Piston connector 44 “__ y Plata” 45 Illegally taken fare?

50 Word on a Susan B. Anthony coin 51 Newsman Koppel 52 Works at steadily 53 Fuss over oneself 54 Step into character 55 Unaffiliated: Abbr.

56 Certain track contestant 57 Write parts for 59 Drag to court 60 Raptor trainer 62 Wilson of the Beach Boys 63 Gunga Din’s burden 65 Wolfed down 66 Like bogs 67 Pointer’s cry 69 Core group

71 Entrance supports 72 Tried hard to recognize 75 Soccer stadium cry 76 Wild outings 79 Makes fun of 80 Codebreaking org.

81 Show __ 82 Classical name of Troy 83 Did a cobbler’s job 84 __ Ronald Reagan 85 ESL part: Abbr.

86 Fare constantly questioned?

89 Vietnamese holiday 90 __ Plaines, Illinois 91 Pitchers with heads 92 Cyclotron bits 93 Stroke made vertically 95 Recipe direction 96 Turned rapidly 98 Points for Poseidon 101 Like some treasure 104 Word on an LP 106 Chief 110 Soundly defeated fare?

112 Inebriated fare?

114 Banded marble 115 City at the foot of the Ozarks 116 Pet store supply 117 Fossey subjects 118 Put back in the sty 119 Girder material 120 Light on one’s feet 121 Little shavers

DOWN

10 Kid stuff 20 Oaf 30 Sponge opening 40 Shout to an awardee 50 Commuter’s reading 60 Diminish over time 70 McCartney title 80 Homes for squirrels 90 Called on 10 101 title word

11 “Card Players Quarreling” artist 12 Black or green drinks 13 Usher’s offering 14 Appears gradually 15 “Serpico” director 16 “QB VII” author 17 Vitamin K-rich green 18 Benevolent order 24 Give in to gravity 26 In the near future, poetically 29 1994 co-Nobelist with Rabin and Arafat 32 More risqué 34 Budget noodle dish 35 Recurring melody 36 Sacramento’s Sleep Train __ 37 Excessively pampered fare?

39 “Moonstruck” Oscar winner 40 Like a frisked suspect, at times 41 Fare at the Friars Club?

42 At the proper moment 43 Put a damper on 46 Pipe up 47 2000-’01 NBA MVP Iverson 48 Sail spars 49 Deck out 56 Eye irritants 57 Many OPEC ministers 58 Decorative jugs 61 Common rental 62 Valentine candy message 64 “__ we there yet?”

66 Given orally, in law 67 Skins-and-poles home, traditionally 68 Takes note of 69 Needing decryption 70 Without peers 71 Locks up

72 Most ashen 73 Long-eared equines 74 Philistine’s lack 77 Delta, for one 78 Store handout 79 Tommy __, ex-pitcher for whom a surgical procedure is named 83 Starbucks snack 86 Entry-level jobs?

87 Active during the daytime 88 Touch up 94 Starlike 95 Stingray relative 96 Made off with 97 In itself 99 Not so genial 100 Poor 101 Emotional mark 102 The munchies, e.g.

103 Tide type 104 Bunny’s tail 105 Rubs out 107 Kelly of talk TV 108 Sailed through 109 Reduced 111 Rehab shakes 113 Public image, for short

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30 | JANUARY 20, 2016

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY REDNECK PERSPECTIVE

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19) The next four weeks could potentially be a Golden Age of Friendship … a State of Grace for Your Web of Connections … a Lucky Streak for Collaborative Efforts. What can you do to ensure that these cosmic tendencies will actually be fulfilled? Try this: Deepen and refine your approach to schmoozing. Figure out what favors would be most fun for you to bestow, and bestow them. Don’t socialize aimlessly with random gadabouts, but rather gravitate toward people with whom you share high ideals and strong intentions.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) On a clear day, if you stand at the summit of Costa Rica’s Mount Irazú, you can see both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It’s not hard to get there. You can hop a tourist bus in the nearby city of San José, and be 11,200 feet high two hours later. This is a good model for your next assignment: Head off on a stress-free jaunt to a place that affords you a vast vista. If you can’t literally do that, at least slip away to a fun sanctuary where you’ll be inspired to think big thoughts about your long-range prospects. You need a break from everything that shrinks or numbs you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) A filmmaker working on a major movie typically shoots no more than four pages of the script per day. A director for a TV show may shoot eight pages. But I suspect that the story of your life in the near future may barrel through the equivalent of 20 pages of script every 24 hours. The next chapter is especially action-packed. The plot twists and mood swings will be coming at a rapid clip. This doesn’t have to be a problem as long as you are primed for high adventure. How? Take good care of your basic physical and emotional needs so you’ll be in top shape to enjoy the boisterous ride.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) The city of Paris offers formal tours of its vast sewer system. Commenting at an online travel site, one tourist gave the experience five stars: “It’s a great change of pace from museums full of art,” she wrote. Another visitor said, “It’s an interesting detour from the cultural overload that Paris can present.” According to a third, “There is a slight smell but it isn’t overpowering. It’s a fascinating look at how Paris handles wastewater treatment and clean water supply.” I bring this up, Cancerian, because now is a favorable time for you to take a break from bright, shiny pleasures and embark on a tour of your psyche’s subterranean maze. Regard it not as a scary challenge, but as a fact-finding exploration. What strategies do you have in place to deal with the messy, broken, secret stuff in your life? Take an inventory.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) “When I look at a sunset, I don’t say, ‘Soften the orange a little on the right hand corner, and put a bit more purple in the cloud color.’” Pioneering psychologist Carl Rogers was describing the way he observed the world. “I don’t try to control a sunset,” he continued. “I watch it with awe.”

He had a similar view about people. “One of the most satisfying experiences,” he said, “is just fully to appreciate an individual in the same way I appreciate a sunset.” Your assignment, Leo, is to try out Rogers’ approach. Your emotional well being will thrive as you refrain from trying to “improve” people—as you see and enjoy them for who they are.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) The future is headed your way in a big hurry. It may not be completely here for a few weeks, but even then it will have arrived ahead of schedule. Should you be alarmed? Should you work yourself into an agitated state and draw premature conclusions? Hell no. Treat this sudden onrush of tomorrow as a bracing opportunity to be as creative as you dare. Cultivate a beginner’s mind. Be alert for unexpected openings that you assumed would take longer to appear.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) More than one-third of all pregnancies are unintended.

The two people involved aren’t actually trying to make a baby, but their contraceptive measure fails or isn’t used at all. According to my analysis, you heterosexual Libras are now more prone to this accidental experience than usual.

And in general, Libras of every sexual preference must be careful and precise about what seeds they plant in the coming weeks. The new growth you instigate is likely to have far-reaching consequences. So don’t let your choice be reckless or unconscious. Formulate clear intentions.

What do you want to give your love to for a long time?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) I was a rock musician for years, which meant that I rarely went to bed before dawn. I used to brag that my work schedule was from 9 to 5 (9 p.m. to 5 a.m., that is.) Even after I stopped performing regularly, I loved keeping those hours. It was exhilarating to be abuzz when everyone else was asleep. But two months ago, I began an experiment to transform my routine. Now I awake with the dawn. I spend the entire day consorting with the source of all life on earth, the sun. If you have been contemplating a comparable shift in your instinctual life, Scorpio—any fundamental alteration in your relationship to food, drink, exercise, sleep, perception, laughter, love-making—the next few weeks will be a favorable time to do it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) You Sagittarians are often praised but also sometimes criticized for being such connoisseurs of spontaneity. Many of us admire your flair for unplanned adventure, even though we may flinch when you unleash it. You inspire us and also make us nervous as you respond to changing circumstances with unpremeditated creativity. I expect all these issues to be hot topics in the coming weeks. You are in a phase of your cycle when your improvisational flourishes will be in the spotlight. I, for one, promise to learn all I can from the interesting detours that result from your delight in experimentation.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Capricorn world-changer Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and sent to jail on 29 different occasions. His crimes? Drawing inspiration from his Christian faith, he employed nonviolent civil disobedience to secure basic civil rights for African Americans. He believed so fiercely in his righteous cause that he was willing to sacrifice his personal comfort again and again. The coming months will be a favorable time to devote yourself to a comparable goal, Capricorn. And now is a good time to intensify your commitment. I dare you to take a vow.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) The birds known as mound-builders are born more mature than other species. As soon as they peck themselves out of their eggs, they are well-coordinated, vigorous enough to hunt and capable of flight. Right now I see a resemblance between them and many of you Aquarians. As soon as you hatch your new plans or projects—which won’t be long now—you will be ready to operate at almost full strength.

I bet there won’t be false starts or rookie mistakes, nor will you need extensive rehearsal. Like the mound-builders, you’ll be primed for an early launch.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) You are not purely and simply a Pisces, because although the sun was in that astrological sign when you were born, at least some of the other planets were in different signs.

This fact is a good reminder that everything everywhere is a complex web of subtlety and nuance. It’s delusional to think that anyone or anything can be neatly definable.

Of course it’s always important to keep this in mind, but it’s even more crucial than usual for you to do so in the coming weeks. You are entering a phase when the best way to thrive is to know in your gut that life is always vaster, wilder and more mysterious than it appears to be on the surface. If you revere the riddles, the riddles will be your sweet, strong allies.

Go to RealAstrology.com for Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text-message horoscopes. Audio horoscopes also available by phone at 877-873-4888 or 900-950-7700.

SATIRE

Up with Dogs PAWs will pursue a vertical dog park.

BY CLYDE THORNHILL

J

ackson Hole canines and their human companions are asking the Jackson Town Council for a new vertical dog park to be built on the strip of land located between the plastic and glass containers at the recycle center. Cindy Sandy, a local dog owner, is collaborating with Amy Salad, executive director of PAWS, and petitioning the town council for help with land donation and financial support.

“I have two huskies, a golden retriever, three black labs and a collie,” Sandy told the council. “After spending all day cooped up in my studio apartment, my dogs need a place to run and meet other dogs. And space is so limited in Wyoming. There are many people like me in Jackson who need a place to take their dogs A dog park would not only provide a play area but would also be a place dogs could interact socially, an important aspect of canine life that is often overlooked, but one recognized by the veterinarian community as critical for the mental well-being of dogs.”

Cindy Sandy and Amy Salad envision a low-profit limited liability (L3C) company to provide the funding apparatus for the vertical dog park.

The total cost of the vertical dog park is expected to be $1.8 million (real cost) growing to $3.1 million (actual cost) before completion. The nearly doubling of construction cost is “typical in L3C companies,”

she explained. (For further explanation see News&Guide columnist Jonathan Schechter’s article: “Political and economic causes for real vs. actual construction cost variations in nonprofit organizations.”)

Sandy insisted cost shouldn’t dissuade the council from moving forward with the project. A dog park will become a valued asset to the community, she said, paying back its initial cost many times over. “Dogo-tourism is an untapped market,” she elucidated. “Dog owners from around the world will come to Jackson to visit our park while spending money in local shops and motels.

We all stand to benefit, economically.”

“This project will also enhance the earth’s sustainability,” Sandy explained to the council. “There will be less poop on Cache Creek, fewer moose and deer chased in the winter.

Plus we plan to install a dog poop-to-methane gas conversion plant at the park, and use the gas to offset some of the heating bills.”

Sandy also encouraged dog owners to participate in the poop-to-methane production while visiting the dog park. “After all, we will be located at the recycle center,” she noted.

The dog park will provide other economic benefits, too, Sandy claimed. Among its other positives are employment opportunities for college educated liberal arts majors who will work at the dog park as facilitators, ambassadors, grant managers, development directors, foundation program coordinators and strategic initiatives managers.

To kick off fundraising, supporters of the new vertical dog park are organizing a gala fundraiser complete with silent auction, cocktails and A-list residents in attendance.

PJH

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