Snow, wind, and Slim Weston are things we expect to see at Grand Targhee on any given day enjoying the resort. One will be missed from now on as long as there is weather.
I was done for the day, sitting in Snorkel’s with my wife when Slim walked in with his JH Daily tucked under his arm. I had not seen him in a while. Knowing he was fighting cancer, I knew there were days he didn’t feel up to making the trip up. So it was great to get a chance to say hi.
There are some regrets that I didn’t stay a bit to chat, being in a hurry to get home. Regrets because two days later he was gone. Dead. Bummer.
No more back rubs in the lift line. No more smiles greeting me at the steps. Slim Weston will be missed by many, but I think about all the folks who will make their first trip to Targhee and have no idea who they will never get to meet.
The snow keeps falling and this season it seems to be rearranged by the wind with every storm. Sometimes I forget that people are not the same. We cannot count on folks being around forever like weather.
Good reminder to not take life for granted. Next time I’m up skiing I’ll be sure to take a run on Slim’s Shot, the new trail named in his honor.
