Sunday was a perfect spring day. The weather was warming and sunny. I headed to Jackson to go for a ski. At the lodge, I met my friend and fellow instructor, Connie Kinsman. There wasn’t much going on with lessons, so she had time to ski. We drove up to Valley Cross Road parking lot to do the Wave.
Numerous cars in the lot told us we weren’t the only ones with that idea. We skied the Christmas Farm Trail to what we call the “airport,” a flat, short strip once used as an actual landing strip by a former Jackson resident. There, we spied an unusual cloud formation, framed by a bright blue sky.
kAm$AC:?8 D<::?8 42? 36 :?E6C6DE:?8[ 2?5 E92E 52J H2D ?@ 6I46AE:@?] x? E96 DF?[ E96 D?@H H2D D@7E 2?5 D=@H] x? D925J DA@ED[ :E H2D 92C5 2?5 72DE] (6 D<:65 7C@> @?6 4@?5:E:@? E@ E96 ?6IE[ 25;FDE:?8 E@ DF556? 492?86D :? DA665[ 7C@> 72DE E@ D=@H E@ 72DE 282:?] (6 42== :E E96 “DAC:?8 96C<J\;6C<J]” {2F89:?8[ H6 E@@< :E :? DEC:56 — E92E’D DAC:?8 D<::?8 7@C J@F] *@F 92G6 E@ 36 C625J 7@C 2?JE9:?8]k^Am
kAmq24< 2E E96 y24<D@? $<: %@FC:?8 u@F?52E:@? r6?E6C[ x >6E >J D@?[ y@6 2?5 9:D <:5D H9@ 42>6 7C@> uCJ63FC8 E@ 8@ D<::?8] qJ >:552J[ E96 4@?5:E:@?D 925 D@7E6?65 FA 2?5 E6>A6C2EFC6D H6C6 >:=5] xE H2D 2 8@@5 E:>6 E@ D6E @FE H:E9 xG6C[ 286 d[ 2?5 yF=:6E[ 2=>@DE b] xG6C 925 2 ?6H A2:C @7 D<:D E@ ECJ 2?5 9:D D:DE6C 925 9:D @=5 “3@@E” D<:D] y@6 925 2 AF=< E@ FD6 H96? E96 =:EE=6DE 8@E E:C65] p7E6C 2==[ :E H2D 2=>@DE “?2A” E:>6]k^Am
kAm&?=@25:?8 862C 2?5 <:5D 2E E96 EC2:=9625[ H6 962565 24C@DD E96 8@=7 4@FCD6[ E@H2C5 E96 t==:D #:G6C %C2:=] xG6C 925 E96 8@2= @7 >2<:?8 :E E@ E96 r@4@2 r23:?] %92E D66>65 =:<6 2 AC6EEJ 2>3:E:@FD 8@2=[ 3FE 96 4@F=5?’E 36 5:DDF2565]k^Am
kAm~77 96 E@@<[ =:<6 2 D9@E[ 5@F3=6 A@=:?8 =:<6 4C2KJ] r@4@2 :D 2 A@H6C7F= >@E:G2E@C]k^Am
kAmx 7@==@H65 H9:=6 y@6 2?5 yF=:6E 3C@F89E FA E96 C62C] yF=:6E D9F77=65 2=@?8 @? 96C D<:D[ >2<:?8 D=@H 3FE DE625J AC@8C6DD] xG6C 2?5 x 2CC:G65 2E E96 4@G6C65 3C:586 2?5 AC24E:465 @? E96 9:==D[ H2:E:?8 7@C 9:D D:DE6C 2?5 525] ~G6C E96 H:?E6C[ 96’D =62C?65 9@H E@ 8@ 5@H? E96> H:E9@FE 72==:?8]k^Am
kAmrC@DD:?8 E96 3C:586 2?5 ?68@E:2E:?8 E96 EF??6= 2C6 EC:4<J] xG6C >256 E96 9:== 3FE 76== :? 2? :4J AF55=6 :? E96 EF??6=] w6 H2D 2 =:EE=6 H6E 3FE 5:5?’E =6E :E DE@A 9:> 7@C =@?8] w6 925 2 8@2= E@ C6249]k^Am
kAmp=@?8 E96 H2J[ x DF886DE65 96 ECJ 5:28@?2= A@=:?8[ 6DA64:2==J FA 9:==D[ 3FE d\J62C\@=5D 2C6 DEF33@C?] w6 :?D:DE65 E92E 96 AC676CC65 5@:?8 :E E92E H2JPk^Am
kAmx H@?56C65 :7 96’5 92G6 E96 DE2>:?2 E@ >2<6 :E E@ E96 423:?]k^Am
kAmpE E96 vC66? w:== #@25 4C@DD:?8[ H6 492EE65 H:E9 @E96C D<:6CD[ H2:E:?8 7@C y@6 2?5 yF=:6E E@ 42E49 FA] p>2K:?8=J[ yF=:6E >256 :E E96 H9@=6 5:DE2?46 @? 96C D<:D] $96’D 2 EC@@A6C] (6 ?68@E:2E65 E@ 4C@DD E96 C@25 H:E9 <:5D[ D<:D 2?5 AF=<[ H:E9 !6E6C %96C:2F=E’D 96=A] %96? H6 DE2CE65 FA E96 t==:D #:G6C %C2:=[ H:E9 yF=:6E :? E96 AF=< 2?5 xG6C @? D<:D]k^Am
kAms@F3=6\A@=:?8 5:5?’E 86E xG6C FA E96 7:CDE 9:== — 2 A@=6 E@H 7C@> vC2?5>2 5:5] ~? #:G6C32?< {@@A[ H6 DE2CE65 H2E49:?8 7@C E96 $E@CJ3@@< %C2:=] p7E6C 92?5=:?8 E96 =@?8 4FCGJ 5@H?9:== DF446DD7F==J[ xG6C DA@EE65 E96 7:CDE A286 @7 “x7 *@F v:G6 2 !:8 2 !2?42<6]” w6 :?D:DE65 @? C625:?8 :E 2?5 2== E96 7@==@H:?8 A286D 2== E96 H2J E@ E96 423:?] w6 5:5 2 8C62E ;@3 7:8FC:?8 @FE 2== E96 H@C5D[ 3FE :E E@@< 2 =:EE=6 E:>6] x DE2CE65 E@ H@CCJ H6 >:89E ?@E >2<6 :E E@ E96 r@4@2 r23:? 367@C6 :E 4=@D65] %92E H@F=5 36 2H7F= E@ 2CC:G6 E96C6 E@@ =2E6 7@C 4@4@2]k^Am
kAmx D<:65 29625 E@ E6== $F6 %FEE=6 ?@E E@ 4=@D6 5@H? J6E — H6 H6C6 @? @FC H2J] u@CEF?2E6=J[ !6E6C %] 2?5 @E96CD 925 2=C625J H2C?65 96C] (96? xG6C 2CC:G65[ 96 H2D EC62E65 E@ 2 9@E 4FA @7 4@4@2 H:E9 3:8 >2CD9>2==@HD] w@A67F==J[ E92E H@F=5 8:G6 9:> E96 6?6C8J E@ 86E 324<] |62?H9:=6[ yF=:6E D=6AE @? 2?5 y@6 2?5 x 492EE65 H:E9 A6@A=6 H6 >6E 2E E96 423:?] (6 3@E9 H@?56C65 :7 H6’5 >2<6 :E 324< 367@C6 52C<]k^Am
kAm(:E9 ?@ DE@CJ E@ C625 @? E96 H2J 324<[ :E H6?E 72DE6C[ 3FE H6 925 E@ 4@?G:?46 xG6C E@ CF? FA E96 9:==D :?DE625 @7 5@F3=6 A@=:?8] tG6?EF2==J[ 96 C62=:K65 E92E H2D 62D:6C] (6 >256 :E 324< 367@C6 DF?D6E] (92E 2? 2>2K:?8 D<: E@ 5@ H:E9 J@FC 8C2?5<:5D @? 2 DAC:?8 52J] xE H2D E96 9:89=:89E @7 >J D<: D62D@?]k^Am
kAm|@?52J H2D 2 H@C< 52J 7@C >6 2E y24<D@?] x 5:5?’E E9:?< E96C6 H@F=5 36 >2?J =6DD@?D — EC277:4 D=@HD 5@H? 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 D62D@?] x7 E96C6 H6C6?’E 2?J[ x 925 !=2? q] x7 ?@ @?6 3@@<65 2? ``ib_ 2]>] =6DD@?[ x H2D 7C66 F?E:= `ib_ A]>] — ;FDE 6?@F89 E:>6 E@ 86E :? 2 8@@5 D<:] {F4< H2D H:E9 >6 E92E 52J — ?@ =6DD@? 2E ``ib_] x 962C5 t2DE !2DEFC6 925 ;FDE 366? 8C@@>65[ D@ x >256 72DE EC24<D FA E96C6]k^Am
kAmt2DE !2DEFC6 {@@A :D @?6 @7 >J 72G@C:E6 D<:D[ 3FE x 925?’E D<:65 :E :? J62CD] (96? x’> 7C66[ :E’D ?@E 8C@@>65] (96? x’> H@C<:?8[ :E 86ED 8C@@>65] |@?52J[ E96 DE2CD 2=:8?65[ 2?5 x 8@E >J 492?46]k^Am
kAmpE E96 A2C<:?8 =@E[ x >6E !2E[ E96 8C@@>6C[ =@25:?8 E96 A:DE@? 3F==J] w6 D2:5 8C@@>:?8 H6?E H6== 2?5 E96 EC24<D H6C6 362FE:7F=] x 6I4:E65=J C2? H:E9 >J D<:D E@ (:?5J w:==] %96C6 H2D @?6 D<:6C :? 7C@?E @7 >6 — 2 D<2E6 D<:6C] x @AE65 7@C 4=2DD:4 D<:D[ ?@E <?@H:?8 E96 4@?5:E:@?D] $66:?8 566A 8C@@G6D 9:D D<:D >256 :? E96 A=2E7@C>[ x <?6H x 925 >256 E96 C:89E 49@:46] %96 H2C>[ ;FDE 8C@@>65 DFC7246 H2D E@@ D@7E 7@C D<2E:?8]k^Am
kAmx AC676C E@ D<: E96 `_z =@@A 4=@4<H:D6] x 5@?’E >:?5 E96 DE66A[ DE625J 4=:>3 FA A2DE G:6HD @7 @A6? A2DEFC6 2?5 s@F3=69625]k^Am
kAm|J C6H2C5 :D E96 =@?8 4CF:D6 @? E96 @E96C D:56 @7 E96 $\4FCG6D 2?5 E96 7F? 5@H?9:== CF? @7 q2=5 w:== %C2:=] %96 D<2E6 D<:6C >FDE 92G6 8@?6 E96 @E96C H2J]k^Am
kAm%96 D?@H H2D 362FE:7F= 2?5 E96 8C@@>:?8 :>A64423=6]k^Am
kAmpD x ?62C65 E96 E@A[ x D2H E96 D<2E6C 4@>:?8 5@H?] x DE6AA65 2D:56 E@ =6E 9:> A2DD] w6 3C66K65 3J >6[ ?@E 6G6? D2J:?8 “96==@]”k^Am
kAm}68@E:2E:?8 E96 $\EFC?D[ x 8@E C625J E@ 6?;@J E96 =@?8 5@H?9:== 4CF:D6] x 49@D6 E@ 36 @FE @7 E96 EC24<D 7@C DA665 4@?EC@= :7 ?66565] xE H2D E96? E92E x C62=:K65 E96 52>286 E96 D<2E6C 925 5@?6] (96? x D?@HA=@H65[ >J D<:D 9:E E96 8C@@G6D 9:D D<:D 925 >256] xE H2D 2 =:EE=6 EC:4<J]k^Am
kAmx 7:?:D965 >J D<: H:E9 E92E ?:46 q2=5 w:== CF?] q24< 2E >J 42C 3J `i`d A]>][ x <?6H x 925 DBF66K65 :? @?6 >@C6 DAC:?8 D<:] x 9@A6 :E :D?’E >J =2DE[ 3FE :7 :E :D[ x’== 36 D2E:D7:65] x? E9@D6 =2DE EH@ 52JD[ x 925 D@>6 2H6D@>6 DAC:?8 D<::?8 H:E9 7C:6?5D[ 72>:=J 2?5 >JD6=7]k^Am
kAms@?’E AFE J@FC D<:D 2H2J J6E — 8@ @FE 2?5 7:?5 J@FCD6=7 D@>6 DAC:?8 D<::?8 6IA6C:6?46D]k^Am
kAm$AC:?8 }@C5:4 46?E6C FA52E6Dk^Am
kAmy24<D@? $<: %@FC:?8 u@F?52E:@?i {2DE 52J @7 ?@C>2= @A6C2E:@?D\E:4<6ED[ C6?E2=D[ D<: D49@@=\ $F?52J[ |2C49 ah[ 3FE 8C@@>:?8 H:== 4@?E:?F6 2D =@?8 E96C6’D 7F6=] r964< EC2:= C6A@CED]k^Am
kAmqC6EE@? (@@5D }@C5:4 r6?E6Ci $4965F=65 E@ 4=@D6 27E6C $F?52J[ |2C49 b`[ 3FE 42== E@ G6C:7Ji We_bX afg\bbaa]k^Am
kAmz:?8 !:?6^!FC:EJ $AC:?8D )r 2?5 $?@HD9@6 !C6D6CG6i %C2:=D =2DE 8C@@>65 =2DE $2EFC52J[ |2C49 ab[ 3FE 2C6 DE:== @A6? E@ FD6] z:?8 !:?6 @A6C2E:@?D 4=@D:?8 27E6C $F?52J[ |2C49 b`]k^Am
kAm|@F?E (2D9:?8E@? '2==6J $<: %@FC:?8i !C@323=J H:== 36 @A6? 7@C 2?@E96C H66<] r@CE w2?D6? D2JD[ “(6 2C6 A=2??:?8 @? 2E =62DE 2?@E96C H66<[ xE 2== 56A6?5D @? 9@H >F49 D<:6C EC277:4 H6 92G6 2?5 E96 H62E96C]” r2== 29625i We_bX bde\hha_]k^Am
kAmvC62E v=6? %C2:=Di !=2??:?8 @? 4=@D:?8 27E6C $F?52J[ pAC:= f[ 56A6?5:?8 @? H92E |@E96C }2EFC6 8:G6D E96>] r2==i We_bX cee\abbb]k^Am
kAmq62C }@E49 $<: %@FC:?8i s@F8 v2C=2?5 D2:5 E@ E6== 6G6CJ@?6 E96C6’D A=6?EJ @7 D?@H H:E9 2 a\7@@E 32D6] %96J’== <66A 8C@@>:?8 6G6CJ 52J 2?5 9@A6 E@ >2<6 :E E@ t2DE6C[ pAC:= a`]k^Am

(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.