Chamonix based mountain guide, Isabelle Santoire is part of an elite group of trained mountain guides at le Syndicat national des Guides de Montagne (SNGM).
There are about 1600 guides associated with this group in France, many of whom can be found in Chamonix. These are individuals who have all met the stringent testing criteria. Isabelle represents of small number women in this physically demanding line of work; there are only 14 females in Chamonix and even fewer who guide full-time.
Pure, simple and real…DEEP
and that is the way they like it.
Too bad for the gal who had a business trip crop up. Nutmeg happily took her spot on a girls ski weekend to legendary Whitewater Ski Resort.
Ginger and Nutmeg have had the good fortune to ski in Europe on a few occasions. On these trips, they have been largely blessed with sunny skies but strangely, almost never with exceptional snow, until this year. In fact, Nutmeg had never noticed these signs before this visit. Watch your head!
Ginger and Nutmeg have some close friends who after living in Minnesota, Montreal, Colorado and Seattle have chosen (wisely) to live in Provence, on a permanent basis. Now, one could question their combined level of sanity in choosing (not so wisely) to visit Calgary and Canmore at the end of January.
Nutmeg could have saved the European policy wonks and financial wizards a lot of time and energy.
The Euro began trading on currency markets, ten years ago on January 1, 1999. It was not until 2002, that hard currency, reached the hands of the inhabitants, and started circulating in the cafés, restaurants and stores. Now, the “man on the street” felt the impact of this strange new currency as they reluctantly handed over their Francs, Marks, Schillings and Lira.
Ginger’s whole family was in Canmore to celebrate belated birthdays and the New Year ahead. The house was full and there was lots of buzz around the first day of kiddie ski lessons. Just try to imagine 500 kids starting ski lessons on the same day.
Nutmeg awoke that morning with a minor version of the modern day plague – a head cold. She chose not to battle the kids and parents at the hill, but rather to stay home quietly with Jade and wait for the chef to arrive.
The Swiss town of Davos is home to the World Economic Forum (WEF), which was first established in 1971, under a different name. Now, WEF meetings are held every January, attracting international business and political leaders.
Ginger and Nutmeg jumped at the opportunity, to visit the legendary ski town.
NO, they were not presenters at the WEF they were going to the 43rd running of the Interbourse.
Austria is a country known for extraordinary skiing. Those fortunate enough to have enjoyed the famous slopes also know that the resorts are renowned for festive après ski parties. Now, there is something new in the idyllic village of St Anton, a boutique ski hotel that epitomizes luxury.
Some might consider buildingan exculsive17-room hotel right next-door to one of the biggest après ski parties in Austria, outrageous. However, with long-term vision and a commitment to the local area, The Mooser Hotel opened its doors to guests, for the first time in December 2011.
The village of St-Maximin-la-Ste-Baume is located in a valley a short 30-minute drive south of Aix en Provence. Vineyards surround the town and just to the south is the Massif de la Ste-Baume. The town was named after St Maximinus, who reportedly converted the residents to Christianity and where a 6th century parish church was built and named in his honour. The church was later demolished when the basilica was constructed.
