The adventure begins!
6 guys must be truly passionate about Nordic skiing to have journeyed into the Jackson backcountry in early May, to complete the first ever Teton Traverse of the Teton Crest Trail. These 6 guys were the friends of, and early founders, of Skinny Skis.
Being May in Jackson, there wasn’t much to do during a muddy, quiet, off-season, with bountiful snow up high. However, this group knew exactly what adventure they were going to have. It was spring of 1979 when Phil Leeds, Jeff Crabtree, Greg Lawley, Vic Haines, Peter Koedt and Owen Anderson set out on the 5 day Teton Traverse journey; leaving from the top of Teton Pass and finishing at Flagg Ranch on the far end of Grand Teton National Park. Starting off with a 30lb block of wax, plentiful food, and some 70mm classic skis equipped with 3 pin bindings, the group left for about a 65 mile tour .
Set ups
Each person was on a very light setup compared to today’s standards; however, the narrow width of the skis didn’t allow for much stability in the terrain being covered. Nevertheless, great turns and times were had. The group was blessed with terrific spring weather and the trip was completed without any delays. Some highlights included Owen Anderson celebrating a backcountry birthday filled with balloons, and a well-constructed igloo from Peter Koedt.
Not everyone completed the full 5 day trip. Peter entered at Cascade Canyon for the last half and Phil left to get back to operating the store. Today, you can still see Phil’s dedication to the customers and operations at the shop. His current business partner, Scott O’Brien is no different– their customer service, along with their extensive gear expertise and Teton Valley trail knowledge, are what makes Skinny Skis so unique.
While the clothing and performance-oriented gear no longer consist of wool knickers and Norweigen one-piece ski suits, Skinny Skis has remained central to the Nordic ski community in Jackson. Come join us Thursday, October 24th while Skinny Skis celebrates their 45th Store Anniversary.
Great turns on some skinny skis! 
Nothing like some backcountry balloons to celebrate a birthday! 