This year’s event includes a slide presentation by Pete Tapley, professional guide, writer, photographer and videographer on Friday evening. A silent auction and presentation by Ralph Tingery, “The Grand Rescue: A True Story of 1967 Teton Rangers” will round out the day on Saturday. Sunday evening will conclude the event with a pizza party, slide show and music. These events are open to the public.

Event organizer, Don Foote, says that this year’s event has the most participants the festival has ever seen. Foote says that the festival has “some of the best instructors, guides, professional athletes and gear reps supporting us and helping the clinics be safe, successful and fun for all ice climbers.” Local company, Jackson Hole Mountain Guides will be helping in the clinics as well as Montana Alpine Guides from Bozeman, MT. Foote reports that the Southfork ice is in its prime right now and has seen little activity this winter.

Sunlight Sports in downtown Cody is the spot to get outfitted for your climbing adventure. They have a full line of ice climbing gear to rent, including ice tools, crampons and boots. Owner Wes Allen says they will have a 40% off sale on ice-specific gear that weekend. He also says they are the only place in town with the Joe Josephson guide to the South Fork and the classic Todd Cozzens map. Sunlight Sports also carries a wide variety of quality outdoor clothing and gear. Be sure to stop in!

For those not climbing, it is worth the beautiful ride up the Southfork to watch.  In the winter, big horn sheep are all over the valley. You may even spot a moose, elk or a bald eagle on your drive.  There are several spots along the road to watch the climber’s progress. Back in town, be sure to hit the downtown shops, restaurants and Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Another highlight is the city of Cody’s wonderful recreation center that is a great spot for swimming and exercise for those waiting for their climbers. Daily passes are very reasonable.

Whether you are a participant or just want to hang out and learn more about the sport, this festival will not disappoint. Experience Cody during a great winter festival! To learn more about the festival visit www.southforkice.com. We hope to see you in Cody!

Until next time, I’ll be lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

              Corrie N. Cody

The Cody Community Theatre group has been working incredibly hard to bring one of the most beloved musicals to life for this holiday season – “The Sound of Music” will open to audiences at the Wynona Thompson Auditorium the day after Thanksgiving, for a three-day run. Over 40 community members are involved in the production, either on stage or behind the scenes, and it’s going to be one of the best shows ever put on by the Community Theatre group, thanks to the involvement of theatrical professionals who have elevated this production above what you’d expect for a town the size of Cody – it will be amazing!  If you’re planning to come, you can get your tickets through Wednesday, November 23rd here.

The Cody Christmas Celebration is an event that the entire community looks forward to every year, and this year’s festivities happen the Saturday after Thanksgiving. There will be hay rides, caroling, entertainment, ice sculpting, a lighted parade and, of course, an appearance by Santa! The event encompasses the entire town, from the top of the hill to Sheridan Avenue.

Old Trail Town is hosting a Christmas event this year, as well – “An Old Trail Town Christmas” open house happens Saturday, November 26, from 2:00-8:00 PM. Stop in to see Victorian and old fashioned decorations, and enjoy homemade cookies and confections. Oh, and we can’t forget the hot toddies that they’ll be serving up in the saloon, too!

December 3^rd will be busy – it’s the Buffalo Bill Historical Center’s Holiday Open House, which means entertainment by local musicians and school groups, cookies and punch, and free access to all of the BBHC’s amazing museums (except the wing dedicated to Buffalo Bill himself, that section of the center is closed for renovation until May). It’s also Powell’s Country Christmas, when the downtown shops open their doors for a holiday celebration. There’s also a lighted Christmas parade!

Yellowstone Quake Hockey will be hopping the first week of December – the team plays the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th at the Riley Arena. It’s a great family event, full of action and a great way to get into that winter spirit. But dress warm – it’s cold in that ice rink!

Something that’s become a great annual event is the Christmas Light tours put on by the Cody Trolley. The trolley, along with some local merchants, sponsor a contest to see which businesses and residences can come up with the best lighting designs for the holidays – then the trolley takes a tour of those great locations!

And, of course, what would the holidays be like without a performance of The Nutcracker? Here in Cody, the Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre puts on their version of this classic tale each year (this year’s performance is December 17&18). The number of local children that are involved means that the house is always packed – and there are guest artists that are featured every year that brings a professionalism to the production, along with sets and scene designers from the University of Wyoming. It’s a fantastic family outing, not to be missed.

There is so much happening in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country the next few weeks – if you’re in the area, plan to enjoy the spirit of the holiday season!

Until next time, I’ll be lovin’ the holidays here in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

Corrie N. Cody

Many people that I talk to in the summer ask what the town does in the winter – do the sidewalks roll up?  Do the shops close down?  How do we get around, with all the snow?Well, let me answer the last question first – a lot of folks don’t realize that here in Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, we actually don’t get a lot of snow that sticks around – the mountains to the west catch most of the moisture, and we’re left with very little that the wind doesn’t kick up and blow away!  But that snow in the mountains makes for amazing recreation opportunities…

Like skiing!  Sleeping Giant Ski Area re-opened a few years ago as a community ski hill, run by a local foundation whose goal is to get as many families and kids up there as possible!  Check out their magic carpet for the lesser-skilled skiers on the hill (like me), or take the chair lift to the top of the mountain for great downhill runs.  According to reports, the winter this year should bring us about as much snow as we had last year, so that means there will be fantastic skiing all winter long!

And let’s not neglect to mention cross-country skiing, as well – there are two fantastic trail systems in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country that are maintained throughout the winter.  One is near Sleeping Giant, maintained and highly utilized by the Park County Nordic Ski Association, and the other is in the Wood River area outside of Meeteetse.  And keep an eye out for wildlife while you’re skiing – you never know what kinds of critters might be enjoying the winter weather along with you!

The Yellowstone Quake thrills local audiences at the Riley Arena in Cody with exciting Junior-A Class hockey.  The spectators have lots of chances to get involved with the action, as well – puck chucks for a chance to win half the pot; community groups doing giveaways during the games; special events; and the enjoyment of the game!  Find their schedule at http://yellowstonequake.pointstreaksites.com/view/yellowstonequake.

The Riley Arena also offers folks the chance to do a little ice skating, as does Homesteader Park in Powell.  During the winter, Homesteader Park fills their little ice rink with water and the locals have a ball.  And at the Riley Arena, the local kids’ skate clubs will have performances to show off the talented youth on the ice!

If you’re up for an adventure, Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country is THE best place in the lower 48 to go ice climbing!  The South Fork of the Shoshone River has some incredible waterfalls that freeze during the winter and provide easy access to exciting ice climbing during the winter.  In February, the annual Waterfall Ice Festival draws climbers from all over to climb, learn, and socialize with others who share their passion.

And if you’re more the stay-indoors type, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center is full of incredible interactive displays and fantastic exhibits that focus on different themes – natural history, firearms, western art and the Plains Indians (the Buffalo Bill wing of the Historical Center is closed until May so it can be completely re-done in time for next summer’s big season).  And if you’re here over the holiday season, the BBHC hosts a community open house, featuring local entertainers and an opportunity to spend the day exploring the museums for free!  

Until next time, I’ll be lovin’ winter in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

Corrie N. Cody

If you missed my last blog on Robin, she’s been a ranger at the East Gate for the last three years, and enjoys every day that she gets to welcome folks to the country’s first National Park.  She lives in a mountain cabin halfway between Cody and Yellowstone, so she gets to see wildlife almost every day!  And the visitors love to see all the animals before they even get in the Park – just this week Robin heard two different reports of grizzly bears crossing the highway just 5 miles east of the gate, and others spotted a wolf just up from the pass that same day.  And something even more unusual – Robin said that visitors reported seeing a mountain lion in the Hayden Valley, along with a wolf and eagles, all in the same area! 

Robin says that visitors are REALLY enjoying the beautiful weather we’re having right now – in fact, some have jokingly asked if they have to pay more to enter the park because the weather is such a bonus!  She says that after the cold snap we had last week, the leaves started changing colors, and now the warm temps and sunny skies are just enhancing the natural beauty of the region. 

On a sad note, Robin reports that over the last weekend, there were two bison hit and killed on the highway in Yellowstone.  It’s a reminder to visitors, though, that watching for wildlife in Yellowstone actually needs to start once you get to Cody itself!  We’ve got dozens of deer that live right here in town, and they don’t necessarily follow traffic signals… the same goes for the bison, elk, moose, and bear that populate the North Fork valley on the highway to Yellowstone.  And we’re in peak wildlife-watching season – the fall months and late spring are the BEST times to catch a glimpse of the amazing creatures that we co-habitate with here in Yellowstone Country!

Robin says that there have been quite a few inquiries about the two fatal grizzly attacks that have occurred this summer – the first fatal attacks in 26 years in Yellowstone.  The rangers’ message to visitors who are planning to hike?  ALWAYS CARRY BEAR SPRAY.  Ranger Robin and her husband have hiked in these mountains for the last thirteen years and always carry bear spray.  She says they’ve thankfully never had to use it, but on many occasions they have seen fresh bear tracks on their hikes.  If hikers have questions about the proper use of bear spray, they can check out a “Bear Aware” video at the public library in Cody.  The video was produced by the Buffalo Bill Historical Center’s Draper Museum of Natural History just a couple of years ago, so the information is very current.  

I asked Robin about the visitors who are frequenting the park right now, and she said that there are a TON of foreign travelers here right now!  A large percentage are German, which she says is pretty easy, because most of the German visitors speak English.  Many of the Italian tourists have trouble with the language barriers, though, as do quite a few of the French.  Robin says that at the East Gate, there are rangers on duty who can speak enough German and Norwegian to help out visitors from those countries; and Robin herself can converse in sign language, which has come in very handy over the past three years that she’s worked there.   She says that deaf visitors are always so pleased to find out that she can sign, which is so important when it comes to communicating about lodging and other necessary information. Since lodging and campsites fill up almost every day during peak season, it’s important to be able to get that message across as soon as folks get in the gate.

Robin’s got such a great job!  Her season is winding down there – the Park will close up the first weekend in November to wheeled vehicles, and will remain closed to wheeled vehicles until next May, when the season comes ‘round again… and Ranger Robin hopes to be there to greet enthusiastic visitors to this amazing, unique place that is Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country!

Until next time, I’ll be lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

Corrie N. Cody

The appreciation that this town has for the National Park system has been expressed for years – in part through a tradition that was started about 60 years ago by the Coe family, a prominent eastern family who had fallen in love with the Yellowstone region and made Cody their second home.  Their social relationship with the management of Yellowstone Park soon expanded to involve Cody’s business community, and soon “National Parks Day” became an annual event in Cody.  Usually held in mid- to late May, it offered both the staffers at Yellowstone, as well as the locals who have an interest in the Park, an opportunity to exchange information and get acquainted.  These days “Parks Day” incorporates an evening reception, business meeting and community lunch.  And it’s not just Yellowstone National Park that is recognized anymore – we also invite the Superintendent from Grand Teton National Park, the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and the Shoshone National Forest to participate in the event.

While the majority of those who live in this region are grateful for the close proximity of the natural wonder of Yellowstone, much of this “symbiotic” relationship with the Park involves contentious issues that can create tension between the National Park Service and the locals.  Case in point – the headlines in the local papers right now are all about the number of snowmobiles allowed in the park during the winter.  The National Park Service wants to reduce the number allowed per day so as not to stress out the animals in the Park.  The locals want to increase the number allowed to boost the winter economy.  The locals, as well as others who have enjoyed winter in Yellowstone in the past, are frustrated because the Park Service won’t allow snowmobile trips into the Park without a guide, but those licensed guides are few and far between and can be expensive.  The Park Service is concerned about the safety of snowmobile travelers through the East Entrance because of the number of avalanches that occur at Sylvan Pass – as a result, the pass closes unexpectedly when there is avalanche danger.  That also impacts snowmobile travel through the East Entrance, because a scheduled ride into the Park could be cancelled at the last minute.

But the benefits of being neighbors with the Park Service far outweighs the issues – we locals can drive an hour down the road and be in one of the most geographically amazing locations on the planet!  The wildlife and scenery that we experience on the way are an added bonus.  Plus, we get the benefit of meeting so many of the folks that stop over here on their way to Yellowstone – so much of our enjoyment of the tourist season comes from the delight that our visitors feel just being here.  The joy just spreads!

So this May 23^rd, we’ll be meeting with the caretakers of our public lands during “Parks Day”.  Because of our National Parks, we are privileged to host visitors from all over the world – we hope to see YOU soon!

Lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country,

Corrie N. Cody

Now, there are a lot of folks who live in the area who are pretty well-known – we’ve got artists, actors, WWE wrestlers, famous politicians, and other recognizable personalities who have homes here and live here either full-time or part-time.  Most of these people love the anonymity of living way out here in the mountains, but there are a few who are very visible members of the community and strive to make Cody the best little town in the Rockies.

One of these personalities partnered with the Park County Travel Council a few years back in order to liven up the slower winter months.  Dan Miller, who has been a television personality since the late 1980s on The Nashville Network, ESPN’s (now GAC’s) Extreme Bulls, The Outdoor Channel’s “Best of the West” series, and other television shows through the years, headlines a music show in downtown Cody in the summer, Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Revue.  It’s a fantastic show!  Entertaining, funny, western and country music – everyone who goes to the show just can’t believe that kind of quality and talent is tucked away here in little Cody, Wyoming.  Anyway, Dan offered to contact his big-name country-music-star friends in Nashville and ask them to come to Cody during our slower season.  And come they did!

The Cody Wild West Show series kicked off in January of 2009 with a visit from music legend Lacy J. Dalton.  She was followed the next month by country hit-maker T.G. Sheppard.  And the next month – what a show – Mel Tillis!  Since that flashy beginning, there have been a total of fifteen different acts that have put on shows here in Cody.  Gary Morris (“Wind Beneath My Wings”) was here twice, as was the incredible Suzy Bogguss (“Letting Go,” “Someday Soon”).  Others who have shown up with fantastic performances include The Kentucky Headhunters, Asleep at the Wheel, BJ Thomas and The Bellamy Brothers. 

Dancing in the street!

The concerts take place throughout Cody, although most of them are at the Historic Cody Theatre – that concert hall’s intimate quality (just 300 seats) and amazing sound make for an incredible night of entertainment!  However, for groups like the Bellamy Brothers or the Kentucky Headhunters, other venues here in Cody are put to use.  In conjunction with the Irma Hotel, last summer the Bellamys (and special guest Suzy Bogguss) played a street dance that was sold out!  And the fabulous Texas swing band Asleep at the Wheel played at the Cody Auditorium, also to a packed house, and folks were dancing in the aisles.  The high school auditorium is also a location that’s been used frequently, since it’s a better place for entertainers like Mel Tillis, with his 11-piece band!

One of the things that I think is so cool about the concert series is how impressed the performers are with the hospitality they receive while they’re here.  As a producer, Dan treats the entertainers with genuine respect and personally makes sure they’re well taken care of.  And when I talked to Dan, he said that almost as important as the concerts themselves is the feedback that he receives from the entertainers.  He told me, “I’ve known these guys for a long time, and to have them feel as strongly about Cody as I do is very rewarding to me.” 

Dan credits the people of Wyoming and Montana, who come to these concerts, for their genuine western hospitality.  The audience greets the acts with such warmth and gratitude, the entertainers themselves have been spreading the word in Nashville that Cody, Wyoming is THE place to book a show.  Billy Dean (“Only Here for a Little While,” “Billy the Kid”) absolutely loved it when he was here in January of 2010, so much so that he recorded some video with his camcorder and posted it to his Facebook page, along with some footage from the concert that was shot by the Wyoming Office of Tourism!

The best thing is, the hits just keep coming!  Dan’s good friend Jim Ed Brown will be making an appearance in Cody at the Historic Cody Theatre on April 30.  If you’re going to be in the area, be sure to get tickets – they’re a steal at just $25!  Go to http://www.codywildwestshow.com/ to get more information.

Be sure to check the web site often for updates, too – because you never know who’ll show up next here thanks to the Cody Wild West Shows!

Until next time, I’ll be dancin’ up a storm here in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

Corrie N. Cody

It got me to thinking, though, about the things we do around here in the winter when it is uber-cold outside.  We, of course, have the Buffalo Bill Historical Center – that’s the first place that comes to mind.  Five museums, all indoors, and all chock-full of interactive displays, fabulous artwork, photographic archives, and opportunities to learn year-round.  It’s fabulous!

We have an almost-brand-new library here in Cody – it was dedicated about a year and a half ago, and is state of the art.  It’s got a reading area with a fireplace, computers, magazines, a children’s library that almost makes me wish I was a kid again, a teen room, meeting rooms, and the “warmest” atmosphere!  They’ve even got a little café there – they call it the “Biblio Bistro” that serves sandwiches, soups and coffee.  It’s a great place to just chill out in a relaxed, nicely-lit, quiet place that looks out over a duck pond and has a wonderful view of Heart Mountain to the north.

The Paul Stock Aquatics and Recreation Center is another place to spend some quality indoor time. Racquetball courts, fitness classes, basketball courts, two huge swimming pools and a water slide, along with exercise equipment and an elevated walking track – if you’re looking for a place to get in shape for the new year or spend some great time with the kiddos, this is the place! 

Dining out in Cody – what a great way to spend an evening in the winter!  We’ve got restaurants of all kinds here – steak houses, oriental restaurants, bistros, cafes, sandwich shops, contemporary cuisine – something for every taste.  Dinner and a movie sounds good to me… or maybe dancing at Cassie’s Steakhouse!

We’re so blessed here in Cody to be a stop on the tour circuit for several major musical acts.  As part of the Cody Wild West Show concert series, Cody has hosted acts like Mel Tillis, Riders In The Sky, Asleep At The Wheel, the Bellamy Brothers, Suzy Bogguss… the list goes on!  The concert series started out as the brainchild of Dan Miller, television personality and talented musician in his own right, to bring many of these acts to Cody.  I can’t wait to find out who’s coming this year!

Well, looks like I’ve outlined my to-do list for the next few weeks…  I’ll catch up with everyone again next week!

Lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country,

Corrie N. Cody

We celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the Shoshone Dam, now called the Buffalo Bill Dam – that structure completely changed the economy of Powell and Cody and the geography of the North Fork highway!  

We had some top-name entertainers come to Cody this year for the Cody Wild West Shows – Billy Dean, the Kentucky Headhunters, Bryan White, The Bellamy Brothers, Suzy Bogguss, Asleep At The Wheel and Riders In The Sky wowed local audiences throughout the year.

Sleeping Giant Ski Area was featured on National Geographic Channel’s “The World’s Toughest Fixes” – ever seen a ski lift being built?  Watch that episode!

We learned to be careful around wildlife – several grizzlies went haywire this summer…

Our local air service board negotiated a great deal with United Airlines AND we have a new terminal at Yellowstone Regional Airport – so flying to Cody is easier and more economical than ever (hint, hint)…

The 4^th of July Stampede Celebration once again brought thousands out to celebrate the western way of life – and it was televised, too! ESPN broadcast the Cody/Yellowstone Xtreme Bulls in July.

The National Park Service unveiled its new Yellowstone National Park visitor’s center at Old Faithful – beautiful! 

Yellowstone National Park set attendance records AGAIN this year – over 4.5 million people had visited the park as of the end of November.  Amazing! 

For the first time, the Capitol Christmas Tree came from a forest in Wyoming – and the tree’s stop here in Cody was cause for celebration on a cold November day!

And 2010 brought me, Corrie N. Cody, an opportunity to express my enthusiasm for this amazing place!  I love to be able to blog about all there is to do and see here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country.

So, until 2011, I’ll be…

Lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

Corrie N. Cody

I have to say, even though I grew up where the seasons all came neatly when they should (as opposed to Wyoming, where you can have snow in July and 60 degree days in February), I have never been a fan of winter sports.  To be honest, skiing scares the tar out of me.  But everyone around here was so excited when our local ski hill opened up again, I had to go check it out.

Sleeping Giant Ski Area, just outside the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, is one of the oldest ski hills around.  Folks who grew up here learned to ski on it and have great memories of their families going on skiing outings together.  Unfortunately, the hill closed in 2004 and it took a humongous community effort to raise enough funds to open it again in 2009, better than before!  Last year the weather did NOT cooperate, it was a miserably short snow season for skiers around here, but this year is starting off with a bang – almost 700 skiers, snowboarders, and other crazies graced the slopes and terrain park on opening weekend this year, and by golly, Corrie N. Cody was right up there with the other nuts!

Having never skied before, I needed a LOT of help. Fortunately, there are some very skilled, patient professional instructors at Sleeping Giant who are used to the fears and follies of beginners like me. They’ve got an amazingly affordable package for those of us just learning to ski – just $39 gets you a lift ticket, group lesson AND equipment rental!  And if you’re scared of the chair lift (like I was), there’s this really cool thing called a “Magic Carpet” – it’s like the moving walkways at the airports, you just step on and it carries you right up the hill!  Amazing.  What I also appreciated was that there were plenty of groomed areas – I wasn’t too hip on sludging through the loose powder!

Well, needless to say, I fell a couple of times (okay, a few), but all in all it wasn’t as painful as an experience as I expected!  And wow, were there some AMAZING skiers on the hill that day – all ages (the little kids who swooshed effortlessly down the slopes just killed me), all abilities, and all having a ball.  What I really enjoyed watching, though, were the snowboarders who were using the terrain park!  This terrain park is really unique – it’s got 14 features, including quarter pipes, rails, boxes and jumps (at least, that’s what they say). I was told that this terrain park is one of only a handful in the country that was built almost entirely of materials found on the hill…  pretty cool!

Once I was done torturing myself on the slopes, I decided I’d better treat myself to the indoor amenities at Sleeping Giant – namely, the lodge and its “Grizzly Grill”!  I had worked up quite an appetite – falling and getting up as often as I had – so I asked the gal behind the counter what the most popular menu item was.  Right away she told me it was the “Bearito” – a tortilla stuffed with taco meat and the Grill’s awesome Black Bean Soup, reduced until it’s stick-to-your-ribs thick.  So of course I HAD to have it – and was amazed when I saw the price, just $3.50!  I ordered a cup of cappuccino from the list of beverages which ranged from chocolate milk and energy drinks to 100% juices, coffee and hot chocolate.  There were plenty of kids in the lodge chewing on cheesy fries and sipping their hot cocoa, and several adults who wanted a more potent beverage went up the stairs to ring the “beer bell”!

All in all, it was a really great day, topped off with a beautiful drive back home to Cody.  The big horn sheep are EVERYWHERE right now, so I had to be pretty careful – the deer were out in full force near Wapiti, too. And I was really thankful for the snowplow drivers, who were doing their best to keep the roads clear for all of us who enjoyed Sleeping Giant on that opening weekend!

Oh, and for anyone who wants to get out there and enjoy the family-friendly and fun atmosphere of Sleeping Giant for themselves, the hill is open from 9-4 every weekend until after the first of the year, when they’ll be open Friday through Monday for the rest of the season. 

And now that I’ve gotten a taste for snow, you’ll probably find me up there, too – hopefully tasting that snow just a little less often…

See you on the slopes of Sleeping Giant!

Lovin’ life in Cody Country,

Corrie N. Cody