Silent Snowflakes
While you may hear the occasional groan when it’s time to put away the hiking boots and pull out the down jackets, nothing binds the Jackson community together like the onset of the upcoming winter months.
The Tetons are the first to taste the snow, of course, but soon the buttes are all frosted with a layer of higher-elevation snowfall. And then, just as you’re walking down one of the wooden boardwalks around the Town Square, you may suddenly see a few white dots falling in front of your face. Moments later, the whole town is overtaken by swirling snowflakes. They catch on your shoulders and then nearly cover the wooden planks under your feet. Looking behind you, your boot prints act as your past—your future is untouched.
A fresh blanket of November snow falls upon the Gros Ventre Wilderness.
When the sun sets and darkness takes hold, car headlights showcase the dizzying ballet of snowfall as it comes in heavier and heavier. The dedicated skiers are already asleep, getting ready to wake early and carve their lines in the fresh powder.
The following morning, after the snowplows have cleared the roads and you’re ready for your day, you may be surprised to find a bull moose munching on the willows in your front yard. He’s blocking the way to your car and looks at you with his typical moose-like apathy.
Lemon and Ginger tea provides a warm touch to the Wyoming winter.
After calling your boss to explain your tardiness, you might take this moment of calm to brew up a cup of tea, sit by the window, and watch as the snowflakes cover your new friend’s back. He’s taking his time this morning, and so are you. For the residents of Jackson Hole—human and animal alike—winter is season devoid of hectic traffic and packed summer schedules. It’s a time of peace and self-reflection, when even a heavy snowstorm or an uninvited moose can’t break your stride.
