“Après Ski, French for “after ski” describes the nightlife, culture, and festivities after the slopes. Skiing is a social winter activity in itself. However, the socializing that goes on after the slopes is just as important as your downhill adventures. Après Ski includes the drinks, the hot tubs, the fashion, the partying, the music, and, of course, the food. Fondue is the perfect après ski treat!
A post-ski fondue party continues the social atmosphere because the cheese and fixings are communal, not individual. A few years ago, while stationed in Germany, I went on a ski trip to Chamonix, France. It’s a great ski town, where you can take a lift up and then decide if you want to ski down the mountain into France, Germany or Switzerland. After skiing, our group gathered together in the chalet’s common area for an interactive dinner featuring fondue. The staff served us trays and trays of food (and bottles and bottles of wine) as we gathered around communal, heated cheese pots.
Here are someaprès skifondue ideas to set up your own fondue party and have you feeling like you’re sharing a chalet in Chamonix or Zermatt even if you’re miles from the slopes.
The Cheese
First, there’s no such thing as Swiss Cheese in Switzerland. If you ask for it anywhere in Europe, no one will know what you’re talking about. Switzerland is home to many kinds of cheese (Fuurtfel, Alter Schweizer, and Appenzeller, to name a few). In America, Swiss cheese is a generic term for an American imitation of Emmentaler cheese.
Remember, there’s no right way to make fondue. Since it’s a recipe derived from the Alps, Swiss Cheese/Emmentaler cheese is the traditional main ingredient. But you can do whatever you want to do. I encourage getting creative with your cheese blends — the Bougier the cheese, the better. Consider Jarlsberg, Havarti, Comte, Raclette, Brie, Parmesan, and Asiago…anything from the fancy cheese bar in the produce section will make a nice blend. Cream cheese is a great blend too. I stick with light-colored cheese just for the optics.
Here’s the recipe I used for two people:
Après Ski Fondue
Ingredients
8 oz (half a pound) block of Swiss Cheese (aka Emmentaler in
Europe), shredded
Leftover shredded Gruyere (about a half cup)
Asiago, parmesan, and cream cheese (I actually omitted it)
Minced garlic (how much? As garlicky as you want it…start with a tablespoon)
½ quart half & half (I actually just used milk)
Sprinkles of nutmeg (realized I didn’t have any and used paprika
and cinnamon instead)
Olive oil
Dry white wine (or try dry sherry, brandy, bourbon, or beer…it doesn’t
matter!)
Cup of flour
Instructions
Using a bowl or zip bag, toss/mix shredded
cheese with flour. Tossing the shredded cheese with flour helps keep the
melting cheese smooth and dippable.
In a saucepan, drizzle a little olive oil and sauté the garlic, add a little white wine
Once the garlic browns, add the cheese.
Stir until melted
Use a little half-and-half to help the creaming process
Drizzle with olive oil and mix in the nutmeg
**The flavor combinations are endless. Some folks like adding stone ground mustard, horse radish, sautéed, minced onions, or a hint of cayenne. I like mine savory with a hint of sweetness, just like me! J/k.**
Fondue Equipment
Williams Sonoma (https://www.williams-sonoma.com/search/results.html?words=fondue) has a few fondue sets at various price points. But if you don’t foresee fondue parties happening regularly, skip the costs, effort, and space allotment of buying a dedicated set. Instead, try these options:
I used the base for a teapot warmer, a large tea candle, and a cute ceramic dish in the Anthropologie sale rack.
You can also use a heavy-bottomed saucepan or double boiler and an electric burner or hot plate for the table. I scoped out a $10 hotplate at the Dollar General Store. Lowes, Home Depot, and of course Amazon have affordable electric options.
To dip, use metal
BBQ skewers, wooden kabab skewers, chopsticks, or just the smallest forks you
own.
Après SkiFondue Dippers
The cheese is the main course at this party; everything else is just a condiment. Get something to dip from every food group. Everything goes with Cheese so don’t hold back.
Fondue Après Ski Ideas
Use this list as a starter of all the possibilities to dip into the cheese.
For Chocolate
After the cheesy main course, go for a sweet after-dinner chocolate fondue. Just whisk a bit of heavy cream, whole milk (or half and half, or flavored coffee creamer) with high-quality melting chocolate or chocolate chips. I actually used leftover hot chocolate from Williams Sonoma’s Christmas collection. It’s just pure, high-end chocolate flakes. Melt until fondue-y.
Consider topping it with flaky sea salt, adding mint to the
mix, etc. It’s your call. You can even melt marshmallows or white candy pieces.
Dip it in chocolate, melted cream cheese frosting, or royal frosting.
Fondue isn’t just limited to ski getaways. It works well for date nights, easy dinner nights, and “let’s clean the leftovers out of the refrigerator” nights.
Drop some feedback on this list of Après Ski Fondue ideas in the comments. Let me know what you like to dip in your cheese.
First Trip of 2020: Black Ski Week in Breckenridge, Colorado
I just got back home from a glorious, long weekend in Colorado. The Annual Black Ski Week takes place at various slopes across the US and abroad. This year, we hosted our own mini Black Ski Week, separate from the official events. Last summer, a group of single, Army officers planned a weekend ski trip. That small group continued to grow. I’ll get to writing the travel essay ASAP but for those planning future trips to Breckenridge soon, here’s the logistical breakdown to help you plan a group trip of your own.
Altitude
First things first, that high altitude is no joke. You may think you’re all tough and in shape, but the lack of oxygen in Breckinridge, Colorado will get you. Be sure to prepare for high altitude like a pro.
Human bodies start to react differently to the changes in oxygen levels at altitudes around 4,921 ft. The base of Breckenridge, Colorado, is 9,600 feet. The summit of some ski resorts is upwards of 13,000 feet above sea level. To put it in perspective, the Altitude of Cusco, Peru is 11,200 feet. The altitude of Colorado Springs is 6,035 feet above sea level and Denver’s Altitude is 5,130 ft above sea level.
And just for kicks, the altitude of Boston, where I’ve resided for the past three years, is 141 feet above sea level. The elevation of my hometown in Owensboro, Kentucky, is 394 feet above sea level. For whatever strand of reasoning I applied, I was under the impression that since I adapted to Cusco’s altitude (three years ago) and since Denver and Colorado Springs didn’t bother me, I’d be unphased by a couple thousand more feet. That was a terrible assumption.
Carrying my luggage up the steps had me wheezing like I just sprinted a 100-meter dash. I avoided unnecessary trips to the next floor because it was a workout. If I left my phone charger upstairs, that’s just where it was going to have to stay, and my battery was going to have to die because my lungs were put to the test. Walking a flat surface wasn’t much better. We rented another cabin four houses down. However, walking my normal pace of 140 steps a minute might as well have been a performance mile run. I was always out of breath by the time I got to the next house about 300 feet away.
High elevations cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, bloody noses, headache, fatigue, and just overall unwellness. The symptoms should be over within three days. Overall, your body will adapt and you can just deal with the discomfort and do nothing. But if you’re short on time and need to press through the symptoms quickly, here are a few tips:
I’d suggest taking it easy on the physical
activities before then so you have time to adjust. I slept a whole day, waking up only to eat. Rest is a good thing.
If you smoke or have cardiac problems, check
with a doc before you travel.
Alcohol doesn’t help anything. Now, I’m not
going to tell you to avoid turning up, but just know, high altitude already
feels like a hangover when you’re sober. High Altitude hangovers are on another
level of discomfort.
They say drinking water helps. I drank hella gallons
and was still sick for three days.
In Cusco, the indigenous people used coca plants
to fight altitude sickness. Not sure how legal that is in the US, if you can
get it in the US, or if it’ll show in urine tests. Sorojchi pills were
recommended in Cusco. Goody’s powder and standard pain relief is good to have
on hand to deal with the headaches.
Oxishot! All the sporting stores in Breckinridge
sell Oxishots. It’s a can with 8 liters of oxygen. It costs about $16. It’s
fast acting and pretty awesome.
*** I have never had a bloody nose ever in life, and I didn’t have one here. But apparently, dang near everyone else did. So, if you’re a nose bleeder, expect it. ****
Black Ski Week Meals
City Market (at 400 North Parkway) is actually a Kroger with
an alpine facade. They deliver, so plan your menus and pre-order your ingredients
on-line. If feeding a crowd and you have some chefs (southerners) in your
group, this is your best bet. The town square does have plenty of satisfactory restaurants
(albeit a challenging parking situation).
We were fortunate enough to arrive with a van of phenomenal home chefs. Here’s some of the menus we ate:
One of many trips to Kroger.
Breakfast: Omelets & scrambled eggs (our house of 14 ran through 18 eggs in one morning), bacon (two pounds a day), sausage, muffins, french toast, grits, & coffee
Lunch: sandwiches, pizza (3 per day)
Dinner: Gumbo, BBQ lamb, smoked sausages, ribs, southern mac & cheese, hot chocolate, tacos, grilled corn on the cob
Late night: Baked ham & cheese sliders, whipped cream
Oh, and remember that high-altitude air pressure not only affects humans but also affects baking. You’re going to need to adjust the temperature, time, and ingredients for any baking you’re going to do. Check out King Author Flour for cooking guides. You’re going to need cases and cases of water. Bring plenty of Sharpies so people don’t take a sip and forget which bottle is theirs. Colorful ponytail holders around the bottle work in identifying the bottle as well.
Lodging
Our group of 35 chose Paragon Lodging, a luxury vacation rental agency, to house our group for the long weekend. Chelsea House and Claire’s Cabin were gorgeous homes outfitted for entertaining. Chelsea (where I slept) had 6000+ square, 6 bedrooms, and 4.5 baths feet giving all 14 of us elbow room and quiet spaces for us introverts to recharge from time to time. It was tucked away with a driveway set from the main road with gorgeous woodland mountain views. The kitchen (although illogically organized) was a foodie’s dream, and the collection of books located around the home was also impressive. The house also has maintenance workers come shovel snow from the drive and deck (around the hot tub). There’s no lifting a finger.
The rental company gives you a starter supply of toiletries but you will need to put toilet paper on your shopping list. Factoring in the amount of water hydration everyone will need to acclimate to the altitude, bloody noses, and alcohol consumption, I’d suggest no less than two rolls per person per day (Start off with two 24-roll packs). You’ll likely also need dish detergent, trash bags, and laundry detergent.
Both met my bougie expectations. The homes did not exceed my expectations only because none of the exterior doors were locked. That’s kind of a security concern…hopefully, the company gets that maintenance issue taken care of. But I’d definitely recommend it. It was a perfect choice for the weekend.
I can’t personally vouch for these. However, other luxury properties that appear to be similar in styling in the area include River Ridge Rentals, Majestic Breckinridge Lodging, and Pinnacle Lodging.
Packing
Of course, we overpacked. Just about everyone prepared for the arctic apocalypse. Just remember, everything that everyone packs will need to fit in the trunk of a car. Even with bulky snow gear, I am confident everything you need for a four-day weekend ski trip can fit in two carry-ons.
Fitting all our luggage & all the people in cars was a logistical feat.
Here’s what you need:
Socks, gloves, hat & Undies – self-explanatory. Go for a couple of pairs of wool socks if you can because once cotton socks get wet, it’s over for you.
Thermals/waffles/under armor— Just a dry-wick base layer to keep you warm
Sweater/Sweatshirt to wear over your base layer.
Ski Jacket & Ski pants (1 each). If you’re military and don’t have snow gear or don’t want to deal with checking it oversized luggage, check out the MWR or Outdoor rec to rent it. I never considered renting because I just thought it would be crappy gear. It’s not! For $5 per day, you get well-maintained and fashionable ski pants and ski jacket. Don’t worry about packing it either, Ft Carson and Peterson, AFB are located near the closest Airports to Breck. Check out 21fss.com.
Snow boots. Sorels are my favorite but since I’ve yet to have my boots returned from my trip to Germany this time last year, there are some other more affordable options.
Comfy clothes – for loafing around the cabin. Pants/leggings, shorts, onsie, tees, tanks, jammies. Don’t go overboard here.
Shower shoes/flops for the walk from the deck door to the hot tub. I mean, I did it barefoot and it didn’t bother me but, flip flops would have been nice.
Something to look cute at the bar if you choose to go. Do not bring stilettos to a snowy mountain. Life will not go well for you.
Toiletries – You’re going to be ashy. Your lips are going to be chapped. Your nose is going to be dry and maybe bleed. Be prepared.
Hot Tub Attire
Games. No Black Ski Week Apres Ski is complete without Uno. Spades. Taboo. Black Card Revoked. Bring on the Games!
This is the type of winter weather gear the 21st Force Support Squadron MWR rents to service members. Photo by @thefinalkutphotography
Transportation
You have a couple of options for transportation. Breckinridge is about two hours from the Denver Airport (which is on the far side of Denver from Breckinridge).
A couple of shuttle companies charge $40 per passenger for a one-way pick up from the airport to the cabin. Summit Express (855.686.8267) and Peak 1 (970. 724.7241) are both shared shuttles that provide this service.
Black Mountain Limo is a luxury private service that charges
$400 per trip.
If your flight lands at a time that allows, you can take the A-train to Union Station, switch to the Bustang, and then to the Summit Stage, which will take you from the Denver airport to downtown Breckenridge for less than $20 per person.
An Uber or Lyft typically costs $150 per person one way if
you want to consider that.
Depending on the size of your group and flight schedule, it might be more economical to rent a tricked-out soccer mom van for the duration of the time on the mountain. Hotwire.com tends to have phenomenal deals.
Activities
Even though it’s Black Ski Week, it doesn’t mean all your time has to be spent on downhill adventures. Breckenridge offers so many other winter activities to experience! We had a blast using Good Time Adventures as our one-stop shop for snowmobiling, tubing, and dog sledding through the Alpine trails. They also offer horse sleigh rides.
Y’all, I cannot stress enough, that those little, cute huskies run as fast as the mountain wind does blow. Those six little dogs run 30 miles per hour. Utilize the break on the sled. If you fly off the sled, they will keep running and your partner is going to be sitting there enjoying the view, not even realizing you’re no longer driving the sled. Use. The. Break.
Breckinridge, of course, is the
local ski resort, super close to the cabins.
Their lift passes work at Keystone (about 40 minutes away). So you can
ski Breck during the day, take a break, then do night skiing at Keystone all on
the same lift pass.
Horseback riding- I didn’t even try to go riding because it was cold AF. But Breckinridge does offer several stables in operation during the cold months. Keystone’s ski resort also has stables.
Just remember, all physical activities are harder to do at high altitudes. Regardless if it’s dancing, skiing, dog sledding, or any other physical activity (raised eyebrow, to hint at a euphemism) — ALL physical activities are harder in high altitude.
Lastly, the best time you’ll have
is the time you spend in the company of good friends. Keep the conversations flowing,
the music bumping, and the vibes high. Just enjoy being young, wild, and free.
Two love birds met on an annual trip a few years ago and still traveling together today.
Black Ski Week is a time for camaraderie and enjoying winter sports in a culturally nurturing way. There’s not one way to have an epic Black Ski Week. I think that covers everything you need to host your own Black Ski Week in Breckenridge, Colorado. Let me know if I didn’t cover something.
I don’t know a single Southerner who grew up on skis. In fact, I can only name two Southern folks who claim to participate in any type of outdoor winter sport be it skating, hockey, skiing, snowboarding or that weird Olympic sport were you push a rock around on ice. The south has two professional hockey teams (in Nashville and Atlanta) and I’m willing to bet all the players come from outside the south. When it’s cold in the south, we just prefer to stay in doors. But for some reason, when passing by a ski shop while on a holiday gift shopping excursion prompted my best buddy to ask, “Do you want to go skiing tomorrow?” I said yes.
Everyone in Europe seems to be a skier or snowboarder so such a question is commonplace in Stuttgart. The Austrian and Swiss Alps are two driving hours away so spur of the moment ski trips happen all winter. Back home, skiing is quite a planning undertaking which requires plane tickets, requested time off from work, and hotel reservations. My family talked about skiing at Paoli Peaks one winter. That’s about as far as it went. So here I am, closer to turning 30 than I am 20 and I am making decisive measures to strap on skis for the first time in my life.
Getting the Gear According to my avid skier beau, who grew up skiing in Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado, nothing can ruin a great ski day faster than being improperly dressed. So we stepped into the discount ski shop to buy pants and a jacket. It was then that I learned that maybe I hated the snow so much because I just haven’t been properly taught to stay warm. I was reared by a Kentucky mama and an Alabama daddy so when it snowed we hunkered down and rode out the treacherous storm in the house by the fire place or kerosene heaters! If we did venture out, my parents would have my sister and I wearing so many layers of clothes that we waddled like the Michelin man and our limbs stood out away from our bodies like a gingerbread man cookie.
Amazing after centuries of inhabiting inclement weather regions, humans have unlocked the mystery of o the art and science of staying warm and dry in the snow. I never knew such a thing was possible! And get this… it can be done in only need three layers!
1. Do long johns (thermal) or under armor for your first layer. 2. Next do an over layer like a turtle neck, sweater, or sweatshirt. 3. Your final layer includes your water proof ski pants and ski jacket. Viola! You’ll stay warm and you can still move around.
Tips: If you get wet, head to the lodge because you have no chance of staying warm. You don’t want to wear jeans either. They allow you to get wet and restrict you from movement. I never guessed you could also get hot while skiing. Skiing is a work out, you can sweat so you need to be able to open and vent your ski pants or jacket.
Thin socks are a Godsend. Your ski boots will keep you warm enough. If you layer socks or wear think wool ones you risk cutting off circulation and getting cold. You’ve got to be able to wriggle your toes. Some ski socks come with padding on the shins to protect you while you lean against the boots. Ski gloves, goggles, face mask to keep your cheeks and chin warm on cold windy days. Just like when you ride a bike, wear a helmet! This can save your life no matter how good you get.
So, after mixing and matching colorful pants with different jackets I settled on the first jacket I tried on, a bright, sunny one with white pants. This unplanned purchase was justified by my lack of winter clothing and their versatility of being able to wear them off the slopes.
Getting to the Slopes
So Sunday rolled around and we journeyed two hours south to Oberjoch for my first go on skies ever. The ride to Oberjoch was one I had made several times in the summer but it was absolutely gorgeous with snow gracing the evergreens and mountains. The GPS claimed we were at our destination at the bottom of the mountain but we had to continue up the curvy roads to the resort. In The States, ski resorts are all inclusive where you can lodge, buy your lift tickets, and rent your gear all in one place. Not so in Germany. There’s a company that rents ski gear, then another company that owns lifts, and you have to find your own hotel and restaurant. We’d come one week too early for the season opening. No lessons were available at the ski school. There were no lifts, most of the runs were not open, but amazingly, the mountains were active and I was eager to add to the activity. Expectation Management
While I was being strapped in my boots by the ski rental employee, I watched this adorable little tot who couldn’t have been any older than three years and whose parents were calling her Cassandra, pick up her mini skis and toss them over her shoulder and strut out the door like a pro. We handed the Kasse (Cashier) 18 euros to rent the skis, poles, and a helmet and headed out behind little Cassie. If this little tot could confidently go onto the slopes I was sure I could do the same. To me, being an adult on the bunny hill is about as ego bruising as having to play “Twinkle twinkle” as an adult at piano recital. I’d rather skip the right hand only songs and jump straight to Chopin’s Opus 64 No.1 “Petit Chien” or, in ski terms, skip the bunny hill and head straight toward the Black Diamond run. I envision myself as a super woman who, with a little time, can conquer anything. I realized as soon as I put my skis on that that goal was a serious optimism. Probably the most humbling of experiences. Skiing encouraged expectation management. Let me tell you what you can expect within your first 15 minutes on the runs:
You will not be skipping the bunny hill.
Even tough, coordinated, athletic Belles will fall down. A lot.
It takes a lot of energy to get up. It’s worse than falling in ice skates.
Six-year-olds will show off cool karate kicks in their skies while you are still trying to get off the ground.
You will be embarrassed, frustrated, leaning toward self doubt and start thinking skiing is a terrible lame sport that you will never get into.
You only have two speeds as a beginner, “too slow” and “too fast.”
Good news is, it doesn’t take long to get straightened out and gain confidence. Just like riding a bike, you’ll fall off a few times but soon you’ll be riding with no hands!
How to Have a Good First Ski Experience I was fortunate to have an expert skier as a friend willing to give me private, focused lessons. And fortunate that most slopes were closed so he had no choice but to pay attention to me rather than running off to the Black Diamond runs. A patient, free instructor who doesn’t take it for granted that you know anything is a plus. Make sure you are appropriately dressed because skiing is no fun when you’re miserable.
First, I had to learn the most basic of the basics: how to snap in and out of the skis and walk in the boots. Then it was just being able to stand up on flat ground that became a challenge. It’s like when you first learn to drive a stick shift, you become very aware when the ground is not flat because you’ll roll backward. Same of the skis. Every little incline, inclines your mind wouldn’t readily notice, I was sliding— sometimes backward, or sideways. Then after a seminar about keeping my skies parallel like French fries to move fast and turned in like a pizza wedge to slow down I took my first downhill adventure. It went a little something like this:
BFF: French Fry!
Me: I’m doin’ it! I’m doin’ it!
BFF: Good!
Me: Whooa, Whoa! Too fast! Too Fast!
BFF: You’re not going to fast
Me: Too fast!
BFF: Pizza wedge! Pizza Wedge!
Me: Ahhh!
Crash! I hurl myself into a pile of snow to slow myself down as a German two year-old bundled up in a florescent striped onesie parka waves at me as she slides by on a pink toboggan sled.
This went on for a few more times. It was frustrating. It was then that I thought to myself, I don’t foresee myself ever being good at this sport and no one likes something they’re not good at. I spent time accidentally sliding backwards, accidentally skiing up hill, and learning that trying to get up after falling takes a lot of energy. I started to resent the preteens that whizzed past doing kung fu moves in the air and landing on their feet and envied the toddlers who made it all the way down a slope on their parent’s leash. One little girl in particular was fussing in German at her parents who held on to a leash behind her. I imagined she was saying, “I can do it all by myself!”
A kind German man offered his words of encouragement to me, “Next week you’ll be up there” he pointed up the mountains. He explained how he was just like me five years ago. That was encouraging and I appreciated his words (I should have let him know that). Everyone starts at the bottom. Even Jimi Hendrix sounded like a hopeless child when he started playing the guitar. The challenge of gliding down steep mountains like a pro seemed overwhelming but even pros started on the bunny hill. In the future there will be powder, bumps, and steep drops but for now, I just need to learn how to maintain control of myself on skies. I also realized that without the ski lifts running, I needed to learn to conserve energy. Being physically fit is important because this sport is deceivingly active. It looks so simple. Having to march back up snowy hills kinda detracted from the incentive of going down.
Toward the end of the day I slowly gained more confidence and control and skiing slowly became more fun. I could stop when I wanted to and turn the direction I wanted. I certainly don’t foresee skiing becoming popular among southern folks any time soon but I will be returning to the slopes this weekend with a professional instructor and with operational ski lifts for round two of Southern Belle’s skiing adventures! Tell you more about it later! Tschüss!
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