Spring break found me at the airport again, this time headed to Lander, WY to visit Rosie who moved back home in December. Flying into Salt Lake City, i was amazed by the incredible mountains in the area, especially those on the western side of the city which we flew over as we landed. While the tops of these peaks were shrouded in clouds, they reminded me so much of the front range of the Chugach as seen from Anchorage, still covered in snow and standing out in impressive relief against the flat landscape behind them.
Upon arriving in Salt Lake, i hopped on a bus with a cowboy hat-wearing driver and headed northeast, through Idaho and into Wyoming where i arrived in Jackson Hole. Rosie and Kai, her beautiful and energetic new puppy, met me at the bus stop. The following afternoon, we all piled in the car and drove over the pass to the east side of the Wind River Range, turning south toward Lander. The landscape served to remind me how much i miss the contrast of the mountains with stark, sage brush covered hills and red red rocks. While New Mexico is a few hundred miles south, there were times that i felt like the Sandias were just around the next bend in the two lane highway.
Rosie and i spent the remainder of our trip in and around Lander. It was great to be able to see the place that she has told us about for so many years and finally connect names with people and places. Although it snowed as we arrived on Thursday afternoon, spring finally started to make an appearance after what has been a long winter and we could feel the energy of the whole town awaken as people started to shake off the winter hibernation and get excited about springtime activities like climbing in the canyon and planting their gardens. The week was a short one, but was filled with running, biking, hiking, dog walking, fishing, and way too much eating. i made a couple of apple pies for a barbecue that the O'Garas hosted on Saturday night and not having brought my pie crust recipe, made the crust from memory; I am still a little worried that I added way too much butter but when was the last time too much butter ruined a baked good? They still managed to taste good, though, and were a tasty complement to the incredible bison meat that a friend of theirs brought over.
Sitting at a window, back in SF, i miss the Rocky Mountains so much. It still strikes me that each mountain range has its own smell and feel to it and without even opening my eyes around, i loved being able to take a deep breath and get an instant sense of home. I am already dreaming of my next trip back, this time in the summer to explore all of those beautiful peaks.
On Thursday, Rosie and i went on a fantastic run through Grand Teton National Park. Although most of the park was covered in snow and we lacked skis/snowshoes to get ourselves off the road, the areas that we did explore were beautiful. It was overcast as we began our run, but eventually the sun and the mountains came out a bit to give us a view of the peaks.
The Buttes as seen from the highway on the road between Jackson and Lander.
Rosie and Kai at Slick Rock
Hiking at Slick Rock with the Winds in the background
Bighorn Sheep! While it was a bit sad to see it grazing along the road, it was pretty exciting as i have never seen one before. i felt very much like a tourist leaning out of the car window to try to get a picture. 
Rosie and Zoe hanging out in front of the O'Gara family home.
Biking up Sinks Canyon
Fishing the Green River on the way to the Salt Lake airport
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