The Teton Backcountry Alliance will host a community gathering on January 24 at the Old Wilson Schoolhouse, with presentations by snowboard mountaineering pioneer Stephen Koch, and University of Utah climate scientist Dr. Peter Veals. The evening will also include the launch of The High Route Dispatch, a new print publication with strong local involvement, and a showing of Robson, a film documenting first ski descents on the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.

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Koch’s talk, “From the Tetons to Tibet,” will highlight his first snowboard descents of major Teton peaks, including the Grand Teton and Mount Owen, and his riding on the Seven Summits, all of which were defining moments in the history of snowboarding and ski mountaineering in general. Dr. Veals, whose research focuses on how the changing climate is impacting Rocky Mountain snow, will address the question, “What will skiing be like in the western U.S. in the year 2050?” His presentation will be followed with a panel discussion of veteran Jackson Hole skiers, facilitated by Gary Kofinas. The evening will close with the launch of the new publication The High Route Dispatch and showing of the film Robson.