JHStyle Winter 21-22

Jackson Hole & the Teton Lifestyle

®

Winter • Spring 2021-2022

THE CULTURE

OF MOUNTAIN LIVING

®

The Grand Teton Collection

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KARIN SIEBER / Broker / 307.413.4674 / [email protected]
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Dedicated to the Art Form jhstoneworks.com

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James Reynolds (1926-2010), Prairie Scout, 1974, oil on board, 16 x 20 inches, Estimate: $6,000-$9,000

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®

WHAT’S INSIDE

34 22 WELCOME
58 Publisher’s Note
About the Cover
36 Editor’s Note
JHStyle Team
50 JHStyle Contributors
46 Visitor’s Guidepost

42

34 THE CULTURE OF MOUNTAIN LIVING
The Place Makes the People
Envisioning a Bright Future: Anna Olson
Home Is Where the Culture Is: Anne Cresswell
An Entrepreneur for Entrepreneurs: Gary Trauner
Building a Life Out of What You Love: Olaf Koehler


46 WINTER TO-DOS

10 Winter Events You Won’t Want to Miss

50 INSPIRE
WinterScapes
They Didn’t Look Back
A New Take On Tradition: JW Bennett



54

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®

WHAT’S INSIDE

74 92 62 HIGHSTYLE PROFILES
Equity in the Outdoors: Jenny Wolfrom-Holladay
62 A Man for All Seasons: Don Sharaf
Same Ski Bum, Different Day: Benny Wilson
96
68 MOUNTAINSTYLE LIVING
68 From Looking to Living: Kate Binger & Jill Sassi
66 A Happy Housing Story: Augusta Friendsmith
A Broader View: Prospect Studio

BASECAMP
6 Teton Experiences That Take You Off the Slopes
78 Walking the Talk: Jackson Hole EcoTour Adventures
From Field to Freezer
Safety First: Teton County Search and Rescue

DINING & NIGHTLIFE
Jackson Eats
Fast, Filling Food Truck Fare: Spoons
88 Après — The Area’s Stiffest Drinks and Coziest Vibes

TETON VALLEY
Bringing It Back: Tetonia Club
Cold – Your New Best Friend?: CRYO Therapy Idaho
Deep Roots: MD’s Landscaping
96





JHStyleCatalogue™
When you need a break from the endless
outdoor adventures found in Jackson galleries and endless interior shops, jewelry stores, Teton, or top-of-the-line bedding and home decor —
Hole, come explore and support the area’s and boutiques. You can either swing by in-person or Jackson Hole has you covered.
wonderful galleries and boutiques. Jackson and hop online to see their full collection.
the Tetons are home to 30 nationally acclaimed Check out our valued ad partners in the
It doesn’t matter if you’re searching for that following pages or backtrack to the page number
perfect piece of jewelry, a painting of the Grand noted to see their ad in JHStyle.

Galleries & Jewelry
A.L. Swanson Craftsman Studios
A RARE Gallery
Coeur d’Alene Art Auction (page 25)
DanShelley Jewelers
Gallery Wild (insert page 18)
Hines Goldsmiths
Horizon Fine Art Gallery
Jackson Hole Jewelry Co. (pages 6/7)
JC Jewelers (page 47)
Mangelsen Images of Nature Gallery (page 57)
Pearls By Shari (back cover)
Quent Cordair Fine Art
Tayloe Piggott Jewelry (page 14)
Turner Fine Art
Wyoming Art Auction (page 17)

Boutiques & Home

Belle Cose (inside front cover)

Cold Smoke (page 99)

Colorado Custom Fire Pits (page 45)

Farmhouse 208

Fighting Bear Antiques

Grand Teton Floor & Window Coverings

Jackson Hole Stone Works (page 16)

JD High Country Outfitters (page 83)

JW Bennett

Kismet Fine Rugs (pages 7/8)

MD Nursery & Landscaping (page 99)

Mountain Home Treasures (page 101)

Penny Lane

Rodeo (page 51)

Scandia Home ONLINE CATALOGUE
Stio (page 81)

Terra (page 106)

The Rusty Nail (page 103)

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

SKIER Caite Zeliff in her powder bubble.
IMAGE Chris Figenshau

LIVIN’ IN THE BUBBLE Jackson Hole & the Teton Lifestyle

Preserving and appreciating the mountain lifestyle ®

After 35 years of living in Telluride, Colorado and Jackson, Wyoming Winter • Spring 2021-2022
I can’t tell you how many times friends, family, and visitors told me
how lucky I was to be “living in the bubble.” THE CULTURE

Luck definitely played a role, but so did hard work. OF MOUNTAIN LIVING
Like most of my peers back in the ‘80s, working two to three jobs was the norm. Ski
instructing or bumping lifts during the day and restaurant work or hotel shifts at night. ABOUT THE COVER
Whatever it took to continue making turns in the winter and climbing mountains in the
summer. Work hard, play hard was our mantra. For most of the familiar hike up the Glory bootpack,
For most of us this work-to-play lifestyle continued until you could find a job with more Caite Zeliff and I enjoyed watching the December
reasonable hours that still allowed you to keep the dream of living, working, and raising a sun setting in the west. Just when we reached the
family in a mountain town alive. summit, the full moon rose into the sky, pink with
I can attest that while Jackson’s working class may struggle to make ends meet, what keeps alpenglow. The objective of the day was to move our
them here and smiling is their innate desire to enjoy all that the mountain town culture offers legs and catch up on eachother’s off-season, but I have
— even as they walk a financial tightrope. a hard time going anywhere without my camera and
Next time you hop on the lift or grab a cup of coffee, make sure to offer up a friendly smile was rewarded for carrying the extra weight with an
and a thank you. It really does wonders to keep someone’s dreams alive. amazing photo op. We were walking on the moon!
Yes, living in Jackson is like living in a bubble, and it’s a bubble worth protecting.
I hope you enjoy the folks we highlight in this issue of JHStyle Magazine — The Culture of Shooting portraits of Caite can feel like two kids playing
Mountain Living. “runway.” Her intense, big-mountain demeanor gives
— Jeff Bush way to a playful, slightly sarcastic photographic subject.

22 Keegan Rice — keeganricephoto.com
JHStyleMagazine.com | WINTER • SPRING 2021-2022



®

EXPERIENCE IT ALL. Publisher
STAY A WHILE. Jeffrey C. Bush

With world-class skiing, magical national parks, Teton Village and Founder / CFO
the vibrant, cultural town of Jackson, you’ll need a little time to explore. Jill McGlashon

And with nearly 25 years in the business, and over 125 properties Creative Director
throughout the valley, our professional sta will help you Kristal Franklin

settle into the perfect basecamp for your mountain adventure.. Editorial Director
LIVE LIKE A LOCAL. BOOK A SEASONAL STAY. Evie Carrick

rmrentals.com • (307) 739-9050 Advertising Sales
24 Connie Tyler
JHStyleMagazine.com | WINTER • SPRING 2021-2022
Associate Editor
Michelle DeLong

Social Media
Heather Jarvis

Contributing Writers
Molly Absolon, Michelle DeLong,
Monica Fedrigo, Morgan McGlashon,
Melissa Thomasma, Lexey Wauters

Contributing Photographers
Lara Agnew, David Bowers, Chris Figenshau,

Mark Gocke, Morgan McGlashon,
Keegan Rice, Lindley Rust, Julie Shipman

J.C. Bush Creative Media, LLC
P.O. Box 684 • Wilson, WY 83014

(307) 699-5190
email: [email protected]
JHStyleMagazine.com

Award-Winning Publisher
Certificates of Excellence
Western Publications Association Maggie Awards
Best Overall Visitor’s Guide
Best New Consumer Publication

Best Table of Contents

Printed by Hudson Printing Company
Copyright© 2021. No part of this publication may be
reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.

Jackson Hole & the Teton Lifestyle
®

SUMMER/FALL 2014

The Art CERTIFICATE OF MERIT

of Jackson Hole JHStyle Magazine

Explore, share, and connect with
JHStyleMagazine.com

Coeur d’Alene
Art Auction

Fine Western & American Art

Best in the West – Coeur d’Alene Art The Auction is now accepting quality consignments for
Auction realized over $17.6 million our 2022 Auction to be held July 23 in Reno, Nev.
in sales at our 2021 Auction in Reno.
Visit our website at cdaartauction.com
208-772-9009 • [email protected]

Charles M. Russell (1864 – 1926), Roping a Wolf (detail), oil on canvas, 15 × 20 inches, Sold at Auction: $1,770,000

EDITOR’S NOTE

“It’s easy to understand why places like this are
seeing more visitors and new transplants;
life here is something special.”

TerryBridges© adobestock.com

HEAD FOR THE HILLS!

Quality of life and community make up the culture of mountain living

AWORDS Evie Carrick
s someone who grew up in and has lived in small mountain towns for most of my life, I’ve seen the popularity of the mountain
lifestyle surge and wane over the years. In my 20s, my friends in New York City and San Francisco thought I was crazy for
choosing to live in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Now, the coin has flipped.

After theaters, restaurants, and museums shut their Life in the Tetons may come with its own set of Club in Tetonia or in line for the fried calamari at the
doors in 2020, people turned to the great outdoors challenges, but the culture of mountain living Spoons food truck at the base of Teton Village.
for entertainment. There was a bike boom, ski areas makes it worth it for most. People work hard, but
experienced a surge, and people flocked to mountain they know how to play hard too. Take Olaf Koe- This sense of community and access to the out-
towns in search of a little more elbow room. These hler who has worked on the Hansen/Mead Ranch doors is why many of us choose to build our lives
days, mountain town real estate is booming as remote for over 40 years while making time to explore the — no matter how difficult it can be — in mountain
work makes working from anywhere a reality and peo- slopes, singletrack, and rivers of the area. Or Benny towns like Jackson. It’s easy to understand why
ple are wary of congested subways and sidewalks. Wilson, who grew up in the Teton Village ski bum places like this are seeing more visitors and new
culture and returned to make the lifestyle his own. transplants; life here is something special.
Leaving a high rise for life in the mountains sounds
romantic, but what does mountain living entail — And then there’s the Jackson Hole community, a Whether it’s your first time to Jackson or you’ve
especially in the winter, when temperatures drop community that people like Anne Cresswell at Jack- been living here for decades, we hope you enjoy this
below zero? Living in the mountains means dealing son Hole Community Housing Trust and Augusta issue of JHStyle Magazine as we tip our hats to the
with endless snow and icy roads and a lifestyle that Friendsmith, a volunteer and board member with wonderful culture of mountain living by profiling
is often more expensive — from the cost of a carton Habitat for Humanity, aim to protect. You can feel local icons, dedicated entrepreneurs, and respected
of milk to gas and rent. this sense of community in places like the Tetonia community members who are all working to make
our mountain town culture even better. n
26

JHStyleMagazine.com | WINTER • SPRING 2021-2022



JHSTYLE TEAM

MEET THE JHSTYLE TEAM

JEFF BUSH JILL MCGLASHON KRISTAL FRANKLIN EVIE CARRICK
Owner / Publisher Founder / CFO Creative Director Editorial Director
Jeff co-founded his advertising and Jill’s adventurous and entrepreneurial A true mountain girl, Kristal was born in
publishing company nearly three decades spirit has lead her to navigate over three Telluride, Colorado. She studied graphic Evie is a writer and editor who lives for
years ago in Telluride, Colorado, while decades of building successful businesses design in Arizona before founding Kristal cheap travel. She’s skied out of a camper
following his dream to live, work and play in the mountain resort towns of Telluride, Graphics in 2004. Kristal has been an van in the Japanese Alps, overcome
in a mountain ski resort town. Skiing and Jackson Hole, Park City, Snowbird and integral part of J.C. Bush Creative Media dengue fever in Indonesia, lived in a tent
mountain biking are his playtime passions Sun Valley. Jill shares her passion for the for more than 20 years. She’s helped the on a beach in Martinique, and studied
along with exploring the desert country of outdoors, skiing, mountain biking, hiking company publish numerous award- yoga in India — but she keeps coming
the southwest with his wife Jill. and adventure travel with her husband, winning magazines and guides. When she back to the American West. Evie studied
family and friends whenever possible. isn’t making words and images harmonize journalism at the University of Denver
on a page, Kristal and her husband, Jon, and publishing at New York University.
love traveling, golfing, camping, and She also likes wooing neighborhood cats,
spending time with friends and family. skiing, and trail running.

CONNIE TYLER MICHELLE DELONG DAVID BOWERS HEATHER JARVIS
Sales Executive Writer / Associate Editor Photographer Social Media
Originally from Philadelphia, Connie made Michelle is a freelance writer and A 32-year Jackson Hole resident, David Heather fell in love with mountain town
her way to the Tetons via Kauai, Hawaii, producer whose work has appeared in combines his skills as a professional living after moving to Summit County,
to be near her family in Victor, Idaho. everything from local publications to The photographer, mountain guide, and ski Colorado, in 2010. With a journalism
She is an avid yogini who teaches yoga New York Times. Originally from Atlanta, patroller in order to maintain an active background, she pioneered the digital
in Jackson and Victor. Connie enjoys Georgia, Michelle has called the Tetons outdoor lifestyle. In his spare time, he strategy for the Summit Daily News as
spending time with her family, traveling, home for the past six years. Her favorite enjoys working with local nonprofits digital engagement editor before pursuing
and volunteering for Grand Teton Music writing assignments usually involve food, through education and photography, and a career in freelance. With her husband
Festival, Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding and her last meal on earth would include exploring lesser-known mountain regions. and young son, she now bounces between
Association, and other local nonprofits. Charleston-style shrimp and grits and a Colorado, and Utila, Honduras, an island
glass of Barolo. they consider their second home.
28
JHStyleMagazine.com | WINTER • SPRING 2021-2022

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JHSTYLE CONTRIBUTORS

MEET THE CONTRIBUTORS

MOLLY ABSOLON LARA AGNEW MONICA FEDRIGO CHRIS FIGENSHAU MARK GOCKE
Writer Photographer Writer Photographer Photographer
Molly has been supporting her Lara is a visual storyteller who Monica spends her time writing, Chris is most well known Mark has called Wyoming home
outdoor habit by freelance loves capturing people and skiing, and traveling the world for his high-angle mountain for the past 30 years, with
writing since 2010. Like most places with her camera. A former for corporate events. She’s most photography. A former hotshot the last 25 of those being in
people who make their home in field biologist and educator, at home in the mountains and firefighter in Alaska and a Jackson. He spends most of
the Tetons, Molly likes to bike, Lara enjoys adventuring with nature, and enjoys ski coaching longtime Exum Mountain Guide his time photographing most
hike, ski, climb, boat, and look her family, recreating in the at JHMR every winter. Monica in the Tetons, Chris has used anything outdoors, whether it be
at flowers, birds, and wildlife. mountains, gardening, and shares stories of outdoor a rare mix of grit and skill to at his day job with the Wyoming
She loves working as a journalist seeking out her next favorite adventures on her award- capture images of mountain Game and Fish Department
because it allows her to learn song. She is originally from winning blog, Mountain Monica. athletes like Jimmy Chin and or out on misadventures with
more about the people, places, the Pacific Northwest and is Jeremy Jones in locations that friends and family.
and businesses that make the delighted to call the Tetons home. include Greenland, the Andes,
Tetons special. Alaska, and the Himalayas.

MORGAN MCGLASHON LINDLEY RUST JULIE SHIPMAN MELISSA THOMASMA LEXEY WAUTERS
Writer Photographer Photographer Writer / Copy Editor Writer
Julie grew up in SLC, but now A Jackson Hole native, Melissa Like many others, when Lexey
Morgan is a backcountry ski Lindley’s passion for splits her time between Baja is a freelance writer with a focus moved to Jackson right out of
guide, writer, and geologist from photography is best represented and the Western US. As an on the West. She holds degrees college, she had no intention of
Jackson, Wyoming. Her innate by her love of people. Whether internationally recognized from the University of Chicago being here 35 years later. And
curiosity and passion for the she’s collaborating with photographer, she has covered and University of Montana. When yet — fast forward to one (happy)
mountains has led her around the businesses, capturing mountain many sporting events from the she’s not scribbling stories onto marriage, four dogs, four career
world on a quest for deep snow, weddings, or making delicious Tour de France to World Cup blank pages, she enjoys fly- shifts, and more river trips,
big rocks, and lively people. recipes pop through her lens, Skiing. She currently focuses on fishing, camping, and cooking powder days, and trail runs than
she feels most at home when portraits and travel and lifestyle with her husband and children, you can count — here we are. 
doing it with others. She work. Julie raised three boys Hazel and Arlen.
believes everyone should have in Utah and now spends many
their story told beautifully. When months traveling for fun and work
she’s not behind the lens, you’ll or sailing with her husband Bo —
usually find her hiking, skiing, always with cameras nearby!
and exploring out in the Tetons.

30

JHStyleMagazine.com | WINTER • SPRING 2021-2022

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VISITOR'S GUIDEPOST

FACTS & STATS GENERAL INFORMATION
• Time zone: MST (UTC-6)
Winter in Jackson Hole • Teton County seat: Jackson
• Jackson’s 2019 population: 10,559
IIMAGE Mark Gocke • Main industry: tourism
t’s a special time to be in Jackson Hole — the lifts are turning, Teton • Number of feature films shot in Jackson Hole: 15+
Village is buzzing, and snow is falling (at least we hope!). But there’s
more to this area than, well, skiing. Here are a few facts and stats GEOGRAPHY
that will get you oriented and impress your ski date. • Elevation of the town of Jackson: 6,237 feet
• Elevation of Jackson Hole Valley: 6,069-6,779 feet
32 • Elevation of Grand Teton: 13,775 feet
JHStyleMagazine.com | WINTER • SPRING 2021-2022 • Percentage of publicly owned land in Teton County: 97
• Mammal species in Jackson Hole/Yellowstone: 60+
• Bird species in Jackson Hole/Yellowstone: 100+
• Active thermal features in Yellowstone: 10,000+

SKI RESORT FACTS
• Year Snow King Mountain Resort opened: 1939
• Year Jackson Hole Mountain Resort opened: 1965
• Year Grand Targhee Resort opened: 1969
• Year Yellowstone National Park established: 1872
• Year Grand Teton National Park established: 1929

WEATHER
• Summer Average High: 78˙F / Average Low: 40˙F
• Spring/Fall: Average High: 68˙F / Average Low: 30˙F
• Winter: Average 0-30˙F
• Record High: 97˙F
• Record Low: -46˙F

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
• Emergency: 911
• Teton County Public Health Update Hotline: (307) 732-8628
• St. John’s Health Evaluation Hotline at (307) 739-4898
• St. John’s Health Hospital: (307) 733-3636
• Jackson Police: (307) 733-1430
• Teton County Sheriff: (307) 733-4052
• Road Conditions: (888) WYO-ROAD
• Jackson Hole Airport (JAC): (307) 733-7682
• START Bus: (307) 733-4521
• Central Reservations: (888) 838-6606
• Snow King Resort: (307) 733-5200
• Grand Targhee Resort: (307) 353-2300
• Jackson Hole Mountain Resort: (307) 733-2292
• Yellowstone National Park: (307) 344-7381
• Grand Teton National Park: (307) 739-3300
• Bridger-Teton National Forest: (307) 739-5500
• Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce: (307) 733-3316
• Grand Teton Association: (307) 739-3606

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THE CULTURE OF MOUNTAIN LIVING

TTHHEMEAPPKELEOASPCLEE

Jackson’s mountains and rivers create
a spirit of adventure

JWORDS Molly Absolon | IMAGE Mark Gocke
ackson Hole has always attracted adventurers.

Beginning thousands of years ago, when the first indigenous inhabitants spent
their summers here, on through the fur trappers, homesteaders, dude ranchers,
mountaineers, and skiers, the people who have come to this region and stayed have
had to be hardy. That’s still true today. Jackson winters are long and cold, summers
are short and intense, and for much of its history, the town was dead in the offseason,
meaning there were no jobs and no money for part of the year.

“We used to joke that once the summer visitors clients up the peak in 1925. Paul, along with Glenn
left, the motel and cafe owners in town would get Exum, established what has become the United
together to decide who would stay in business States’ oldest guiding service — now called Exum
that winter,” says Rod Newcomb, who first came to Mountain Guides. In 1971, Bill Briggs became the
the region in the 1950s to work on a dude ranch in first person to ski down the Grand.
Grand Teton National Park.
These are just a few of the many notable achieve-
In those days, Rod and his wife, Annie, who moved ments that helped turn the Tetons into a test-
here in 1962, say you knew or knew of everyone in ing ground for mountain athletes. Just the name
town, and the best place to catch up on the gossip was “Jackson Hole” sends a shiver down the spine of
at the post office or Fred’s Market. Annie remembers big mountain skiers and climbers; people dream of
loading up her car with sleeping bags when she left coming to see how they stack up against the best.
her house on Fall Creek Road just in case she couldn’t
make it back, and every fall, she had to drive to Idaho “Thirty years ago, when I first came, Jackson had a
Falls for school supplies and clothes for her kids reputation as a high-level proving ground,” says AJ
because nothing was available in Jackson. Cargill. “It was the pinnacle place to go for it, whether
you were skiing, snowboarding, fishing, or climbing.”
But then, as now, the hardships were worth it. Peo-
ple were drawn to the mountains for their spectac- AJ arrived in Jackson in the early 1990s after com-
ular beauty and endless adventure. peting in her first “extreme” ski competition (now
called freeskiing) in Colorado. She moved to Jack-
The first successful summit of Grand Teton is son to “take [her] licks and learn.” What she found
thought to have occurred in 1898, but a stone circle was a cowboy town that was much quieter than
on the top of the Enclosure indicates that Native Colorado’s mountain towns. People had multiple
Americans may have climbed the peak much ear- low-paying jobs and lived in crowded, rundown
lier. Paul Petzoldt, who summited the mountain houses where the rent was cheap and the living
in cowboy boots when he was 16, started guiding conditions lousy.

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“The culture then was work hard, play hard, party,” AJ
says. “That still may be the culture, but there’s a lot more
money around now.”

Dan Powers, who moved to Jackson for a winter of ski-
ing in the late 1980s and never left, says he remembers
clearly his first new winter ski coat. “I saved up to buy a
$100 Gore-Tex jacket from Campmor,” Dan says. “People
were envious. It was a new jacket.”

Dan and his wife, Lynne Wolfe, both worked at a restaurant
called Anthony’s when they first came to the area. At Antho-
ny’s, employees — even past employees — could always show
up at the kitchen door and get food. The owners, according
to Dan and Lynne, would never let people go hungry.

“One thing that has really changed is that in those days
very few of us had any money,” Dan says. “Now, every sec-
ond-home owner has $12,000 worth of gear and can hire a
guide to go into the backcountry. I’m in a different place in
my life now too, but the money is what I’ve seen change.”

But Jackson’s mountains and rivers still demand skill and
determination — two things that can’t be bought. Gary
Trauner of Silicon Couloir, a resource for local entrepre-
neurs, believes the traits that allow people to succeed in
the mountains shows up in Jackson’s business culture.
Silicon Couloir’s website describes “the Teton-forged spirt
of adventure, grit and determination that builds a founda-
tion for taking calculated risks to achieve impactful and
inspirational goals.”

In other words, the drive that gets someone up an ardu-
ous and challenging climb is also what propels the entre-
preneurs, artists, and change makers who have come to
epitomize Jackson’s vibrant spirit. The common bond is
the area’s natural setting, which influences everyone who
lives in or visits the region.

“Thirty years ago, when I first came, Today, Jackson’s economy and culture thrives because of
Jackson had a reputation as a high-level proving ground … the motivation and creativity of its citizens. In this issue
of JHStyle Magazine, you’ll read about people like Don
It was the pinnacle place to go for it, whether you were Sharaf, who came to the area to ski and transformed that
skiing, snowboarding, fishing, or climbing.” passion into a highly respected and successful career as
an avalanche professional, and Jenny Wolfrom-Holladay,
— AJ CARGILL who as the executive director of Coombs Outdoors
empowers kids to push themselves beyond their self-per-
ceived limits through outdoor recreation.

Passion for nature and adventure also inspires the work
of the architects and designers at Prospect Studio
and the experiences offered by Jackson Hole EcoTour
Adventures. It’s why Jackson has world-class restaurants
and art galleries and a busy, year-round economy.

Of course, growth and change come with challenges.
Jackson, like many mountain towns, faces housing short-
ages, staffing issues, and traffic concerns, but the moun-
tains continue to draw young adventurers who are willing
to take on challenges to fulfill their dreams.

“I came because of the Snake River, and to be outside,
work outdoors, and live in a cool place,” says Gavin Roy,
a raft guide for Lewis & Clark River Expeditions. “I work
with a bunch of people who are excited to be here, and
who are active in the community. We want to help con-
serve the river we get to play on.” Gavin notes that while
he knows Jackson will be his temporary home, and he will
never be able to afford a house here, “it’s not enough to
detract from what I love about the place.” n

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THE CULTURE OF MOUNTAIN LIVING

A BERNIGVHISTIOFNUITNUGRE
Anna Olson looks to what’s ahead

AWORDS Melissa Thomasma | IMAGE Chris Figenshau
nna Olson is the first to admit that the past couple of years have been something of a rodeo. As the person
at the helm of the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, she’s faced her fair share of challenges since taking
over the role in 2017: a pandemic, a worsening housing crisis, and a record-shattering summer for the region’s
national parks. It’s certainly been a ride.

Anna, however, has a knack for finding golden nuggets of opportu- But as the pandemic rattled the globe, it disrupted the way in which

nity, even in the most unexpected and unprecedented of situations. businesses operated in Jackson Hole. “COVID threw us into ‘response

With an enchanting smile and a charismatic British accent, Anna mode,’ and it quickly became very apparent how much we could
describes her arrival in Jackson Hole as one led by the heart. Her help,” Anna recalls. The chamber sprang into action, organizing peer
work in the travel and tourism industry began in London, where she groups and distributing millions of masks.

met her husband, Jeff. After visiting Wyoming once, she agreed to As the effects of the virus have evolved, so have Anna and her staff’s

make the move in 1996. efforts. On the heels of a summer that saw a record number of visi-

“We joke a lot about love and naivete when you’re young,” she chuck- tors to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and businesses
les. “But it just felt right.” Anna continues, “I really knew very little that struggling to operate with sufficient staffing, Anna and her team
about Wyoming … It was a big square state in the middle of a lot of are looking ahead to the future of sustainable tourism.

other square states. I think there’s still a lot of truth to that. If you To that end, the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce will support a
asked the average person in England where Wyoming is, they proba- process called “Destination Management Planning” in collaboration
with the business community. Anna
bly wouldn’t know.”
points to specific tools (like moving
Anna’s first job in the valley was with “Don’t give up hope. summertime campsite reservations to
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort; a com- I think this is an incredibly an online system) and finding creative
pany she stayed with for over two special place, and I can’t imagine solutions to complicated issues. “As we
decades. During her final years there, discuss something like a ‘comfortable
she was a chamber of commerce board living anywhere else.” carrying capacity,’ it’s important to rec-
member, becoming board chair in 2013. ognize it’s a complex concept,” she notes.
— ANNA OLSON
In 2017, when the opportunity arose, she Ultimately, Anna recognizes that the
transitioned to CEO. From the beginning, challenges facing Jackson Hole are sig-
she knew it would be a spectacular fit. nificant and important, but urges resi-

“To connect to town, to connect to other dents not to lose hope.

businesses — I really enjoyed the chamber, especially all the events, “As a person who has lived here for a while, who has raised our three chil-
from the local Easter egg hunt to the highly impactful Fall Arts Fes- dren here, I still see a lot of greatness in this area. I believe there is just
tival and the parades. These events that require the community such a wonderful sense of community and I think getting involved just
to work together — it just feels productive and fulfilling, and I could makes that shine through more and more. It’s the brightest when we’re
bring my kids and get them involved. I’ve just always loved what the taking care of each other,” she says. “Don’t give up hope. I think this is an
chamber does.”
incredibly special place, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.” n

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THE CULTURE OF MOUNTAIN LIVING

HOME IS WHERE
THE CULTURE IS

Providing affordable housing for the community

AWORDS Lexey Wauters | IMAGE David Bowers
t the core of any mountain culture is community — the people who embody the lifestyle. They go to work, raise
their children, hike in the mountains, hunt in the fall, ski or snow machine in the winter, and make time to see
live music. These people live and work in the community, playing a valuable role in its health and vitality.

To Anne Cresswell, director of the Jackson Hole Community Housing them on the ground. The organization has partnered with some of

Trust, there is nothing, nothing, more critical to Jackson Hole than the largest employers in the county — the town, hospital, and school

people living and working in their community. district — and teamed up with private landowners. They’ve also cre-

The Housing Trust works with philanthropists and public and private ated an initiative that allows small business owners to participate in
partners to put housing solutions on the table and housing devel- programs on behalf of their staff.

opments on the ground. Their goal is to provide long-term housing Anne laughs when I comment on their creativity. “Well, we didn’t really

so essential community workers — teachers, nurses, plumbers, first have a choice!” she says.

responders, and park rangers — can live Due to increased housing pressure and
close to where they work. changes that have made the challenge

“The issue is ubiquitous and people are con- “This is a long game; more visible, the Housing Trust has seen an
necting the dots — every single segment of increase in support, but Anne warns that
we need to keep at it.”
our community is impacted by the lack of “This is a long game; we need to keep at it.
affordable housing. It’s unavoidable,” Anne Every contribution counts, large and small.

observes, referring to staff shortages at — ANNE CRESSWELL Every time a project stalls out, there are con-
the hospital, high turnover at schools, and sequences. It makes it harder in the future

restaurants closing a couple days a week. to provide that housing.” In addition, building

Business owners struggle to find workers and costs have increased and talented builders

double-income families struggle to find childcare. Where is every- are moving to other communities.

one? Well, they’re not here, they can’t find a place to live. Anne is also concerned that affordable housing projects are still seen

“Two years ago, 8,000 workers commuted to Jackson every day. Now, as “growth.” “It’s not growth, these people are already here,” she clar-

that number is 10,500,” Anne says. The transient nature of our work- ifies, noting that the average Housing Trust owner has served the

force changes the culture, and the threads of our community tapes- community for 10 years before purchasing their home.

try are starting to fray. With every affordable residence built, the mountain culture that we

As a nonprofit affordable housing developer in Teton County, the first fell in love with is strengthened and cemented.

Housing Trust is positioned to drive housing opportunities and get Welcome home. n

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THE CULTURE OF MOUNTAIN LIVING

AN ENTREPRENEUR FOR
ENTREPRENEURS

Using startup know-how to help others

GWORDS Molly Absolon | IMAGE David Bowers
ary Trauner thinks part of what makes Jackson, Jackson, is its incredible ecosystem. Not just the natural
ecosystem — the public lands and wildlife for which the Tetons are famous — but also its ecosystem of
talented and accomplished people. These people, he believes, are the ones who can help Jackson become
more ecologically, economically, and culturally sustainable.

Gary helps foster such individuals through his work as the executive “Every business wants to be financially successful,” Gary says. “But
director of Silicon Couloir, a nonprofit business incubator that pro- we’re not just about helping people get wealthy. We also want to give
vides programs that support entrepreneurs in the Tetons. back to the community.”

“Most people who move here have a high risk tolerance,” Gary says. “A lot Gary says he grew up in a family where the dinner table conversa-
of the people we work with had gotten to the point where they are get- tion flowed around current events and politics, so he’s always been
ting older, or they want a less-extreme lifestyle
engaged in what’s going on in the world. But
and more stability in their lives so are looking
“I really want to make a it took a family tragedy for him to step out
to move into a new career. They are willing to difference. Silicon Couloir
transfer that risk tolerance into building some- of his business-oriented path. After losing
thing. What a lot of them don’t have is a back- a brother to brain cancer, Gary decided to
run for political office — his “macro” attempt
ground in business. That’s where we come in.”
is committed to its values. to make a difference. In 2006, he lost the
Silicon Couloir offers several programs for They matter. I have no race for Wyoming’s lone U.S. House of Rep-
entrepreneurs that range from a boot camp interest in supporting resentatives seat to seven-time incumbent
on business fundamentals and mentorships people who don’t hold Barbara Cubin by just over 1,000 votes or
to networking events and help securing those values.” less than a percentage point. It was Cubin’s
financing. They’re also well known for their closest call ever.
signature event, Pitch Day, which Gary says — GARY TRAUNER
is “like the show ‘Shark Tank,’ Teton style.” All After two more unsuccessful runs, Gary
these programs are great, but what excites shifted his focus closer to home. He
Gary the most is Silicon Couloir’s values and started two successful businesses in Teton
how they affect the businesses they foster. County (after starting other businesses
elsewhere), served as the chair of his local

“I’m a do-gooder,” he says. “I really want to water and sewer district, acted as the chief

make a difference. Silicon Couloir is committed to its values. They mat- operating officer for St. John’s Health, served as the chair of the
ter. I have no interest in supporting people who don’t hold those values.” school district, and was the first paid executive director of Jack-
These values are centered around Silicon Couloir’s three guiding son Hole Lacrosse.

principles: Access-for-All to provide everyone with resources and When Silicon Couloir decided to hire its first full-time executive

support; Founding-to-Funding programming for entrepreneurs wher- director, Gary was the perfect fit — a businessman and entrepreneur

ever they are in their journey; and, most importantly, the triple bot- with a long and storied career. Many of the people he works with are

tom line of Profit. People. Planet. They work with businesses that are not much different than Gary himself; people who dream of follow-

committed to being a positive part of the Teton region and provide ing their passion and making their mark on the economic and cultural

well-paying, meaningful jobs. ecosystem of Jackson. n

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THE CULTURE OF MOUNTAIN LIVING

LIFEBUOUILTDOINFGWAHAT
YOU LOVE

Local legend shares his take on the Teton lifestyle

TWORDS Michelle DeLong | IMAGES David Bowers and Chris Figenshau
he winter of 1970, according to skier, mountain
biker, kayaker, and local legend Olaf Koehler, was
truly one for the books.

“I had a hard time coming up for a breath because the snow was just
that deep,” Olaf says, as he takes a sip of beer at his favorite bar,
Snake River Brewing. “After two weeks of skiing powder, run after
run, with almost no one else on the mountain — I know it’s blasphemy,
— but I almost wished for a groomed run.”
Olaf, a native German who spent most of his adolescence in Wis-
consin, was just 18 at the time. He had been working seasonally and
decided to take an extended ski holiday on a whim after seeing a
picture of the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram in a ski magazine. He got a
hotel room in Jackson for $6 a night and shredded with a crew of fel-
low transplants in jeans and wool sweaters. It would be a few years
before Olaf got his powder legs under him, but the memories of that
bottomless winter would alter the course of his entire life.
Fast forward to today: Olaf has gone from newbie to local legend, found
his powder legs, upgraded to Gore-Tex, and is in the process of mov-
ing to Lander with his girlfriend, although he says he will still make fre-
quent trips to Jackson to “ski, bike, paddle, and have a cold one.”

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“For the next generation of Jackson Hole ski bums,
take note: you’ve got a lot to live up to.”

The move is happening after Olaf’s recent retire-
ment from ranching, a job he slid into after making
his Jackson holiday permanent in 1976. He says
ranch work appealed to him because “they didn’t
make me shave my beard.” He started out mending
fences for the Mead family and ended up working for
them — at Hansen/Mead Ranch — in one capacity or
another for the entirety of his 44-year career.

Eventually, Olaf graduated to operating heavy
machinery, roofing, and building entire structures on
the ranch, which he says “was a lot of fun.” Perhaps
best of all, working for the Mead family kept Olaf busy
and fulfilled, fostered a deep connection to the land,
and allowed him to pursue his outdoor passions.

Olaf, who grew up ski racing in Wisconsin, fondly
remembers the summer he learned to kayak, add-
ing a summer sport to his repertoire. “I had been
working hard on the ranch but needed something
to do in my spare time,” he says. “I took my savings,
walked into Teton Mountaineering and told them I
wanted to go kayaking and to give me everything I’d
need. About $800 later, I was on the river. I paddled
the Snake River Canyon, went into the worst hole on
the river and almost drowned. I did maybe five revo-
lutions in that hole before I remembered that you had
to dive down to get out. After that, I was terrified of
fast-moving water. I figured I had better get over
that fear or I was going to become a basket case. So,
I forced myself to keep going. Over the years, kayak-
ing has taken me all over the globe — to Central and
South America, Canada, New Zealand, and Nepal.”

At nearly 70 years of age, Olaf still paddles big water
at least three times a week during the summer and
skis steep lines at least three times a week during
the winter. He takes yearly trips to New Zealand,
where he paddles remote, helicopter-accessed riv-
ers and drinks Monteith (a classic Kiwi beer) with a
revolving cast of characters that have become like
family. In addition to kayaking and skiing, the avid
mountain biker fondly recalls his days biking before
bikes had suspension.

If there is one thing that’s crystal-clear about Olaf,
it’s that he truly exemplifies the mountain town
lifestyle and what it means to build a life out of the
things one truly enjoys doing. For the next genera-
tion of Jackson Hole ski bums, take note: you’ve got
a lot to live up to. n

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JHStyleMagazine.com | WINTER • SPRING 2021-2022

Exhibition on
view until

April 24, 2022

This exhibition is organized and
traveled by the National
Geographic Society

wildlifeart.org • 307-733-5771 Photo by PAUL NICKLEN
A Kermode bear eats a fish in a moss-draped rain forest

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45
JHStyleMagazine.com | WINTER • SPRING 2021-2022

WINTER TO-DOS

WINTER IN JACKSON

10 winter events you won’t want to miss

WORDS Evie Carrick

1Holiday Musical at 2Santa Drops 3New Year’s Eve Courtesy Snowking Mountain and New Thought Media©
Jackson Hole Playhouse From the Tram December 31 IMAGES: Jay Petersen© shutterstock.com, Angelov©adobestock.com, Studio Romantic© adobestock.com, Anthony Heflin© shutterstock.com
December 10-January 8 December 24 Those staying in Teton Village over the New Year will end 2021
The annual musical at the Jackson Santa, as you might expect with a torchlight parade down the mountain and an impressive
firework show. Grab an après-ski cocktail and watch the lights snake down
Hole Playhouse is a must for any holiday in a place like Jackson Hole, doesn’t the mountain, then shift your gaze toward the Sleeping Indian and Gros
visit to Jackson. You can either show up for show up on a sleigh — he rappels from Ventre mountains to catch the firework show which begins around 6 p.m.
dinner and a show (a must for first timers!) the tram. The annual event kicks off in
or reserve tickets for the show only. Teton Village at 4:30 p.m. providing a If you’re up for it, hop on the Bridger Gondola and make your way to Ren-
celebratory start to the Christmas hol- dezvous Lodge to ring in 2022 at the Gondi Gala. (If you find yourself in
46 iday season. Jackson or Alta on New Year’s Eve, keep an eye on the local slopes for a
JHStyleMagazine.com | WINTER • SPRING 2021-2022 glimpse of their torchlight parade.)

4Public Stargazing 132 North Cache • In the Log Cabin • Jackson Hole, Wyoming
January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7 Open Daily • 307.733.5933 • jcjewelers.com
The first Thursday of every month
(assuming the temperature is above 47
0 degrees Fahrenheit), you can join a free star- JHStyleMagazine.com | WINTER • SPRING 2021-2022
gazing journey in the skies above Jackson. The
event’s astronomy expert will have a large aper-
ture telescope as well as iPads with the Star
Walk application so you can see and identify
objects in Jackson’s starry night skies. Meet at
the Village Road Transit Center in Wilson.