The Art of Après

THE FINER POINTS OF THE AFTER-ACTIVITY DRINK

It’s almost a Jackson Hole tradition that outdoor feats are invariably followed by chowing down and then making merry. These accomplishments don’t even have to be incredibly arduous. Just the completion of an outdoor activity—any activity—elicits a maddening desire for caloricconsumption. Whether it’s burgers and beers at the famed Stagecoach Bar in Wilson (Gold–Best Bar, pg. 50) after an afternoon bike ride on Teton Pass, or pizza and a pitcher at Dornan’s after summiting the Grand, we’re clearly pretty obsessed. So what’s the reason behind it all?

The obvious answer is, of course, hunger. Skiing makes us hungry. Biking makes us hungry. Being cold makes us hungry. At the end of the day, we’re burning calories doing all of those things, and scientifically speaking, that’s truly the reason our stomachs grumble after a long day in the mountains sustained only by Clif Bars and bananas.

But there’s another reason we are driven to indulge —it’s celebration. The origin of après as an activity originally came from our brethren across the pond who honed and sculpted the tradition. In the early days of alpinism, après wasn’t about charging the bars after a big day in the mountains. Instead, it was about relaxing with friends and family, and discussing the day’s escapades, with a fire in the background and a warm drink in hand.

More recently, the old tradition of après ski has shifted from cozy, intimate mountain chalet settings to loud, crowded bars filled with gourmet craft cocktails and ripe-smelling ski bums. Sometimes after a big powder day on a weekend, the Mangy Moose Saloon in Teton Village (Gold-Best Après, pg. 58) can rival any party on the planet in terms of crowds and stoke. Or if you’re looking for something a little more mellow, the happy hour at the Calico Bar & Restaurant (Silver–Best Italian, pg. 40) is right off the bus line back to town. And don’t forget the Blood-Orange Spicy Margaritas at The Spur, which will help you recharge better than any energy drink, even as they put your condition in the morning into doubt.

But just as the definition of “feat” in the Tetons spans a wide spectrum, so does the modern-day practice of après. For some, it means a beer after a long day, and for others, it means, well—many beers. But whether you’ve had a long day in the backcountry, or just skied off the tram for the first time, isn’t having fun all that really matters?

If our experiences are defined by people and moments, then the celebration that follows recreation doesn’t need to be qualified by intensity of the activity or quantified by the amount of booze consumed. Après is exactly what the European men and women who originated the ritual meant it to be—a time to come together, laugh, relax, and refuel for all the adventures (big and small) to come.

Photo: courtesy of Spur Restaurant & Bar

Après Pro Tips

Hydrate: no hangovers allowed on powder days.

Leave early: early to bed, early to rise - you need it!

Eat something: it’s easy to forget after a few beers.