Joel Bettner: A Skier's Approach to Recovery

In the Tetons, injury recovery means different things to different people. Some choose to rest through their injuries, which divert them from the activities they love. Some leave their beloved hobbies behind in pursuit of a new lifestyle—not Joel Bettner.

"Anyone who has dealt with injury knows it's a long road to recovery." 

-Joel

Targhee athlete, father, and ski community leader Joel Bettner has made the “A” his second home as he recovers from a series of knee problems stemming back from an injury in 2022. After a photoshoot during the 23/24 season with one of Targhee's resort photographers, Joel found out his knee would require surgery, which would end the rest of his season. On his recovery journey, Joel decided he would complete the 1 mile boot pack (600 ft of elevation) 20 times in 20 days. 

This is Joel's preferred method of recovery. Using the mountains themselves as a means to get healthy.

"Treating the mountains and skiing the "A" as a gym workout has been extremely beneficial for my mental and physical recovery."

-Joel

Unless you are a Teton Valley local, you might not have heard of one of Grand Targhee's most beloved hike-to lines. Just across the saddle of our hikeable terrain, Mary's Nipple, is a triangular sliver of inbounds terrain known as the A. Joel Bettner skis the "A" more than anyone.

The A is a little-known piece of Targhee’s inbounds terrain that rarely gets tracked out. Joel, unlike some who endure the boot pack up the A, chooses to concur with the short hike in a different fashion. Most remove their skis, carry them over a shoulder, or even strap them to a pack, but Joel elects to turn south, skis attached, and sidestep the several hundred feet of elevation. His right knee (the injured one) takes on the brunt of the work as he quickly trudges up the 38-degree slope. While his doctors say he hasn’t been cleared for "bigger air," which to Joel is about 20 ft, he has been cleared to take the impact of smaller 5 ft drops. His dedication to the route is easily noticed by his custom skis, which bear the Ace card symbol as a reminder and icon of his recovery and daily ascent.

Grand Targhee is home to some of the country’s most impressive skiing and mountaineering athletes. Joel is among a long list of remarkable figures who make the Tetons their playground and gym. As extreme sports go, injuries can happen. Skiers like Joel don't let the pain get in the way of doing what they love;  they use the pain to fuel their goals.