Page 14 of Full Send

I’ve driven most of these roads a thousand times over the years being a local, so it doesn’t really take much mental effort to do this part of the job. Most of the time I just get a hot honey badger from Cowgirl Coffee and listen to the radio. But now I’m looking forward to spending time tomorrow with my best friends, the Perry twins, since they’re in town.

Man it’s been forever since I’ve been withbothof them together. Sure, I’ve seen Collin this week, and even plenty more over the last few years too. Sometimes he’ll even call me while I’m out on my work runs at night since he stays up late just to shoot the shit and catch up. But fuck it’s been years since I’ve seenher.

Driving from one giant house to the next, my windshield is pelted with snow as it falls faster and faster.

I keep reminding myself that if I get this shit done tonight, it’ll be less work tomorrow morning plowing what’s left on these driveways. Hopefully I can hit first chair. Should be a killer day on the mountain with this storm front coming in bringingfreshies. Maybe hang out somewhere around the chutes off Sublette chair with Collin. Yeah that’s the move, they’ve been holding some good snow lately.

Thinking of lining up for first chair and hunting fresh lines reminds me even more why I miss them so much. There are so few people left here that really get it.

This place is fucking special. Skiing is a gift. We don’t own this place or these mountains, no matter where we were born or how much money we spend. These mountains are timeless, here long before us and long after we’re six feet under.

The Perry twins get that. They respect it. I think they have a different appreciation for this place than everyone else. Even though they’ve been here a decent amount of time over the years, they know it can be taken away from them just like that, if their trip gets cancelled or work fucks up their schedule. They just get it, when you’re here you have to take advantage of every precious second we have. Who knows when it’ll be our last. I can’t imagine staying weeks here and hopping on a plane, wondering when I’ll ever be back like they have to.

They didn’t come from some crazy wealthy family either like most of the people out here now. They were lucky as hell that their grandparents bought a place back here when this was still just a remote ranching town, a ski industry afterthought. And they recognize that. I think between spending time with my family and their grandparents part time, they appreciated just how unique this place was because they weren’t here everyday. Meanwhile I spent my time looking forward to seeing them because I was already here. They spent their time lookingforward to coming here. In some ways, they might even appreciate it more than I do.

Rex whimpers, getting my attention back to the task at hand. “Shit Rex, good catch.” A stray elk wanders towards the edge of an access road to one of the neighborhoods I need to check on.

Trying to stay present is proving hard though, I keep thinking about tomorrow. Yeah… tomorrow. I get to catch up with the gang. Shit. I don’t know if I’m ready for this. To seeheragain. Even if I freeze and panic just thinking about her like I did this morning.

“Too bad you can’t join me on the slopes or at their condo tomorrow, bud. Would feel a lot better with you by my side. That’d be awfully nice.” Looking over at Rex, still nothing.

I laugh to myself. Why do I think that’s ever gonna change?

My mind drifts back to tomorrow. I wonder if she’s single now. I’m always afraid to ask Collin about her dating life, that if I pry too much I might tip my hand and show my feelings. Hopefully she’s not with someone like her last boyfriend. I remember when she was out here, she was constantly glued to her phone, him texting and calling her 24/7 to check in, stressing her out. Collin would tell me stories about when that guy would finally pretend to care, he’d treat her like some delicate flower that needed to be handled with kid gloves. She doesn’t need that, she needs someone to remind her that she can do anything.

That girl is fucking tough.

I’ve seen how she can hang with the boys. Skiing some of the toughest lines on the mountain, getting into trouble around town and at the bars, mostly because she was following Collin and me around for all our bullshit. I think that’s why I remember how protective of Collin she was. She never tried to hide how much she cared about her brother and it was so easy to see how compassionate she was. She was just always watching out for us and it made me feel special too.

Now I wish she had someone that could remind her that she’s a badass, especially when she just lets go of needing to control everything and has fun.

Thinking back to her skiing tough lines reminds me of my last memory of her. We were skiing together with Collin, her chasing us down Rendezvous Bowl after taking Big Red up. I remember that button nose, her radiant smile and a few strands of that brown hair were the only visible parts of her under the mirror tinted ski goggles, my reflection staring me back in her lenses.

She had swagger. She was confident. She was beautiful. No signs of being anxious, just living in the moment.

I just hope she’s doing alright. Collin said work’s been rough on her the last few years. I don’t know why she kills herself like that in that office. She’s too smart and creative for that. I know I couldn’t do that.

I am looking forward to catching up with them together though. They’re both so much happier when they’re around each other, even more when they’re here. It feels like I’m back with family when they’re around, like this place is really home again.

She seemed like she was always happy back when we were kids, the three of us spending their winter ski trips together on the mountain and at the condo. On their spring and summer breaks, their grandpa would bring them over to the cabin and barn on the old ranch, back when we still had a horse corral big enough to let a horse out to ride.

That thought brings a warm feeling over me in this cold ass truck. I remember how she’d smile when Grandpa would let her ride that old pony of ours, Starlight. She could ride her for hours and never stop smiling and laughing. I hope she feels like that again one day.

Chapter 7

Veronica

Alta Zero

Our condo sits on the edges of Teton Village, 6,311 feet elevation at the base of Jackson Hole Resort. At that elevation, I have to remind myself, well probably Lizzy too now that I think about it, to stay hydrated. Altitude sickness is no joke, especially if we’re drinking wine and cocktails the night before.

After a quick breakfast at the condo, we leave for the fifteen minute walk to the center of the village where we can start our first day on the slopes at the base area gondola. Being that it’s only a short walk has always helped get first chair.

As we walk through the village, I’m reminded that this place is still special. It’s not some fancy sprawling place like those mega resorts in Colorado owned by a giant corporation, but rather still owned by local families. We quickly make our way past the relatively small group of hotels, shops, bars, and restaurants. Sure it’s gotten fancier over the years, but it’s still quaint and charming.

After walking through snow covered paths on our way to the gondolas, we reach the center of it all, the beating heart of Jackson Hole, the aerial tram, and its iconic clock tower. I still remember when the old tram and clock tower were taken down and upgraded with this current bigger and faster version. Not quite the same charm as the old one, but a functional improvement for sure. Known by locals asBig Red, it whisks a hundred or so diehard skiers and tourists high above the ground in its two fire engine red cars, each emblazoned with the white silhouette of a cowboy on a bucking bronco.

It stretches from the base of the resort to the top of the mountain at over ten-thousand feet, soaring above us. It’s a breathtaking ride, whether you’re going up to test your mettle on the steep chutes and bowls that define the mountain, or make the round trip to just enjoy views and grab some waffles at the cabin on top.

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