Tremblant Lifestyle

1770. At the time of writing that’s 137 years ago – when the first hotel was opened in Chamonix. Before this date Chamonix was a wild and rugged farming town where people caught their own animals and grew their own oats.

Chalets at this time were used to farm dairy herds over the summer months. Their milk was preserved by making it into cheeses and butter and stored down in the valley for use over the harsh winters. During the snow season the chalets were locked, and any valuables were locked safely in a small hut called a Mazot.

This was at the time when the term WAGGGS was not remotely related to being a footballer’s wife and stood for Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. In 1932 Helen Storrow of WAGGGS opened ‘Our Chalet’ in Adelboden, and it is still used today by young people to enjoy mountain pastimes.

Swiss scout Ida Von Herrenschwand, AKA ‘Falk’ became the World Centre’s first ‘Guider in charge’. Her picture is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Falk.jpg

You can listen to the Our Chalet song here http://ourchalet.wagggsworld.org/en/resources/documents/1323

Webster’s Dictionary defines a chalet as “A wooden dwelling with a sloping roof and widely overhanging eaves, common in Switzerland and other Alpine regions”. But what about the informal meeting of new peoples aspect of the chalet?

Quite who invented the chalet holiday is unknown, it was probably several enthusiastic people who recognised a formula that worked. For entrepreneur Erma Low, it all began when she was a homesick graduate who could not afford to visit her family in Austria as often as she liked. So in 1932 she took a gamble and placed a small advertisement in the London Times to invite guests on a ski holiday. For £15 they travelled to and from resort, enjoyed food and board in the only Inn, and took ski hire and tuition, and a lesson in German. The holiday was hard work, there were no lifts, no safety bindings, just strong leather boots and determination, but it was such a hit that Erna continued to take skiers on holiday, ensuring she used the best hotels and guides, and personally accompanied each group until the 1950s. During this time Erna also joined the war effort as a lecturer and travelled around the UK, which caused her to diversify her holiday market business. She began arranging house parties in large houses and boarding schools where people could relax in an informal atmosphere and get to know one another.

Once the war was over she combined this with skiing to formulate the winning combination of the Chalet Holiday. You can view some photos of this amazing lady and her holiday makers here http://www.ernalow.co.uk/about-us-photos.aspx

Chalet holidays in the early years were a far cry from the luxury we can experience today. Hot water was in short supply, the bathrooms would be shared by all of the guests, and there was no cook; the guests were expected to muck in. It was a real gamble who might share the chalet for a week, one might be pleasantly surprised by meeting new friends, or grimaced by the thought of spending another day with unpleasant guests. With an eye for opportunity developers built the high rise apartments in the 1960s making a ski holiday more affordable. Could it have been here that the chalet holiday changed forever? Losing its competitive edge on price, the chalet holiday was marketed on its other new benefits. Your own cook, who served you breakfast and dinner and even made you a cake to come home to after a day’s adventure on the mountain, private bathrooms, and, of course, more hot water. The privacy and affordability of a ski apartment was far outweighed by the luxury of fine cuisine and free wine. This concept has been developed further into the super luxurious chalet holidays where sauna, massage, canapés, and chauffeurs, and even a helicopter transfer, are all part of the package.

Thankfully though, the ski industry has remained available to everyone, and youth hostel style hotels are invaded each year by thousands of school children who can learn for the first time the magic of the mountains, just as the WAGGGS did all those years ago.

Book your next luxurious adventure on UpMyMountain.com

I love French fries from Swiss Chalet. Does anyone know the recipe for them. I know they are fresh cut russet potatoes, but
to they soak them in water or blanch them before frying? They must do something to them. If anyone knows or if you have worked there, please let me in on their secret.
Thanks!

Using liquid based supplements as an alternative to tablet form is already a first step towards acquiring higher efficacy products. When the ingredients are in their fresh form they provide a stronger effect since the chemical constituents are not altered during processing, storage and distribution. On the other hand, a tablet or capsule, which conversely needs to be dried, processed and compressed loses much of its valuable properties. Such liquid based products would be either in syrup or ampoule form.Alta Care Laboratoires – Paris have introduced Chalet Hair Formula Syrup, a concoction of phyto-extracts in a blueberry base for prevention and treatment of hair loss and hair re-growth. Chalet Hair Formula Syrup is a unique product in being one of the first on the market with Serenoa Repens presented as a syrup instead of a capsule.Serenoa Repens prevents and treats hair loss naturally by not permitting testosterone to convert into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT damages the hair follicle and therefore leads to hair loss. These results are achieved without the side effects typical of the anti-prostatic synthetic drug that is also being used as an anti hair loss formula. The advantage of Chalet Hair Formula Syrup is that it can be used by both sexes, as opposed to other medication which can only be used by men. Chalet Hair Formula Syrup with Serenoa Repens (Saw Palmetto) also contains a base of nutrients, multivitamins, minerals and amino acids that – decreases the hair loss rate- strengthens and thickens the hair shaft- increases the hair growth rateChalet Hair Formula Syrup is topped up with honey suitable for diabetics and fresh blueberry juices…making it safe, highly nutritive and pleasant tasting! Chalet Hair Formula Syrup may be bought over the counter at your local pharmacy. One tablespoon of Chalet Hair Formula Syrup should be taken once or twice daily.In cases of people who do not swallow, Chalet Anti-Hair Loss Capsules are also available. Chalet Syrup or Chalet Capsules are to be combined with the complimentary Chalet Hair Stimulant Shampoo for the best results possible. Recently Alta Care Laboratoires also launched Chalet Hair stimulant ampoules to be applied to the scalp in order to promote hair growth. www.altacare.com

I’ve never been to Swiss Chalet before. 9 of my friends and I will be going to Swiss Chalet to celebrate my birthday and I was wondering what food do they have there since I have 2 Muslim friends coming and they are not allowed to eat meat without praying to it before it was killed.
Do they sell pasta? Pizza? Bread? Soup?
If you can, please list some food that they have on their menu that does not relate to meat.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Skiing holidays are something that everyone should experience at least once in their life. They are an excellent way to enjoy an activity laden adventure holiday and to see some of the most magnanimous scenery the world has to offer. One of the best ways to enjoy a relaxing break with friends is to pool together money and choose from one of the many private ski chalets, or at least I thought.
I would like to definitively state before proceeding with my tale of doom and trepidation that this is not a reflection of everyones experience with ski chalets and since this fateful sejour I have been back to the same resort with a different provider for one of the best vacations I have ever had. As with everything these days, it started with the internet.
I was looking for something different and through a work colleague I heard about private ski chalets. After minimal research, I discovered that the price was higher than a usual holiday however if I bent arms and crossed palms I might be able to convince some of my friends to pool resources. I located a provider who could arrange everything for me and then secured the interest of my friends.
After seeing many ski chalets online profiles I clicked the mouse and fell in love. It was in a resort called Val d’isere and I knew nothing about skiing, but I liked what I saw of the chalet. It was sumptuous, spacious and just within our price range. A week after forwarding the link to friends they were on board and we were ready to book.
The company was offering to arrange everything from flights to ski lessons, all we had to do was sit back and pay a large sum of money. This we did and in one month we had all the documentation so we played the waiting game. Six months dragged by as I snatched glimpses of the chalet, dreaming of sipping brandy by the open fireplace, watching the snow subtly settling through the French doors.
When we reached this mother of ski chalets, we opened the door and it was better than any of us had dreamed. It boasted three floors, the bottom a massive open plan living room with bar and kitchen facilities and the open fireplace I had been dreaming of. The rest of the house boasted four double bedrooms, a sauna and a luxury bathroom.
We skied, ate, laughed and planned our lives around annual trips to this and other ski chalets. We tried to think of a time when we survived without ski chalets, saunas and the snowplough ski technique. On the third night we heard a rattling at the door as we lounged in front of the fire. Suddenly the door opened to reveal the Petersons and the Chipowskis.
I was in fact asking the same question as you are right now, who the hell are the Petersons and the Chipowskis?
After a mass debate, we got an answer to the question. They were apparently the rightful residents of the chalet and to our horror; they had the paperwork to prove it. I produced our paperwork and then called our provider only to find that the number was no longer in use.
We used the excellent internet connection now available in most ski chalets to discover that the company had gone into administration six weeks ago and although the flights had been valid, the agreement had been re-sold to another company who had in turn let this king of ski chalets to Petersons and the Chipowskis.
We did not have a metaphoric leg to stand on and had to vacate. With a lump in our throats and tears rapidly freezing on our cheeks we went to the resort manager who was really good and put us in a budget chalet with three single bedrooms. It was better than going home but after tasting the exquisite elixir of luxury ski chalets, it tasted bitter. The resort manager offered us a deal for the next year and we have been going back ever since.
The moral of the story is to check and double-check your providers background and history. It is safe to use online resources to book ski chalets and in fact many of the best deals can be found on the web. We have now found a provider who we love and book through every year. It is more cost effective than many other holidays with hidden costs and is an affordable taste of luxury.

CHALETS USA OPENS CHALETS IN NEW COLORADO RESORTS

Catered ski chalets, offering traditional European style chalet accommodation with breakfast, tea & dinner included are still a rare commodity within the US ski industry. Chalets USA is one of only a handful of companies who offer this service. They started small in Winter Park, Colorado, USA but are now expanding to give the Brits the catered ski chalet experience so many of them love, in other top Colorado resorts.

Chalets USA was started back in 2004 by British couple Helen Gienke & Rob Brown, Brits who left their corporate careers to follow their dream of living in the mountains. They originally set up the first independent luxury ski chalet in Winter Park Resort, the closest resort to Denver International Airport and the resort recently bought by Intrawest, who also run Whistler, Copper Mountain and tremblant. Several million dollars have already been spent on improving the mountain at Winter Park Resort, including new lifts, new areas of terrain and new intermediate and advanced ski runs.

Having established 3 catered chalets and several self-catered options, Chalets USA have now decided to expand into other Colorado resorts. Now added to their portfolio is Wildfire Lodge, based in Beaver Creek, but only a short 15 minute bus ride from world-renowned Vail ski resort, the largest in Colorado. Wildfire Lodge has 5 bedroom ensuite bedrooms and outdoor hot tub and is just a short stroll from the brand new gondola in Beaver Creek Resort.

Breckenridge is extremely popular with UK skiers and so brand new Eagle Lodge has been opened in Breckenridge just a few hundred yards from the Peak 7 ski lift. Eagle Lodge has 6 ensuite bedrooms and sleeps up to 12. It has spectacular views, patio with outdoor hot tub, spacious open plan living room with log fireplace, plus a rec room with fireplace, flat panel TV, sound system & wet bar. Catering includes American style breakfast, afternoon tea with freshly baked cakes or cookies and a 3 course dinner 6 nights per week.

Last but by no means least Chalets USA has 6 new chalets in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, which can be booked on a catered or self-catered basis. Steamboat is a western style resort, where you can still see remants of its origins as a true cowboy town. Steamboat invented the term “champagne powder” and true to name has fantastic snow conditions on a regular basis. The Steamboat chalets are really the creme de la creme of Colorado chalet accommodation. The chalets offer luxury accommodation and top end appliances throughout. The catered service for these chalets comprises the traditional breakfast, tea and dinner, but also includes lunch, either soup in the chalet, or packed lunch to take to the slopes. To make your holiday even more hassle free, the Steamboat chalet offer an on call taxi service to take you around town and to the slopes and they give you mobile phones to call with for the duration of your stay. Steamboat is also home to our only ski in ski out chalet, a rare commodity in the US – Thunderhead chalet.

For more info on these new chalets or other luxury ski accommodation in Colorado, please visit www.chalets-usa.co.uk