Outpost Chronicles

I’m not going to lie. I sure miss eating my fair share of lobster. It was always readily available back East. But, for such a small town, Jackson Hole has an array of dining options that almost always satisfy my appetite.

New York was great in the sense that if you have a craving, chances are you will find a place to satisfy it – no matter the time nor the day. I mean, maybe not Ethiopian at 2am, but a steak… why not?

I remember often waking up at 2am in college either starving or just needing to put something in my stomach for some food coma to kick in. So naturally, I got out of bed, walked two blocks, and had many options to choose from. But, don’t do this. It was sketchy walking down the streets of Morningside Heights at 2am in the morning.

The point being, everything was at your disposal. What do I miss the most? Peking Duck. It would make sense to have a Chinese restaurant that was at the same caliber of The Indian in this town – but we’ll save that conversation for a different day.

As Bree pointed out the other day, you can find those pockets of delicious escapes that immediately make you feel like you are once again in a big city:

“For a landlocked Wyoming town, Jackson has a lot of culture to offer. I like to go places like Picnic or Figs to feel a little cultured, as I am generally covered in dirt and don’t shower enough.”

You have to love Bree’s honesty. But, I digress.

She’s right: most restaurants around here have evolved to cater to both Jackson inhabitants and tourists. The latter of which come from big cities across the US where they expect a certain level of service and food.

Picnic reminds Bree of a café in San Francisco. She often sits at the bar by the window with her computer on the desk, coffee in hand, and spends time fielding emails or doing some personal writing. And, on occasion, she’ll order the Salmon toast.

With amenities like these, it’s easy to forget that the closest “big” city is a four and a half hour drive away.

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You can read more about Bree in the coming days, but in the meantime, also check out her own personal blog: www.boulderfieldsinthedark.com. Or, read the rest of my chronicles at www.OutpostChronicles.com.

I’m always interested to hear how someone first discovered Jackson Hole. Even though we have just under 5 million visitors come to this area a year, I’d still consider it to be a ‘secret’ destination compared to most.

I came to Jackson Hole for the first time in the summer of 2012. My family had visited the previous year and insisted I go when I was allowed time off from work. My father jokes he should have never told me about it, for I could still be living not too far away from him.

I’d never even heard about Jackson Hole before my family decided to visit. When my wife and I had told our friends we were going to make the move out West to Wyoming, they assumed we’d be living on a ranch we could purchase for little to no money. I probably would have thought the same about Jackson Hole should I never have visited. Little did they know that this place acts like a little oasis from the miles of flat, uninhabited land across Wyoming. We’ve got a rich culture, a highly educated community, and unmatched outdoor amenities. And, the view of the mountains ain’t too shabby either.

But, enough about me.

Bree came to Jackson Hole for the Americorp’s program at the Teton Science School in 2011. She had to ‘google’ Jackson Hole to grasp it, as she never gave the state of Wyoming much thought. She expected to only stay here one or two years, but quickly changed her mind after she discovered all that this place has to offer.

Above all, Bree appreciated the welcoming characteristics of her coworkers and strangers alike. She described every job out here as a family-run business in the sense that everyone looks out for one another and puts others ahead of themselves. But, the ‘ah-ha!’ moment only really hit when she was out on a trail run and realized that she wanted to remain here forever. She never again thought about leaving Jackson Hole.

Now on her sixth year in the valley, Bree has deep roots within the community and makes new friends just about everyday. She works six days a week either as a personal assistant for a family or a barista at Elevated Grounds. But, make no mistake, she finds time for the backcountry. Her overloaded work schedule is just temporary as she rehabs her knee. It acts as a distraction from all the winter activities she could be doing if she was 100%.

I admire Bree. She’s had to overcome many obstacles over the past five years. And every time she surmounts that challenge, she learns new lessons and therefore comes out stronger on the other side.

I’ve had my fair share of challenges in my life, but not many that compare to the gravity of hers. I only wish I’d be able to manage whatever gets thrown at me with the same patience and poise that Bree handled and currently handles hers.

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You can read more about Bree in the coming days, but in the meantime, also check out her own personal blog: www.boulderfieldsinthedark.com.

“Somehow my left knee was unknowingly obliterated last summer. Well, obliterated may be an exaggeration.”

Bree has just undergone her second knee surgery in two years. But yet, her optimism and determination to come back stronger prevails all other emotions.

I’ve come to know Bree as one of the most strong-willed people I know. You’ll always catch her with either a smile on her face or an expression of deep concentration. 

With all these characteristics in place, I know that if anyone can come back from knee surgery again, it’s her.

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You can read more about Bree in the coming days, but in the meantime, also check out her own personal blog: www.boulderfieldsinthedark.com.

The origin of #ItsWhatWeDoHere dates further back than Outpost itself, but it helped shape the voice and image of the company.

It’s meant to encapsulate everything that is Jackson Hole: a tribute to life here as its inhabitants would experience it.

I say it over and over again, but this place is exceptional. The beauty, the lifestyle, the amenities, the culture, and – most importantly – the people make Jackson Hole what it is.

#ItsWhatWeDoHere is not meant to be exclusive in any way, nor is it meant to take anything away from anyone. That’s extremely vague, I know.

What I am trying to say is that #ItsWhatWeDoHere should bring everyone in this valley together to celebrate the uniqueness of Jackson Hole. More specifically a lens through which visitors can grasp what life here is all about.

Social media has helped us accomplish that goal – that phrase seems to have stuck with many here in the valley and as a result outsiders looking in can view a collection of what exactly it means to the people of Jackson Hole.

Whether you’ve been here for ages or just moved here, this phrase is meant to make you feel like you are a part of something bigger: a community that realizes that life here is special and therefore greater than any one individual.

Outpost was built around this vision: people do not come here to stay in a beautiful villa. They come here to experience the life that is Jackson Hole.

I owe a lot to my wife. It was a difficult move for her to make to Wyoming given the life she left behind: family, friends, and a job she loved dearly.

But, she did it for me. And, she even packed up our entire apartment into a moving truck without me. I was already in Jackson Hole.

Jane and I basically grew up together: we’re high school sweethearts. I consider myself to be very lucky, especially since the male to female ratio in Jackson Hole is 8 to 1!

All joking aside, this woman is amazing. She works for the Head Start program at the Children’s Learning Center – its early childhood education for low-income families or children in distressed homes. She loves her job. Her heart is set on teaching these kids and helping shape a brighter future for them.

And, she’s always wanted to just help whether it be kids or helpless animals. In fact, that’s how her mother ended up with 4 dogs and 5 cats, and how we ended up with 1 dog and 3 cats.

Jane made my dreams come true by following me out here. For that, I will be forever grateful.

My name is Mekki. I am the founder of Outpost and have been the voice behind our company – including the grams.

I’m New York born, raised, and educated. I took a large leap of faith leaving my family, friends, and job to come start a new life here in Jackson Hole with my now-wife.

I’m not an avid skier, hiker, or fisherman – and I am very much afraid of bears. But, I like meeting new people, experiencing new things, and living the Jackson Hole lifestyle.

As a transplant, I have a fresh take on things. Follow my chronicles of the Old West. I’ll introduce you to some people I’ve met along the way and some places that have inspired me.

This truly is an unbelievable place and my goal is to make you feel the same way.

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You can read more at www.OutpostChronicles.com. I’ll be posting at least once a day.