Powder Day!

By Jeff McDonald

When someone mentions skiing in Wyoming, it is easy to think of the world-class resorts like Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Grand Targhee Resort… and rightfully so. These two resorts offer some of the best snow and most challenging terrain in the country, if not the world. But let’s not forget that Wyoming also offers a number of smaller ski areas. These may be bit out of the spotlight, and require a little more creative travel planning if you are coming from a distance, but they can also offer tremendous rewards.  Think small, adventurous, uncrowded, family-friendly, affordable, and fun. If you like the sound of that, then I know just the place.

One of my favorite small Wyoming ski areas happens to be my local hill; Snowy Range Ski Area located about 30 miles west of Laramie.  The ski area is situated on the east side of the Snowy Range Mountains, just outside of the small mountain town of Centennial, WY.

And they call it “Snowy” for a reason.  Recent January storms have been lining up over the Snowy Range and dropping plenty of the light, fluffy white stuff that we all love to play in.  In fact, over the past few weeks, the ski area has reported over 3 feet of new snow.

One day in January is particularly memorable to me.  It was Sunday, January 22.  I knew that a storm was forecasted to move over the Range the night before and it had the potential for significant snowfall.  Right before I went to sleep the night before, the forecast was calling for anywhere between 8 to 16 inches in the higher elevations.

When I woke up at 6am that morning, I immediately checked the Snowy Range Ski Area 5am snow report on Facebook.  I was a bit discouraged when they said that they only had 2” of new snow, but they also mentioned that it was snowing hard.  And snowing hard it was.

Community Built Around a Cup of Coffee

By Helen Coronato

The Accidental Cowgirl

Autumn Cook always knew she wanted to own a coffee shop; the only question would be location, location, location. A Washington state native, she spent some times in the Black Hills during college, eventually being drawn to the town of Sundance, Wyoming. As luck – or destiny – would have it, the local coffee shop/video store came up for sale. As more luck (or more destiny) would have it, she managed a similar store in Washington and knew she could run this location. Today, just a few short years later, she is the owner and manager of Wild West Espresso on North 3^rd Street and has turned her ambition into a comfortable coffee shop where locals catch up and tourists fuel up.

Relaxed seating, specialty coffee drinks and a varied menu make this the ideal place to enjoy everything from breakfast to break time. When I visited, Autumn’s mom was behind the counter and greeted us all with a warm smile and offered several suggestions from the menu. We ordered Italian sodas, juices and a coffee-n-cream frozen drink that I have not stopped thinking about since I had it. And while the drinks were great, it is the hospitality that stands out. None of the patrons looked rushed, agitated or annoyed. Sunday afternoon seemed like the perfect time for several people to kick back and visit with friends and family. It certainly proved to be the ideal place for us to do just that.

Backcountry Ice Skating

By Dina Mishev

There’s not a ton of snow for skiing right now. The way I see it, there are two options: 1) continue to chip away at the base of my skis, or 2) find something other than skiing to do until it snows some more.

Option 2 it was.

Years and years ago when I used to ice climb regularly, I once brought ice skates in addition to climbing gear to Lake Louise in the northeastern Wind Rivers outside of Dubois.

On that long-ago winter trip, on day one I climbed an intermediate, multi-pitch ice climb, The Gully, just above the lake. That night was spent in a tent on an isthmus that pinches Lake Louise in half. I didn’t put my skates inside my sleeping bag, but did wrap them inside a puffy jacket.

I woke up the next morning ready to channel my inner Nancy Kerrigan.