Happy 4th From the Top of the Gondola!

Let's Toss a Little Throwback into Today: Can we talk about how last year I was celebrating my 4th of July weekend in Laurel Highlands in Ohiopyle, PA on the Yough for my first Class 5 in a shredder! ahhhhh! Best 4th of July and River Trip ever!

This year's 4th was not at like last years: no river trip, no bathing suits and kayaks; this year, the 4th of July landed on a planning week for my teaching team - so we had to actually work on this holiday. As much stress and chaos goes into having five people collaborate into our last program's flow and plan, we finished up some last minute logistics.

This meant I was able to escape the Kelly Campus and head into town to actually celebrate 'Murica! Celebrated the 4th in Teton Village: first with some awesome food at Teton Thai, then some jams from Mandatory Air and UNO, then hanging out at the Top of the Gondola. It was so nice relaxing from being stressed all day with planning then to kick back and enjoy the actual holiday!

Being on the top of the Gondola was really beautiful - there is a restaurant and bar up there, so to sit at a table and sip on a Margarita was pretty awesome while overlooking the view was well needed. Although you would think by being so high up has its advantages on the 4th of July....like for instance, observing fireworks....WRONG.

When we were up there, we could see the private golf course light up some fireworks before the Village's performance was underway. The fireworks were TINY! I guess being at 10,000+ feet makes fireworks only 300-ft about 6,500 ft look pretty small! So FYI - observe fireworks at the same level as they are happening. But it was pretty cool to look DOWN on fireworks instead of looking UP. Sort of!

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Heading into Teton Village!

The View From the Top of the Gondola

Happy 4th!
Marc & I at the Top of the Gondola
I am slowly convincing others to Summit Pose with me!

Happy 4th!

'Murica!

TheChristyBel

Survived My First Mountain Biking Experience

Earlier this afternoon, Marc gave me a mountain bike lesson in the Village today. Let me tell you, mountain biking here is so much different than when I went mountain biking back home...there were a lot more pads and gear involved this time! It was super fun, and I think I caught onto it really quickly. Marc was a great instructor; he will do really well when he instructs others on the mountain - very patient, supportive, and great with feedback! It was great using the chair lifts to get to a higher point on the mountain and then bike, well cruise, your way back down. However, turning when picking up speed still freaks me out, but I guess similar to snowboarding, it gets better when I get used to it and do it more often. Also, standing on a bike for most of the ride is really interesting too - key is to keep your knees bent! But overall, great afternoon learning something new! Another activity, I am tempted in getting more into! Uh oh!!!!....

Met a New Friend on the Trail!
Cute Little Squirrel!

Surviving the Mountain...This Time on a Bike!

More adventures to come!

TheChristyBel

Moose You're Drunk...Go Home

So Megan, one of the Graduate Students, found an ad in the paper for people to help with the Jackson Hole Rendezvous Music Festival - needing people that can help serve and sell alcoholic beverages to the festival visitors.

Of course, being poor graduate students we are, Megan, Em-J, and I applied and got to help out at the Music Festival on Friday and Saturday night.  Friday night we were able to listen to Blues Traveler and Saturday Night we heard Michael Franti.  It was pretty awesome!

Me, Meg, and Em-J Hanging With Mr. Moose

Fun times at the music festival in Teton Village and very cool to hear the Blues Traveler and Michael Franti live!

TheChristyBel