Living in or near mountains.

My start was much closer to that of Pavels. I arrived, in mid December, with 5 others of the same ilk, and slept on a number of different floors, and for a week, in a cupboard.
No work, and very little money.
A season pass cost £50! How was I to earn it? I just did a variety of jobs, such as ski & boot fitting.
Went skiing at 8.00 am every morning with the locals, who kind of understood. Skied every spare moment, and when I could manage a standard, asked if I could join in Instructor training mornings. I have to say, the locals were great, they helped me at every opportunity.
Things rapidly developed, and, and halfway through the season,I was working for the ski school, staying until mid-April. Subsequently got my ski-qualification, and had more seasons.
The key thing, is to put yourself in a place where opportunities can occur.
It all started by being prepared to sleep in a cupboard.....

I think you just have to jump in and be prepared to do anything you can ...sitting in the UK it all seems daunting and there is a million reasons why you cant go...
However if it goes wrong you will NOT die!!
As Pavel and Dave Mac say when you get to resort (early!) get to know the locals and seasonaires and find the local bar where they hang out and network furiously!
I have found it easier to find work here than in the UK ... I have been looking after a chalet, working on a building site mixing concrete, cleaning chalets part time, and playing saxophone in a couple of bars, fixing computers in the UK by remote access, and delivering toys for the nanny company..
The season pass/travel was a lot of money and I worked in the summer for minimum wage to get it as a casual postman (to build the legs up!)
I would sit in the van listening to the other posties planning their annual holiday and smile to myself thinking
"Every day here is a day in the mountains"
If it all goes wrong and we end up back in the UK with nothing then at least we wont be saying
"I wonder what would have happened if we had gone to the Alps?"
I am 54 and done a lot of things in life. We both had professional jobs if this goes bad tomorrow it was still worth it..
Just my opinion!

In three years and four months my mortgage will be paid, I start to collect the first in a series of pensions, and I'll be off to the alps! At 56, I think I'll be young enough to enjoy it....

...and following on from what Bandit said about the difficulties of Swiss domicile, I think I'm likely to base myself in Italy and sneak across the border into Swisserland for extended periods!

Hi Crispy,

Sorry for being a little late to this thread, although not actually working in the Alps. I do own an apartment in Bourg-St-Maurice which allows me as much time as I can afford ( both financially and in actual time itself ).

I manage to get out several times a year when possible, here in the UK I work as a coded welder which offers pretty good pay for where I live and very good benefit's and bonuses ....but not a fortune by any standards.

The company I work for ( German by the way ) does have a manufacturing facility in Romans in France so I suppose I could look for a transfer to be nearer the mountains :idea: .

The apartment cost me around £32,000 in 2003 , today it would be maybe £80,000 , but there are still many bargains for studio apartments and larger in the area.

At the time it did seem like a big chance and a big step to take , but over the years has proved to be a peaceful get away, and with flights+car hire for a week at around £170 for the two quite cheap once the original outlay has been sorted out.

Would I do it again , and in these uncertain times........????

.....yes I believe I would.

All the best, and whenever you are out in the mountains enjoy and be safe.

jon.

NellyPS wrote:SB can you speak French? That's one of my concerns, even though I worked several seasons my French is shocking.

Mr Nelly is as keen as me to make the move but my concern would be the summers, I know they survive but the work would be minimal.

His kids are still at school so it's not an option at the moment but I'm seriously considering a few options and also doing a French course so we can make the move in a few years.

Interesting thread though, makes me want to do it more :)

My french is getting better, but I would definitely not say that I speak french! I'm lucky in many ways as being a UK trained teacher there is work for me almost anywhere. Teaching however is not what I want to do forever, but it is good back up!

Every morning when I wake up, the first thing I think about is how I am going to get out here for good and what I'm going to do when I'm here...Even though we've done little more than spend two seasons practicing and looking in estate agents windows, just having made the decision that we are going to do it, makes me feel very excited. :D

Success is

"when preparation meets opportunity " !

In short,,,,,prepare yourself and when that "moment comes" JUMP !

The ski world if full of "ski addicts" who have left the "apparent" safe, rich "prestige loaded" life and found a job cleaning floors, washing dishes, etc,,,anything as long as it is near ski resort !

You all have just one life ! Live it to its fullest !

Dave Mac, loved your story because it reminds me so much of past events !

I hear skiers complaint that skiing is so "expensive" so let me share with you how inexpensive it can be !

At one point in my life I had 6 children skiing with me and we "managed" !

The owner of a ski resort needed a "weekend" janitor/security/manager for his inn ! I heard he was looking for someone just for weekends to replace full time staff !

I proposed a "deal" which he could not refuse!

For a family season pass, an on the slope condo I was willing to be that janitor/security/manager ! For 10 years from Friday to Sunday I would do the rounds at the inn, check doors, close main doors, visit unruly, loud guests, open rooms for late late arrivals ( 1 AM ),,show drunk skiers to their rooms, hide young male skiers from their parents, hide older female skiers from their children,,,etc,,,, !

My son was the youngest "barman" in the area, ( seems he also was most "popular" ) ! Haaaa,,,,,the adventures I had ! Haaaa,,,,the adventures my sons had ( that I am now hearing about !!!!)

Skiing "expensive",,,,,,,????? It all depends on you !