Mike Breiding's Epic Road Trips: 2026

January 25th - 30th
Jackson Hole Wyoming Report
Four Days of Cross Country Skiing, Snow Shoeing and Dog Sledding!

On January 25th at 4:00 in the morning, I boldly set out for Tucson Airport (amidst dire warnings of the "massive" winter storm that would be stretching across the country) for my Road Scholar Winter Adventure in Jackson Hole Wyoming where I was to cross country ski, snowshoe and dog sled. Yes I had been listening to the weather conditions and storm warnings but my two flights were listed online as on time and going, so in my mind why would I not make an attempt. My flight was to go through Dallas-Fort Worth airport. That should have been a clue to me that perhaps this was not a wise decision. However I persevered.

I will not go through all the grim details blow by blow of what I encountered along the way but will just attempt to give you an overall picture of my "winter adventure."

My adventures included:
- Being taken on and off airplanes multiple times without actually going anywhere

- Sitting on the tarmac for an hour because the jetway to our plane was jammed and they couldn't find anyone to tow our plane to another gate

- Running through the airport to make a connection that turned out not to be going anywhere anyway

- Sitting at gates multiple times watching as my flights were delayed again and again and finally cancelled

- Standing in lines for several hours multiple times (not an exaggeration) waiting to get yet another flight scheduled

- Buying a blanket in an airport shop because there was no heat in the Dallas-Fort Worth airport

- Walking through the airport at 3:00 a.m. seeing what looked like a mass homeless encampment with people huddled on the floor under blankets or stretched out anywhere they could find an empty spot, trying to grab a few hours of sleep

I canceled my trip to Jackson Hole before I even finished my first day stranded at the airport. The program was a short one and who knows when I would have been able to get there. Then I just concentrated on getting home to Tucson.

After being stuck at Dallas Fort Worth for 3 days and two nights, on the afternoon of January 27th Mike picked me up at the Tucson airport. Before I left the airport I filled out a baggage claim for my suitcase that was drifting about in limbo.

I arrived home to a nice spaghetti dinner Mike had fixed and then slept for 12 hours straight.

Mike says I always try to find the silver lining and that is usually true. In this case the silver lining I found was people. Again and again and again I saw people helping each other, strangers willing to help other strangers who were having a problem, people getting to know each other as they sat at the gate waiting for their delayed flights then wishing each other well as they all went back to join the line to try to get other flights since theirs had again being canceled. Tireless airport workers help as best they could. Never did I see a fight as we sometimes see on the news. Never did I hear people discussing politics. (What a relief !) They were just people trying to help other people who needed a hand.

So I did not get to my winter adventure in Jackson Hole. But I hope the good things I saw along the way will remain with me as we all continue through the world as it is today.

This is the only picture I took during my time in the airport. Enjoying meals in the busy restaurants was one way to soak up what seemed like endless hours of waiting for rescue. The alcohol didn't hurt either. This is a nine ounce pour of chardonnay and Asian chicken dumplings in Szechwan sauce. I didn't notice at the time, but there is a tiny person sitting in my wine glass!

I will leave you with one last thought. The next time my husband says to me "I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but if it were me, I wouldn't go!" . . . I will take him more seriously!

 

 

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