Visitors and locals alike know that Jackson is a unique place. It offers a lot that other places, including other mountain towns, can't. And one thing that makes Jackson unique is the people who live here and the jobs that people do in a place like Jackson Hole.

I bring this up because, as we were all flipping through the morning paper here at Cen Res, we caught a glimpse of a picture featuring our friend Jesse. Jesse's current job title? Balloon Chaser. Not even kidding. Every morning, Jesse wakes up at the crack of dawn and heads to the open fields between Wilson and the town of Jackson where people head up, up and away in order to see Jackson's sites from the quiet of a hot air balloon basket. Jesse and friends work to layout the balloons and fill them with helium. But the excitement comes more in the landing. Often, the balloons land not far from where they took off. But occasionally, a wind will carry them from the landing area and Jesse will "chase" the balloon down to help guide it to the ground. Heading toward a bad spot? Jesse grabs the ropes and leads the giant vessel back to a cushier pillow of grass.

A Balloon Chaser has a few rivals for most unique job title in Jackson Hole. Whitewater Raft Guides weave their way down the winding Snake River in rubber rafts full of adventure-seeking enthusiasts. Stagecoach and Covered Wagon Drivers take people around the town of Jackson and up into the hills for some historical Western experience. Of course, there's the no-nonsense job title of Cowboy, for those who still work dude ranches and lead horseback rides in the Jackson area. Paragliding Instructors take students to flight when they walk off the top of mountains.

So, if you decide that a short visit to Jackson just isn't enough and you'd like to stay, there's plenty of job opportunity that goes above and beyond the usual nine-to-five.