How did you go from growing up in Houston to living in the Teton Valley?

I have always known that I was going to live in the Rocky Mountains. I started spending time in the Tetons right after I graduated from the University of Montana, and eventually discovered the Tetons through the NOLS winter program. It’s been close to 20 years that I’ve known about and loved the Tetons.

What’s your day job?

I work full-time in the avalanche education industry, but I also do a lot of snow stuff on the side—I ski guide, help plan conferences, do a lot of public outreach and education. 

How does your career support spending time in the mountains?

I didn’t really intend to build a life around skiing, but why not, right? I just wanted to work outside. In my first jobs working as a horse packer and a ski patroller, I met great people, loved what I was doing, and was lucky to have folks mentor me and invest in me. It doesn't feel like it happened by accident, but it wasn't something I charted out for myself. 

What is it about skiing in the Tetons that inspired you to build your life here? 

My first time in the park, I was in my 20s, and I skied Wimpy's on an incredible powder day. I’d never done several thousand feet of sustained powder skiing in the backcountry before. 

Doing gravity-fed sports is so fun. Everyone is like a little kid, having a blast, feeling weightless, skiing as fast as you can in snow that's so forgiving, and you can put your turn anywhere. It's a feeling I've always really loved—it's so joyful. There's something magical about spending time outside with great people.

It always feels good to be out in the mountains all day long, to tire myself out, and have time for really good snack breaks. 

Tell us a little about your home and your animals.

My husband Patrick and I have five acres just outside of Victor. We built a house and we have two dogs and four horses. We ride our horses in the mountains a bunch, and we feel lucky to live where we can have horses at our home.

A lot of different types of people live in the Teton Valley. Some are still plugged into agriculture, some moved here for mountain biking or skiing. You have friendly neighbors, folks who are excited to be friends with the people around them, help each other out. I like knowing who I live next to. 

What are a few of your favorite things about living in a mountain town?

It's easy to get somewhere like the top of Teton Pass for sunrise, and that's just a beautiful way to start your day. Most of the time I spend with friends, we're doing something outside—skiing, mountain biking, walking the dogs on a cool mountain trail. 

On the other hand, what kinds of sacrifices do you have to make to live in a place like this?

We're far from our families, far from where we grew up. The cost of living has become high and flights are often challenging due to weather. And living somewhere with really big winters—though we obviously love big winters—can mean a lot of work. Sometimes we're buried, sometimes all the roads close, sometimes it's just blowing snow and piling up, and the horses are frosted, and you're digging out the hay, digging out the vehicles, pulling stuck trucks, or pulling cars out of the road with your truck. 

What's the importance of having quality gear when you're navigating tough conditions?

I often think back on the people who pioneered first ascents, or the people who started skiing in the backcountry, in canvas pants and leather boots, and I would not have been cut out for that. I like modern gear. I think having the stuff to keep you warm and dry is really important. I spend a lot of time on a proper layering system, and having the right gear in my bag.

Having the right gear is really important, because you want to be comfortable, and you don't want to be distracted or worried or miserable. Being well supported, and just have fun, is crucial. Otherwise, what's the point?

Do you feel lucky to live in the Tetons?

Yeah, I feel really lucky to live in the Tetons. This is a special place to call home. It's a beautiful mountain range, obviously, and a great lifestyle. It's also a really, really wonderful community, and I love the life that we've built here.

What’s your perfect day in the mountains?

I am a pretty social person, so my perfect day in the mountains involves being with people. Seeing wildlife is always a plus. Any time I'm able to get up high enough to see some sort of sweeping landscape, I feel so excited and connected to the mountain range, and happy about being in an alpine environment. I want to ski great snow, or if I'm mountain biking, have a really fun, flowy lap, or if I'm on my horses, have a great day where I feel really connected, like I'm on the same page with my horse.