Outpost Chronicles

Owning your own business means you get to set your own hours. It sounds wonderful, but the truth is, you never, ever unplug.

You are constantly on the clock and when it comes down to it, you are responsible for everything. But, I love it.

After working brutal hours this past week and a half, I was finally able to unplug today. That meant my fourth day on the mountain this year — blessed!

Happy to announce we’ll be launching a beta version of an online booking platform this coming week. We hope to make Jackson Hole more accessible. More to come in the next few days.

Well… its 40 degrees here in Jackson Hole after receiving a significant amount of snow this weekend. It’s funny how quick the weather can change.

I’ll be perfectly honest. I have not skied much this year. The sad part is, I used to ski here in Jackson Hole more often when I lived back East than I do now. But, there will come a time soon in the next few years where I think I will finally be able to enjoy it to the fullest potential.

Right now, I just need to keep my head above water 🙂

Wyoming is one of the most beautiful places one can get married. Rain or shine, the landscape is dramatic and absolutely stunning.

I married Jane on August 8th of last year at Lost Creek Ranch. The weather was definitely the ultimate variable.

It had drizzled all morning and we thought it would be bearable should it remain that way throughout the day. But, the clouds really let it pour around noon and I can only imagine what was going through my bride’s mind.

She insisted on having it outside and thankfully so. Right as she came off the bus, the skies opened up, rays of sunshine lit the aisle and down she came as beautiful as ever. You honestly couldn’t have written a better story.

A HUGE shoutout to Elizabeth Kelleher, our wedding planner. The perfect combination of poise and rigor.

To read more about Wyoming weddings, check out this article published by our friends over at Wyoming Magazine: Most Beautiful Places to Get Married in Wyoming.

Read about Taylor Glenn’s excursion into Yellowstone. Adventure Report: Ski Touring the Bechler River Trail.

Ski touring this deep into the wilderness is not something to be taken lightly. Something as simple as breaking a ski binding or the rivets on your sled harness could be disastrous. But that is also part of what makes any good adventure: stepping into the unknown with enough risk to keep you on edge at all times.

Moving to Jackson Hole was more of a process than an instant decision. It took me years. I first had to get into the mindset, then convince my now-wife, followed by developing a plan to make ends meet in JH, and then finally quit my job and make the move.

Taylor got me into that mindset. He posted surreal photos all about his life in Jackson Hole with concise captions followed by hashtags like “#ItsWhatWeDoHere” or “#OnAssignment.” I wanted his life.

Flash forward two and a half years and here I am now, working alongside him in our office at 70 S King Street. He’s a high-energy guy with a go-getter attitude. For the past year and a half I’ve been here, he’s been more than just a friend and business partner. He’s been my mentor.

Taylor showed me the ropes and continues to guide me in the right direction. We’re lucky to have Taylor as part of the team. Extremely, so.

His voice echoes through everything we do. I even see it in my own writing — it’s evolved over the past couple of years for the better and I have him to thank.

And, as for our Instagram… he may not know it, but he inspired its direction. We pump out the Jackson Hole lifestyle for those people who are yearning to be back in the place they love most. And, for the people already in JH… put stuff out there to inspire them to do something different. At least that’s the goal, and it seems to be working to some extent. We got this comment yesterday on our Instagram and it was really heart-warming to know people appreciate what we are doing:

Giving you a shoutout–your blog/Instagram helped fuel my desire to move to Jackson and leave my career as an attorney in CA. Seeing that you left a successful career yourself to start a new journey was reassuring. Thanks for sharing the Jackson Hole experience with all of us who aren’t able to be there in person. There truly is something magical happening there.

Thank you Amy (@amyrothermel). To hear that really made me smile.

We are really excited about the service we will be providing come March of 2016. We have had plenty of meetings these past few weeks with some extraordinary individuals. Many of the business owners in this town are passionate — just like us. They care for this town and want to see it grow properly.

I wouldn’t say we are doing anything revolutionary. We aren’t offering a new adventure of any sorts. It’s the same product these business owners have been offering for ages — some as far back as the 1960s. What we are changing is the experience.

That’s enough of a teaser for now. Our partners, whom I consider to be part of our Outpost family, are very excited about it. I hope you will be too.

I almost never wear a coat out on a normal day. Normally a vest or pullover sweater does the trick because I just don’t really spend that much time outside.

But, boy… after being spoiled with some 40 degree days, a morning like this wakes me right back up. I guess the groundhog didn’t see his shadow after all.

But, luckily, nothing like the warm, comfortable environment and rinks of persephone to warm me right back up!

Well, it’s only Monday and I am already irking for Friday.

Today was a marathon of a day filled with all sorts of meetings. I’ve had meetings from 9am all the way through 5pm with only 30 minutes to spare in between to just check emails. Don’t get me wrong, I love it. It makes the day go by so much quicker, but it also tires you out. Especially if sunflower seeds are the only things you’ve had a chance to get your hands on.

But, the beauty of Jackson Hole is that some friend is always aprés-ing. And if not, there are always friendly people to strike up conversations with. So, whether you are getting out of work early at 330pm or late at 6pm, simply drop in and keep that aprés going.

[This lovely photo of friends was taken by Taylor Glenn.]

 

You don’t have to go far to capture a part of Jackson Hole’s beauty. This shot was taken yesterday in the Albertsons’ parking lot.

Unfortunately we’ll have to take another trip to the market today given our lack of foresight to shop for some Super Bowl supplies.

I’m not sure who I’m rooting for. I’m in Bronco nation and I do like watching either Manning play — but above all, I think I’m just hoping for a close game.

When traveling and asked where I’m coming from, people often shudder when I tell them I live in Wyoming. They assume we live in a ice-cold tundra.

It can get very cold here at times, there’s no doubt about it. But, I find myself spending more time outdoors and generally feeling much more at peace with the weather here than I did back East.

You could say I am perhaps more prepared for the weather and therefore dress more appropriately. But if you’ve seen me out and about in the mornings, I’m often dressed in nothing more than shorts and a winter coat. Crazy, yes. But, I’m just outside temporarily before I go to the gym.

There certainly is something about that dry cold out here versus the wet one back East. I can attest to that.