BC back in the valley

Good friend "BC" Chris Lebato into a Snake River "Cuttie" on the Deadmans to Moose section

BC and girlfriend Alice chillin on the boat. Both were in town from Birmingham, Alabama reacquainting themselves with the Jackson lifestyle. Missing you BC, move back west!

Chels' mom and boyfriend Joe have been are in town for almost a week. We started the visit off right with a ride on the Party Barge after they got in from the long drive via Minden, NV.

Denver and Friends

Our day in Denver after we got off the train was awesome. We have a bunch of friends we got to catch up with at the Rockies vs. Cubs game on Sunday (in which the Rockies killed it!)....Kari, Mike and Trev and I got some amazing seats, two rows back on the first base line, thanks to Kari! Good times had by all!

Look at this view!!!

Mike giving Mr. Rockies guy his approval

Mmmm Mmmm....doesn't get much better, does it?

Mike, Kari, Liesl, Me, Jess, Paul and Aaron...Denver buds...hope to make it back soon!

Train Trips Are The Coolest!

Trev and Pete saying an unfortunate goodbye to the home upon the train, Union Station, Denver, CO

Linda the ever attentive bar tender on board the Zephyr

Final ending point, Union Station, downtown Denver

Chels, Jess Hendryx, and Kari Larsen chillin on board. We had a bunch of our Denver friends come and meet us once we arrived in Denver to share in the fun.

Tisha, Uncle Pete, Uncle Tim, and Trev

California Zephyr coming into Denver

Passing another train near Laramie, WY

Yes, well over an 8 piece rocking band

Often the top deck was an awesome place to chat and watch the scenery roll on by

Chels all dressed up for the formal b day dinner

The theme was "smokey oriental express attire"??????

We had a bunch of our Truckee/Tahoe buds that met us at the train station in Truckee, CA for an all too quick hello, beer, and goodbye.

Rounding a corner after cresting Donner Pass en route to Truckee, CA

Chels and the birthday boy Tim.

Tim stoked on things with a breeze filled view near Sacramento, CA

The amazingly rad crew that kept us well fed and hydrated while on board!

Yes, bloody's were the order of the day to start the train trip off right!

Things are hectic around Casa de Jackson Family Robinson. We just returned from one of the most unique and fun birthday bashes of all time. My uncle Tim sported up for 30 of his friends and fam to join him riding from Oakland, CA out to Denver, Co on a two day escapade. We had our own private rail cars attached to the back end of an Amtrack train complete with wait staff, open bar, sleeper berths, and live music. One for the ages!

We're rollin'!

On to the next adventure! This afternoon we are flying to Oakland, CA to meet up with a bunch of Trev's fam for the momentous occasion of his Uncle Tim turning 50! But it gets better than that...tomorrow morning us and 30 of Tim's closest friends hop on board the California Zephyr (an Amtrak train) and roll in our 2 personal train cars all the way to Denver! It is a 2-day trip and I encourage anyone in the area to come say hello (and maybe a quick shotgun?) when we roll through your town, it would be a quickie, but better than nothing, right?
Schedule: Friday, August 7th
Emeryville 9:10am
Davis 10:31
Sacramento 11:09
Truckee 2:38 (friends, fam, you are more than welcome to hop on for a leg!)
Reno 4:06

Saturday, August 8th
Grand Junction, CO 11:23
Glenwood Springs 1:10
Denver 8:10pm

If you are in or around Denver, we are also planning on catching a Rockies game on Sunday afternoon before we head back to Jackson, so come join us! Everyone have a great weekend and we hope to see you along the way!!!

This is Tim. He is awesome.
Click to view in his full glory!

My First Marathon!

On October 18, 2009, I will be in San Francisco to complete my first marathon - 26.2 miles...EEK! I am not promising any land speed records here, but I am doing this for a good cause (besides just trying to check off a huge goal on my Life List!). Along with helping my lungs, I am also raising money for TRIAD TRUST, an organization that strives to create opportunity for children living with HIV/AIDS.

TRIAD relies on supporters like you and me to continue its HIV-education programs in Africa. Because of TRIAD more orphaned or vulnerable children are getting tested for HIV, getting medical support and gaining access to education. To find out more visit www.triadtrust.org.

Please help make a difference through supporting my running efforts and contributing a donation to TRIAD Trust.

THANK YOU!!! You guys are the coolest! And would love to have your cheerleading if you are in the S.F. area at the time!

If you go and CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE, you will see that there is something in it for you too!!!

Lots of changes

A rough week last week, I became a product of the bad economy and got laid off on Wednesday from the job I had been at for 3 years. :( With two days notice, my last day was Friday, so I am a free woman now...eeek, I know. I was in shock to say the least, especially getting the news when Trevor was out of town and unreachable on a backpack trip until Friday! Thankfully Ted was around to commiserate with me, otherwise I might still be sobbing to Stevie on the couch!

It was a good test of my optimism that's for sure and for a day and a half I was really bummed. I am of the opinion that everything happens for a reason though, so I am going to make the most of it! My plan is to start my own freelance graphic design business and I am trying to get things in order with that, so I will keep you all posted! We did have to celebrate new beginnings with an awesome Jackson weekend of course!

Saturday we took out Ted's "party barge" (his raft) with Parker, Arlo, Cody, and Jocelyn which was perfect, relaxing and hilarious, of course. This was Trev's position the whole float, standing up and fishing. Ted, bringing the "party" with his sombrero, on the oars.

Tangled up in fly-line.

I did get a little time on the oars (photo from Jocelyn Hoffman)

A glowing fish butt.

On Sunday Trev and I decided to try something new and headed over to Grand Targhee to do some downhill mountain biking. You pay for a ticket, ride up the chairlift as many times as you want and there are varying degrees of single-track trails to the bottom.

The view from the top of the lift! Beauty.

Me, zooming. The wildflowers were amazing!

Trev on fire.

Kind of strange feeling to be on a chairlift with shoes on!

First run down, I was a little hesitant (haven't been mountain biking much yet this year!), second run down I had a lot more fun, letting it go a little more and having a blast!

Maybe got too confident? Third run down I flipped over the handle bars twice. The second crash was face-first into a rock garden, thankfully nothing cracked or broken (besides my front brake handle which snapped off) Just a huge cut-up fat lip which kind of makes me look tough I guess.

I guess it was just one of those weeks.

Jackson Lake Camping

Finishing up Kari's weekend in Jackson with style! We went out on Jackson Lake with our friends Dan and Ashleigh Walker, their son Finn, and their rad boat. The weather was iffy at best starting out, so we had to wait until almost dark to make a game time decision to go or not to go. Luckily, the weather cooperated and we had a great time!

Dan pulling the boat up to the dock to load up the gear just as it was racing towards getting dark.

The Walker Fam

Kari and Chels roasting mellows for Smores!

Huck Finn I am not

With the late winter coupled with the really wet spring, all the wildflowers were late coming this year, but are now in full bloom

Finn Walker on his first camping trip

Chels lounging

One hell of a flag tender, Kari Larsen

Trev getting some imagining the wave was 3 times as high, the water twice as warm, and the need for a boat or rope non existent!

Trev with a big ol bottom turn after letting go of the rope ripping some morning "glass"

Dan airing it out