Jackson Hole

The snow was falling of the winter of 1980 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming it was an early snowfall, but was foreshadowing for the winter to come. John Carnell was eighteen about to graduate Jackson High and was an electric young man, who was into everything outdoors. The town of Jackson was a quaint place to live and was the gateway to the Tetons and the abundant Yellowstone National Park. John and his friend Tom decided to plan a snowmobiling trip to the backwoods of the Tetons were they would do some extreme skiing and would spend a few nights in the outdoors. They were very excited about the trip and had been planning it for a while and with the early snowfall they decided it was time to go. They decided that Friday would be a perfect day to leave after school and make there way back into the wilderness and find a camping spot.

English: A panoramic view of Salt Lake City, Utah ...

English: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Français : Sal...

English: Grand Tetons Barns The John Moulton Barn ...

It was Thursday and John and Tom were planning on leaving the next day and were discussing the trip at the Hungry Elk, a local diner in Jackson.

“I’m a little nervous about what we will do if we have an emergency so far back in the woods,” Tom exclaimed. “We will be fine nothing bad is going to happen the trip is going to be awesome, your such a panzy,” John remarked. “No, I’m not. I’m just actually somewhat intelligent enough to think and plan for an emergency.” “Whatever, man,” replied John.

Two radiant girls entered the Hungry Elk and walked past John and Tom.

“Hey Sweet thing, why don’t you and your good looking friend have a sit with me and my friend here,” John said confidently.

“We’ll just do that handsome,” remarked Laura.

Laura and her friend Stacy had traveled from Salt Lake City, Utah for a weekend getaway at a nearby resort in the Tetons. They were both freshman in college at the University of Utah and were looking forward to a relaxing weekend, if they only knew what was in store for them.

“So I haven’t seen you girls around here before,” exclaimed John.

“ Ya, were not. We go to college back in Salt Lake City,” remarkedLaura. “Our you boys in college?”“ Huuh?....... Of Course. We got to Jackson Hole Community College,”Hesitantly said John.

The girls went to the bathroom for a moment and the boy’s began to discuss about the trip and if they should invite there newly acquainted lady friends along.

“I don’t know John if we should ask them we barely know them. WhatDo you think? ” proclaimed Tom.

“What do I think? I think HELL YA!! We should ask them,” loudly shouted John.

John talked Tom into it and so it was decided that they would ask the girls to accompany them on their adventure. The girls came out of the bathroom and sat down at the table.

“I and my friend Tom are actually heading out to the Tetons tomorrowOn a snowmobiling and skiing trip and was wondering if you nice ladiesWould like to join us,” asked John.

“ That sounds fantastic to me. Stacy is that ok with you?” asked Laura.

“ Ya, that sounds… okay,” replied Stacy.

So it was set John and Tom and their newly found friends would be heading of to the Tetons for a weekend full of adventure.

It was the last period of the day Friday at school and John and Tom decided to cut class early and go and meet Laura and Stacy and be on their way. They meet the girls where they had eaten the night before at the Hungry Elk parking lot. They all load up in Tom’s truck with the snowmobiles on a trailer and head towards the Tetons. After an hour of driving they arrive at a field at the base of the mountains where they will park the truck and unload the snowmobiles. They also decided this would be the spot they would camp tonight. The snowfall has increased dramatically from the day before and the accumulation was almost a foot and an half. So clearing a spot for a tent was quite a task. Stacy and Tom would sleep in one tent and Laura and John in the other one. They woke up the next morning and got on the snowmobiles and started to climb the mountain they would be skiing down. There was only one problem the snow fall accumulation had increased to over 3 feet over night and this could only mean one thing, avalanches.

“ This is so much fun, I’m so glad we came with yall,” exclaimed Laura.

“ I told you it would be. I’m extra and really glad you came,” proclaimedJohn.

The snow began to get deeper and deeper has the ascended the mountain.

“ Are you sure its safe to climb the mountain in this deep of snow,” questioned Tom.

“ Yes, It makes it that much more fun and more of a challenge, you woman!,” said John.

“ I don’t think its safe John and me and Stacy are headed back down you can do whatever you want, but I would advice you to do the same,” Tom said seriously.

“ Whatver man, you never take a chances in life. Me and Laura are going all the way to the top. See you later.” John yelled as he and Laura drove away.

John and Laura were racing up the mountain at a high rate of speed when suddenly they hit a crevasse that the snow was covering and feel inside to their sudden death. There was nothing that Tom and Stacy could have done. Tom thought only if he would have listened to me and was troubled with this. That my friend was the winter of 1980.