ELAN Home in Jackson Hole

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CUSTOM RESORT HOME USES ELAN® g! TO OFFER SIMPLE CONTROL FOR GUESTS AND FULL AUTOMATION FOR OWNERS

 

Luxury vacation home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming combines custom architecture with hidden home systems to make a breathtaking and simple-to-use getaway for guests.

 

PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA, November 25, 2013 — Designing a home automation system that homeowners will love usually comes down to one thing – usability. If the system is easy to use, delivers all the functions the owners desire and makes their daily home life easier, it’s a dream come true.  Simplicity becomes an even bigger factor when the home will serve as a guest rental for much of the year.

For Tom Taylor, a veteran high-end residential architect, this level of sophisticated yet simple home automation was a must-have for his new home and rental property at the Amangani Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. To achieve this, he hired Connecticut—based C&T Systems to install an ELAN® g! Entertainment and Control System that makes it easy to control the home’s lighting, heating, audio/video, pool, spa, security and surveillance systems.

According to Andrew Spalla, C&T’s director of engineering, every step in the project was carefully considered and the design was fully orchestrated before installation began, ensuring a smooth process and a perfect result. “We agreed that for the home to be comfortable for the Taylors while also being simple and luxurious for guests, it needed to provide controls that are intuitive and can be operated by anybody with zero training,” he said. “And it was important to minimize the visual impact of the control system keypads while keeping the operation simple for lighting, music and AV.”

All the lighting controls throughout the house are intuitive, from LED light strips and recessed lights that have pre-set ‘high’ and ‘low’ dimming levels to motorized window shades that can be raised or lowered through the ELAN g! mobile app or an ELAN HR2 remote. Each room has a lighting keypad that includes buttons for ‘high’, ‘low’ and ‘off’, plus up and down arrows for diming that allow guests to set their perfect lighting level.  The system is intelligently designed to fit each space in the home, so that the ‘high’ level is brighter in the kitchen than the ‘high’ level in the master bedroom, and that certain light fixtures automatically adjust brightness at night and in the daytime. In addition there are select scenario buttons that set scenes throughout the house for things like entertaining.

The owners have special settings for themselves that use the intelligently hidden LED light strips to accentuate the grain of the redwood walls, stone fireplaces and the texture of the semi-transparent Lutron window shades that block sunlight but allow the views of the mountains to show through.

The shades are an important component, giving the Taylors and their guests control over sun glare when enjoying TV or a movie.  A simple tap on an ELAN keypad, HR2 remote or the g! app on an iPad or iPhone lowers the shades and then fires up the home theater or living room entertainment area.

“When designing this home and the electronics systems, aesthetics always came first,” Spalla added. “We used Sunfire speakers in the home theater to provide true theater quality sound, and we replaced the spa system’s ugly controller with an attractive keypad that matches the home’s décor and design.  By combining all the home’s functions into the g! system we eliminated a lot of standard wall clutter, like light switches, thermostats and a spa control dial. Now it’s all controlled from a single light keypad in each room, or from an iPad or iPhone. We also kept the system as hidden as we could, using Niles and SpeakerCraft speakers that mount flush into the ceiling and can be painted.  Unless someone points them out to you, you’d never even know they were there.”

The Lutron lighting keypads can be specially programmed, such as the one located near the doorway to the outdoor seating area; it features a special ‘Spa’ button that tells the ELAN g! system to turn on the patio lights and hot tub jets, while automatically turning on the outdoor audio system and playing selections from the owner’s playlist or streaming sources such as Pandora.  Spalla and Taylor chose Niles speakers for the outdoor area because they are extremely weather-resistant and provide superior sound quality. Other rooms use multi-function buttons as well, such as the bedrooms where a ‘Suite Off’ button switches off any lights, TV and music that are currently on in the room.

The keypads are wonderfully easy to use for each room, but managing the entire home’s bevy of electronic systems requires a true touchscreen experience, which Spalla delivered with a 10-inch in-wall ELAN TS10 touch panel in the kitchen.  Through the TS10 the Taylors and guests can manage, monitor and control everything in the home, from the audio, video, security systems and surveillance cameras to the snow and ice melting system.  All of this control is also available on the ELAN g! mobile app, which the owners and guests use on their iPads or iPhones to adjust heating, lighting, windows shades, audio and video without getting off the couch, or even when away from the house.

Setting up for a movie night is easier than ever using the ELAN HR2 remote or an iPad, which allows the viewer to turn on the home theater or living room media system, choose their favorite program or movie, turn down the lights, turn up the volume and set the heat to their ideal level. And several of the home’s TVs are recessed into the wall, creating another super-custom touch that makes the architecture and design the main attraction.

C&T Systems is a division of C&T Electric Corporation, located in Vernon, Connecticut.  C&T has been in business since 1973, and became one of the first ELAN certified dealers in 1989. The company offers a wide variety of solutions for electrical, telecom, generator, lighting control, whole house audio, entertainment and integration systems. For more information visit www.candtelectric.com/ctsystems.html.

About ELAN® Home Systems:

Founded in 1990, ELAN® Home Systems is an industry leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning whole-house entertainment and control systems that are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select dealers and distributors throughout the United States, Canada and more than 58 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

ELAN is part of Core Brands®, LLC, a Nortek company. Core Brands combines the product and marketing strengths of ten iconic audio, power management, and control brands into a single business unit that includes the ATON®, BlueBOLT®, ELAN®, Furman®, Niles®, Panamax®, Proficient®, SpeakerCraft®, Sunfire® and Xantech® brands.

Nortek, Inc., (NASDAQ: NTK) is a global, diversified company whose many market-leading brands deliver broad capabilities and a wide array of innovative, technology-driven products and solutions for lifestyle improvement at home and at work. Please visit www.nortekinc.com for more information.

 

WY FOODIE: Yummy Recipes from WY Beef Council

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A new series of great holiday recipes from our friends at the Wyoming Beef Council! We greatly appreciate all the hard work they do promoting the advantages of beef – a Wyoming agricultural staple and the income for many of our friends & neighbors!

As we begin to think about having guests over for the holidays, we can’t help but imagine all the wonderful possibilities. When it comes time for friends and family to gather ‘round your table, our holiday recipes will delight their senses—from the smell of a roast in the oven and the taste of cranberries to the sight of a hearty breakfast after a brisk morning walk in the snow.

APPETIZERS

Appetizers like Bite-Sized Sweet & Spicy Beef Ribs and Mini Meatballs with Apricot Dipping Sauce will wow your guests and start the event off right! They’ll be the perfect pairing with fruity holiday wines.

Mini Meatballs with Apricot Dipping Sauce: are made with lean Ground Beef and can be kept warm in a slow cooker. http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipe.aspx?id=4005

Bite-Sized Sweet & Spicy Beef Ribs: http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipe.aspx?id=4532

Beef and Blue Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms: These perfectly bite-sized mushrooms are stuffed with a savory blend of Ground Beef, blue cheese and chives. http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipe.aspx?id=4900

Beef and Couscous Stuffed Baby Bell Peppers: Tiny peppers are packed with Ground Beef, spinach and couscous for a colorful appetizer that’s easy on the waistline at only 35 calories each. http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipe.aspx?id=4921

 

MAIN COURSES

Main courses like an awe-inspiring Classic Tenderloin with Cranberry Drizzle or a comforting North Woods Hearty Pot Roast will fill the bellies around the dinner table.

Classic Tenderloin with Cranberry Drizzle: http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipe.aspx?id=4409

North Woods Hearty Pot Roast: http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipe.aspx?id=405

Crumb-Crusted Top Sirloin and Roasted Garlic Potatoes with Bourbon Sauce: Is just as glorious as a more expensive roast, but is easy to prepare and a breeze to carve. http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipe.aspx?id=197

Walnut-Crusted Roast with Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes only looks like it took you half a day to prepare. The simple walnut crust comes together quickly and the roast is placed in the oven for about two hours—the perfect amount of time to set the table. http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipe.aspx?id=1908

BREAKFAST

And finally if breakfast or brunch are more your style, serve a twist on a classic breakfast pastry with Beef Sticky Buns. For those busy mornings, a quick and easy Beef and cream cheese bagelwich will cross one more thing off your growing to-do list. Not to mention, adding protein to your morning meal will keep you satisfied longer.

Beef Sticky Buns: http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipe.aspx?id=391

Beef and cream cheese bagelwich: http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipe.aspx?id=3906

 

You can view the entire collection of holiday recipes, perfect for any dining occasion on BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com. While you’re there, don’t miss the newsroom for more story ideas.

MADE IN WYOMING: 307 Soapworks

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We are thrilled to team with the Wyoming Business Council to feature a Wyoming First business every week on our blog! Wyoming First is a program that promotes Wyoming member businesses. Visit their website (click here) to learn more about this service — and if you are a Wyoming business who’s not a member, be sure to inquire about membership! There are many benefits!

This week we are featuring 307 Soapworks of Bar Nunn, WY

Lynn Hazen, 307 Soapworks 307-262-7409  307soapworks@gmail.com www.soapguildstores.com/307soapworks

Lynn Hazen started making soap after she and her sister had a conversation about home-based businesses.  Handmade soap was on the list of businesses. At first Lynn thought it was a silly thing to do from home, after all, who would be interested in purchasing soap from somewhere other than a store.  She put the notion of learning to make soap on the back burner, but eventually started searching the internet for information.  Lynn started with Melt and Pour soap but she quickly lost interest.  She then decided to research how to make Cold Process soap.  After reading tutorials and books and watching videos for about six months, Lynn finally got up the courage to make her first batch of Castile soap, and she was hooked!

Lynn is currently the sole soap maker but hopes to make it a family business. 307 Soapworks does custom orders and only uses essential oils to scent the soaps.  However, if someone wanted a product made from a specific fragrance oil, she would require them to purchase the entire batch of about 2.5 pounds of soap or 7 bars.  Some of the ingredients used are: Avocado, Castor, Coconut, Olive, Palm and Rice Bran oils; and, Kaolin Clay.

307Soapworks products can only be purchased online at this time:  www.soapguildstores.com/307soapworks.  

Lynn will be participating in the Winter Market in Casper at the Ag Extension Building on Fairgrounds Road, the first Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.  The next market will be December 7th.

Lynn is proud to be a Wyoming native, so she wanted her products to have a Wyoming theme, and the soapy name illustrate that very sentiment: “Whoa, Nellie” (for Nellie Tayloe Ross), “Togwotee” (for Togwotee Pass), “Gebo” (for Gebo, WY), and a salve named Dr. Lillian’s Salve (for Dr. Lillian Heath).  Current products include soaps, lip balms, laundry soap, salve and solid lotion.   

 

ART IN WY: WY Film & Cardinal Matters, Casper’s Corridor Gallery Event

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WYOMING FILM IN DUBOIS:  The 2013 Wyoming Short Film Contest winner, Mark Christian, is working towards a film shot in Dubois, Wyoming — Cardinal Matter — and they’re going to the people to help put together their budget! They’ve just got 13 days left and $12,000 at stake…can you help them out? Read on for a letter from Mark…

My name is Mark Christian, winner of the 2013 Wyoming Short Film Contest, held by the Office of Tourism and Wyoming Film Office and was awarded $25,000 to make a film to be shot in Wyoming. I am reaching out to you because we are trying to spread the word of the film across the state. The film will be shot 100% in the state of Wyoming showing off its beauty and providing work for its kind and hardworking people.

Our film, Cardinal Matter, is a feature length film about Austin, a US soldier on leave who has lost all his family. All he has left is his cousin, Hunter, but when he goes to visit he becomes the target of a deadly corporate cover-up. It’s a powerful tale illustrating the effects of large cities on rural America and we feel strongly about telling a good story through a compelling narrative that audiences of all demographics will enjoy.

Currently, our biggest obstacle is budget. We are about $12,000 shy of our goal on indiegogo. Myself and the rest of the Cardinal Matter crew are hoping you can share our campaign page/fb page to spread the word to your followers. I have provided a link to our facebook page as well as the Indiegogo campaign below.

I would be happy to answer any questions! You can reach me at cardinalmatterfilm@gmail.com.
Indiegogo Page:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/cardinal-matter/x/65530

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/cardinalmatter?ref=hl

“It’s Not about the Frame,” John Atherton

CASPER:  The Corridor Gallery Welcomes “It’s Not About the Frame”

The Corridor Gallery is excited to announce “It’s Not About the Frame” an upcoming show opening on December 13th at 7pm featuring a collection of Classic American Illustration. “It’s Not About the Frame” is a hand selected batch of 45 original American Illustration works from Fred Taraba’s collection. The Corridor has chosen to remove existing frames and show all work sans distraction. Knowing that most who purchase any of these works will opt to have framed themselves, The Corridor is offering a $100 framing certificate with each sale. The show’s flagship piece is an original illustration done for the cover of The Saturday Evening Post in 1945 by illustrator John Atherton. Given the popularity of The Saturday Evening Post, many of the less known cover illustrations have sold in excess of six digit figures. More intriguing than a potential price tag on this piece is the fact that John Atherton gifted it to a few women that saved Atherton’s life after a ski accident in 1945. John concluded his life saga by drowning in a fly-fishing accident shortly after at the age of 51. Every single piece of this collection reveals complex and interesting stories such as this.

About Fred Taraba

Fred Taraba is a dealer in original American illustrative artwork… that is, painting and drawings that have been created specifically for reproduction in books, magazines, advertisements and many other media. He has been in the business of caring for, writing about and selling original illustration since 1983. For sixteen years he was the Director of Illustration House, Inc. a New York City gallery and auction house specializing in the art form. Prior to that he spent eight years with The Society of Illustrators in New York as their Assistant Director/Curator and Librarian. The public are invited to the opening reception on the evening of Friday, December 13th at 7pm. There will be a cash malt beverage bar at hand and the Fred will be present for questions. “It’s Not About the Frame” will ONLY be showing through Sunday, December 15th. Please contact the Corridor Gallery or Fred Taraba with any questions. 

Event Details

Event: “It’s Not About the Frame” featuring 45 works of original illustrative artwork
Opening Reception: Friday, December 13th at 7pm
Admission Cost: Free Show
Showing Through: Dec 13th 7pm-midnight, Dec 14th 10am-5pm, Dec 15th noon-4pm
Accommodations: Cash malt beverage bar
Information: For more information, please contact The Corridor Gallery at (307) 333-7035, Reed at (307) 259-8001 or visit http://www.tarabaillustrationart.com/

 

Hot Power Yoga of Laramie

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Hot Power Yoga, 511 East Ivinson Avenue, Laramie Wyoming

307.703.9642

Hot Power Yoga of Laramie is what it sounds like – a yoga workout set in a very warm environment. Hot Power Yoga of Laramie sets their temperature in the mid-90s. The purpose is to sweat – and a lot. “{Heat benefits include} joint lubrication, increased muscle mobility, and an overall cleansing through sweat,” Hot Power Yoga of Laramie says. They highly recommend that women who are pregnant, have recently been pregnant or are soon-to-be pregnant not attend.

Besides the heat factor, Hot Power Yoga is “…fitness-based, making it a little more vigorous and good for building strength,” HPY of Laramie explains.

Hot Power Yoga of Laramie can be found online at www.hotpoweryogalaramie.com, by calling 307.703.YOGA, and is located at 511 E. Ivinson Street. This is a place that is on my ‘must try’ for fitness resolutions this year!

Thank you to Ardent Photography of Laramie for graciously supplying these fabulous images!

 

LODGING: The Bentwood Inn B&B, Jackson Hole, WY

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For a beautiful and relaxing experience in Jackson Hole, visit The Bentwood Inn B&B in nearby Teton Village. A short drive from downtown Jackson, and a short drive to the slopes, The Bentwood Inn offers luxury and ambiance year-round. Outside Magazine called The Bentwood “One of North America’s best Ecolodges,” and as soon as you pull into the drive you’ll see why. We greatly enjoyed our own stay, with a lovely gas fireplace, spacious bathroom and a delicious night’s sleep.

Visit their website to learn more about The Bentwood Inn B&B – and when you’re planning your next Teton vacation, check them out!

ARTS IN WY: Cheyenne Art, Design & Dine Dec 12

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Arts Cheyenne features a wonderful, regular Art, Design & Dine event – and their next event happens December 12, from 5-8 PM! Check out the following venues for displays throughout the December event…

2013 Art Design & Dine venues. Click on a link to get more information about the venue and any featured artists or events they might have planned for the art tour. Special features will be posted as they come in so check back often!

Castilleja D. Edington

Artful Hand Studio & Gallery– 302 East 1st Ave. 229.546.5183

Prairie Wind-1916 House Ave. 307.632.3082

Nagle Warren B&B- 222 East 17th St. 307.637.3333

Deselms Fine Art- 303 East 17th St. 307.432.0606

Clay Paper Scissors– 1506 Thomes Ave. Suite B 307.631.6039

LightsOn! The Hynds Building – 1604 Capitol Ave.
The Art Party Facebook link

Cheyenne Artist Guild – 1701 Morrie Ave. 307.632.2263

 The Paramount Cafe 1607 Capitol Ave. (307) 634-2576

Art Corner Co-Op  Located at 1726 Capitol Avenue-SW Corner of 18th & Capitol.  (307) 514-3313.

ADD +

Iron Sharpens Iron  – 5807 Sunset Drive 307-631-0208

FrameMaster – 137 Kornegay Ct. 307-637-4121

“Forbidding Harvest,” G. Schumacher

Thanks to Arts Cheyenne for their wonderful programs that celebrate the talented artisans in the region!

Timeless Photography by Sue Hays is offering mini Christmas portraits to families in the Sheridan area! Contact her on her Facebook page for more info!

Handmade in WY

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Thanks to Liberty Lausterer for a look into gift giving this holiday season. Liberty moved to Wyoming a few months ago, and in that time has been on a quest to learn more about herself and her new home. I appreciate the viewpoint that she brings to her writing that we can share here – learning about our state from a new resident’s perpsective!

HANDMADE IN WYOMING — by Liberty Lausterer

“But it is a cold, lifeless business when you go to the shops to buy something, which does not represent your life and talent, but a goldsmith’s.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, Gifts

What handmade gift might you make this holiday season that represents your life and talent? I’ve never made handmade gifts before, so this is new territory for me. In fact I just started knitting and hesitate to call what I’m doing a bonafide talent. But each knitted washcloth I give to family members will definitely be a small incarnation of my life in Wyoming. And in each one will be a handmade bar of soap created by some talented people from Wyoming. Giving a gift that I have made with my own two hands does seem to imbue it with a warm, life-giving spirit. And if not my hands then certainly the hands of someone else whose life in Wyoming has been woven into each creation.

The felting class I took at Works of Wyoming means I can now also create an e-reader cover, a table piece for candles, coaster, wall hanging, and more. From my lived experience comes a tangible gift that allows my family in Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Virginia to feel and see what my life in Wyoming is like.

This weekend after the Thanksgiving dust has settled and the Christmas shopping extravaganza begins perhaps instead of joining the masses we, each of us, can use our time to create something that represents our life and talent. And if not our life and talent then certainly that of an artisan from Wyoming.

Here are just some of the shops that carry handmade items in Wyoming, and please post other places you know of from around the state:

Wild Hands ~ Hoback Jct

Crafts-n-Collectibles ~ Cody

MADE ~ Jackson Hole

Works of Wyoming ~ Laramie

SHOP WYOMING: Outlaw Rodeo Wear

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Looking for a great gift for the western & rodeo fan in your life? Check out Outlaw Rodeo Wear of Ten Sleep, WY! They have all sorts of great gear for men & women… Many samples follow, and be sure to visit their website as well as on Facebook, or give them a call at 307-760-2902 or 307-683-6052!

 

 

 

MADE IN WYOMING: Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company

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We are thrilled to team with the Wyoming Business Council to feature a Wyoming First business every week on our blog! Wyoming First is a program that promotes Wyoming member businesses. Visit their website (click here) to learn more about this service — and if you are a Wyoming business who’s not a member, be sure to inquire about membership! There are many benefits!

This week we are featuring Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company of Jackson, WY

Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company, Dan Marino — PO Box 1770, 1325 S. Hwy 89, #110 Jackson, WY 83001 — 800-543-6325  or  307-733-7244 — www.jhbuffalomeat.com   info@jhbuffalomeat.com

The Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company is based in beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  It was established in 1947 as the “Jackson Cold Storage Company.”   After 50 years of business, Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company was purchased by Dan Marino.   Dan has always had an interest in hunting and game processing, which led him to the purchase and business of processing buffalo and elk.  The Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company was fairly small and he thought he could develop and grow the company.   With a strong core of long time employee, you could definitely say this is a family business.

For 60 years Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company has specialized in only the finest 100% buffalo and elk meat products. Their buffalo graze naturally on open range grasslands in a ranch setting.  Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company supports the ranching traditions of the Great American West.  They believe in raising animals on the open range; rejecting growth hormones, steroids and antibiotics; and, Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company works to preserve grasslands for the next generation.

Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company does take custom orders.  They have a retail store in Jackson, and many stores in Jackson carry their product.  There are also stores throughout Wyoming who carry Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company products.    Purchases can also be made on the website at www.jacksonholebuffalomeat.com ; you can also request a catalog or give them a call at 800-543-6328.

Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company prices vary with the products that are sold; buffalo and elk meat range from $8.95/ lb to $40.50/lb.  They also have package deals, and there is a wide variety of gift packages and steak packages available to please almost anyone.  Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company products are made in the Jackson store.

Buffalo Bill Continues to Win Hearts of Europeans

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Looking for a great Wyoming Christmas gift? Check out our WLM + Wyovore 2013 package – for just $20! 

Thanks to Liberty Lausterer for another great feature… this time, Liberty takes us across the pond for a look at how the Europeans view a great Wyoming legend, Buffalo Bill…

BUFFALO BILL CONTINUES TO WIN HEARTS OF EUROPEANS

by Liberty Lausterer – images credited as noted

Travel Tip:  If you travel to Europe, and happen to enter into casual conversation with a local, BE PREPARED. Be prepared that when an Italian, or a Frenchman, or an Englishman learns you are from WY you may suddenly be given the fanfare and paparazzi usually reserved for celebrity. You have Buffalo Bill to thank for this.

I learned this from a European who wears snazzy black cowboy boots and has an encyclopedic knowledge of William F. Cody. Her name is Julia Stetler. Julia is a German citizen and fell in love with the American west while she lived here as a foreign exchange student. The frontier, Buffalo Bill, and her husband (whom she affectionally calls “her cowboy”) won her European heart.  Now she spends her days as the Associate Editor of the Papers of William F. Cody at the  Buffalo Bill Historical Center of the West in Cody, WY.

www.legendsofamerica.com-

Wild West and Congress of the Rough Riders of the World, by Courier Litho. Co., 1899 advertising poster

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show made three European tours between 1887 and 1906. Cody saw himself as a cultural ambassador, whose job it was to impress Europeans and raise their esteem of Americans. Cody timed the shows so they accompanied some of the most significant world events of the time, like Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in London (God Save the Queen!) and the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris. Europeans were sold. They received the show lock, stock, and barrel.

 

Publisher: JMP & Lithography.  c. 1889

1889parisworldfair.wikia.com

Of course there’s a lot more to the story (how each country uniquely received Cody and the role of Native Americans). For this and more watch out for Julia’s forthcoming book entitled, European Wild West. In the meantime, don’t worry about impressing anyone, just proclaim you are from WY and hearts will be won.

 

Cheers! Ciao! Hurraa!

 

 

SE WY Cross Country Skiing in WY – by Just Trails

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We greatly appreciate Just Trails & Rebecca Walsh for sharing some tips on cross-country skiing in Southeast Wyoming! Check out their website to learn more about Wyoming outdoor resources — it’s a great tool!

3 Easy Cross-Country Ski Trails in Southeastern Wyoming

text & images by Rebecca Walsh, Just Trails

 

One of the advantages of living above 7,000 feet is that winter comes early and stays late. As our friends in other parts of the United States are enjoying scenic fall colors we’re dusting off our cross-country ski equipment and keeping an eye on the snowpack in the mountains. 

Medicine Bow National Forest isn’t famous for its cross-country skiing but it should be. There are dozens of miles of trails just a short drive from Laramie. Trails are perfect for both novice and experienced skiers. 

If you’re looking to spend a nice easy day on the ski trails we recommend the following locations:

 

Chimney Park

The Chimney Park trail system is the perfect place to learn how to cross-country ski. Trails wind their way along old logging roads with very little elevation change. While the trails are relatively flat, there are a few gentle rolling hills. The trails at Chimney Park have the added advantage of being tucked into a forest of lodgepole pines and aspen trees making it a great location to escape the Wyoming wind. 

There are 4 trails at Chimney Park: Woods Creek Loop (2.9 miles), Porter Loop (4.0 miles), Lodgepole Loop (3.0 miles) and Jelm View Loop (3.1 miles) and trails range in elevation from 8,800 feet to 9,000 feet. 

To get to Chimney Park travel southwest from Laramie on Highway 230 towards Woods Landing. The trailhead is just over 6 miles past Woods Landing on the south side of the highway between mile markers 33 and 34.

Ski trails at Chimney Park are sometimes groomed by the Forest Service; we recommend calling the Laramie Ranger District to find out if they’ve been groomed before heading to Chimney Park. There is a $5.00 day use fee payable at the trailhead. You can download a free trail guide for Chimney Park here.

Medicine Bow Rail Trail

The Medicine Bow Rail Trail is one of our favorites for easy backcountry skiing. The trail follows the old railroad bed of the Hans Peak and Pacific Railroad through the Medicine Bow National Forest for 22.4 miles. There are several different trailheads, most of which aren’t open or accessible during the winter. We recommend starting from the Woods Creek trailhead which is just past the Chimney Park trailhead off of Highway 230. This trailhead is not plowed in the winter, but there are places to park alongside the road.

The rail trail wanders through a pine forest along easy and flat terrain. Because this trail isn’t groomed, touring or backcountry skis with medal edges are recommended. This is a lesser known ski trail in the area and it’s a great place for solitude; rarely do we see other skiers here. You can download a free trail guide for the Medicine Bow Rail Trail here.

Tie City

While the cross-country ski trails at Tie City are more technical and challenging than those at Chimney Park or along the Rail Trail they have the advantage of being close to both Laramie and Cheyenne and they are regularly groomed by the Medicine Bow Nordic Association.

There are over 14 miles of trails at Tie City which span across a wide variety of terrain. Some of the more difficult trails offer challenging climbs while others offer gentle terrain through open meadows and dense forests.  Trails at Tie City range in elevation from 8,400-8,900 feet. The Tie City Trailhead is strategically placed in what feels like one of the windiest places on Pole Mountain, making just getting of to the car the hardest part of any ski trip there. However, once you start skiing and get into the tree’s the wind is hardly noticeable.

To get to the Tie City Trailhead take the Happy Jack exit off of I-80 and follow Happy Jack Road (Highway 210) down from the summit. The trailhead is between mile markers 36 and 37.

Ski trails at Tie City are groomed and maintained by the Medicine Bow Nordic Association. There is a $5.00 day use fee payable at the trailhead. You can download a free trail guide for Tie City here.

For more information about trails in Southeastern Wyoming and all the information you need to plan an outdoor adventure, visit us at http://www.justtrails.com.

MADE IN WYOMING: Wild West Custom Leather

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We are thrilled to team with the Wyoming Business Council to feature a Wyoming First business every week on our blog! Wyoming First is a program that promotes Wyoming member businesses. Visit their website (click here) to learn more about this service — and if you are a Wyoming business who’s not a member, be sure to inquire about membership! There are many benefits!

This week we are featuring Wild West Custom Leather of Laramie, WY

Tim Mickelson, Wild West Custom Leather  1612 Kearney  Laramie, WY 82070  307-760-1377  wildwestcustomleather@yahoo.com  Check them out on Facebook!


Tim Mickelson got started working with leather when he was a young boy growing up in West Laramie.  He would visit the Boardwalk and Rob Vogel; then he would head across the road and visit Longhorn Saddle Shop and Andy Hysong.  Both men became his mentors as a child and their families are still important to him to this day.   Tim picked up many of the skills of the leather craft from them both.  After an automobile accident, Tim was unable to work in his profession of conduction any longer.  So, he picked up his leather tools to pass the time and it became a growing business.

Tim involves his wife in business as well.  She does quite a bit of the office work, sales, and public relations. She’s also who he turn to as a design consultant.  Tim is the drawing and tooling artist.  They both know what they are good at and it just became second nature to pick up their own roles.

Wild West Custom Leather designs are 90% custom.  Each product is done to fit the tastes and preferences of each customer. The other 10% of their sales are items Tim has done while brainstorming at the shop bench. Each item is drawn, carved, tooled, and finished by his own hands.

Wild West Custom Leather strives to create quality leather products that will be with you through the years. Each item is created with the individual customer in mind and the Mickelsons enjoy helping their customer get just what they want through our consultation process. Their products include bracelets, earrings, necklaces, key rings, wallets, checkbook /credit card holders, belts, gun holsters, chaps, and other Western cowboy gear. Wild West Custom Leather products also include specialty items including rodeo queen albums and personalized items. In the next year they will be adding home accents and accessories as well as custom designed purses to their product line.

Wild West Custom Leather won 2012 Champion Chap Maker at the World Leather Debut in Sheridan.  If you have anything you dream of being made with leather, feel free to contact the Mickelsons and they will do all they can to make that dream come true.  Wild West Custom Leather also does leather repair, patch sewing for motorcycle gear, and can reproduce your favorite old and worn leather products.

To order, contact Tim Mickelson at 307-760-1377; message him on Facebook at Wild West Custom Leather; catch him at the Friday Laramie Farmers Markets in downtown Laramie through the summer.  The Ammo Box in downtown Laramie features many of Tim’s holster designs for sale, and a variety of products are available at the Boardwalk in West Laramie. Wild West Custom Leather is a vendor annually on Labor Day weekend at the Snowy Range Music Festival at the Albany County fairgrounds.
Wild West Custom Leather products range from jewelry starting at $20 to up to $500 for custom chaps.

 

UW Women’s Leadership Conference features Dr. Erin Foley

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We’re very excited to introduce contributor Liberty Lausterer! Liberty moved to Wyoming with her husband and cats in July 2013. She is excited to explore the vast riches of this place, its people, and the cross-country skiing trails. Originally from eastern Nebraska, she studied history in college in Iowa, followed by graduate work in California. She spent the past nine years as a Lutheran pastor and is ready to see what new opportunities await her in Wyoming. Her hobbies include writing, swimming, herding cats, the adventure of high-altitude baking, trolling the web for interior design inspiration, and she is currently learning to knit her first hat. Welcome, Liberty!

 

by Liberty Lausterer

This weekend (November 8th-9th) I attended the UW Women’s Leadership Conference.  The conference was intended to empower women in Wyoming by teaching us to embrace our strengths, leave behind our weaknesses, and take hold of a life that brings us true happiness. The two day event featured a keynote speaker and three workshops, all intended to equip women with the tools necessary to live strong lives, embracing the very best of what we have to offer.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Erin Foley, teaches Communication Arts at State University of New York at Oneonta. In her keynote, entitled “The Fearless Female and the Freedom to be HAPPY,” Dr. Foley posed the following questions to women:

What if we were less obsessed with beauty?

What if we embraced confidence instead of modesty?

What if we got comfortable with confrontation?

What if we focused on abundance instead of scarcity?

What if we focused on our strengths and not our weaknesses?

Foley explained how cultural beliefs teach women to play down our strengths, creating a false sense of modesty and feeding into a mentality of scarcity. Rather than affirming ourselves and other women, we tell ourselves “I am not enough.” This hypercritical, “Mean Girls,” environment breeds desperation and jealousy. Women end up fixated on all that we are not, instead of engaging with the things that make us feel energized and strong.

The time we spend eradicating our weaknesses pulls us away from cultivating our strengths, says Foley. She defines a strength as the place where your skill meets an emotional state. When you are doing something well, and it leaves you energized, you have honed in on a strength. We may be good at many things, but if they don’t fill us up, we won’t be able to sustain the energy to excel at them. We can perform well in an area, and still end up feeling weak, tired, bored, and frustrated. Foley challenges women to look for the moments that feel good to us, lean into them, and we will lead more fulfilling, strong lives. “Excellence,” says Foley, “is fueled by passion.”

For a suggested donation of $10 this conference certainly delivered ten fold on content and encouragement. It feels especially meaningful when placed against the backdrop of Wyoming’s equality heritage. In a state with a long history of strong female leadership it is encouraging to discover ways women are coming together to support each other, find inspiration for our passions and purpose, and forge new pathways as leaders in Wyoming. 

NEWS FROM THE PARKS: Report on Grizzlies in Yellowstone Ecosystem

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AGENCY REPORTS AT MEETING PRESENT UNANIMOUSLY GOOD NEWS ABOUT YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM GRIZZLY BEAR RECOVERY

BOZEMAN – Managers from the state, tribal, and federal agencies responsible for recovery of the grizzly bear in the Yellowstone Ecosystem heard good news at their recent meeting in Bozeman, Montana.  Despite being a poor cone production year for the already beleaguered whitebark pine trees (WBP), managers heard reports of surprisingly few conflicts between humans and grizzly bears, even though a record count of 58 unduplicated females with cubs were observed in the ecosystem this year.  Especially promising was that a female with cub was documented in each of the 18 bear management units used to keep track of the bear population.

In addition to reports of minimal conflicts from all of the states and national parks, managers also heard a report on the annual population status from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST).  Utilizing existing statistical  methods the population estimate for the Yellowstone Ecosystem in 2013 is 629.

Because grizzly bears have yet to enter their dens for hibernation, all of the information presented regarding conflicts was labeled as “Draft,” but current data shows 25 known grizzly mortalities recorded so far, which represents less than half the mortalities in 2012.

The IGBST also presented a synthesis of information on the effects of changes in bear foods on the health of the Yellowstone grizzly population. The IGBST had been tasked in the spring of 2012 to do this work so the Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee (YES) managers would have the best available information on which to make a recommendation to the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) on whether a new proposed delisting rule should be prepared or not. According to van Manen, “Our extensive analysis of existing research and monitoring has shown us that grizzly bears are resilient and resourceful in the face of changing food resources.”  Additionally he said, “Our findings indicate that the decline in WBP due mostly to mountain pine beetles is not a major threat to the future of  the Yellowstone grizzly bear population. Data show the observed slowing of population growth since 2002 is  a result of  increased grizzly bear population density and resulting declines in subadult survival.”

The food synthesis research was presented to the YES members who then voted to conditionally support the findings, pending completion of a final section of the report and having all the research peer reviewed and published in professional journals.  The IGBST will be presenting the same information to the IGBC at their December meeting in Missoula, Montana. Both the YES and the IGBC will make recommendations of the USFWS, the agency responsible for deciding on whether a new proposed rule proposing to again delist Yellowstone bears would be developed and published for public comment.  USFWS will likely make a final decision in late December or early January on whether to produce a new proposed rule or not.

According to Recovery Coordinator Chris Servheen, “If delisting were to occur it wouldn’t be until later in 2014.” Careful monitoring and management would continue if delisting were to occur.  According to van Manen, “Our team will continue to monitor how grizzly bears respond over time and keep a close eye on the thresholds established to ensure a sustainable population.”

To learn more about grizzly bear recovery visit: www.igbconline.org. To view reports by the IGBST regarding the Yellowstone grizzly bear population visit: http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/igbst-home.htm.