By Tripti Stashefski • Special to The Current
Picture it, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, 1955: Three decades after hosting the first Winter Olympics, the mystical mountain town nestled in the French Alps broke into the commercial skiing scene with the opening of the Aiguille du Midi cable car. From the time the Alpine Sports Club was birthed in Chamonix in 1905, it seems becoming an international ski destination was written in the stars for the southeastern region of France.
The mountains were no longer exclusive to professional athletes. Friends and families could now take part in hitting the slopes together! As the sport of skiing was taking off in Europe in the 1950’s, a culture was being formed. Gathering after a day on the mountain to share experiences became commonplace. Soon, quiet mountain towns were booming with bars and restaurants for skiing enthusiasts to unwind and socialize. The culture was charged by the French term, après ski, which has a literal translation to “after ski” or “after skiing”.
The United States was no stranger to the world of winter sports by this time. With the first chairlifts being built in the late 1930’s and the magic of man-made snow making an appearance in the 1950’s, the ski industry was making great strides. Alongside that rise was the après ski culture, with ski resorts boasting beautiful, warm lodges and surrounding towns capitalizing on the food and beverage market.
Pennsylvania’s first commercial ski area is right here in the Poconos. Big Boulder opened in 1946 and was making snow about a decade later. Snowmaking machines were the fuel needed for other resorts to open in our area and over the next thirty years we welcomed Camelback, Jack Frost, Shawnee, and Blue Mountain.
Après ski is what you make it. The only requirement is reflection, a celebration of the day’s accomplishments. Whether it be a DJ-fueled slope-side après ski party in Aspen, a nightclub open until dawn in Chamonix, fondue and wine by the fire in Vermont, starlit bubbly in a hot tub by Lake Placid, or burgers and beer at the pub in PA, the common denominator is that you’re having the moment next to those with shared experiences of the day.
Picture it, Jim Thorpe, PA, 2022: You and your closest friends have bundled up and head out to the slopes for some incredible runs. The adrenaline is high, the view is incredible, and the memories will last a lifetime. You come back to the quaint town, street lined with lit trees, and you fill a corner table at a small, local bar with loads of delectable appetizers, warm cocktails, and refreshing beer. Your après ski moment is full of camaraderie, laughter, and appreciation of your day at the mountain.
Tripti Stashefski is tends bar at The Marion Hose Bar located at 16 W. Broadway in Jim Thorpe.
For more visit www.marionhosebar.com
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