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Twenty-Two Reasons Why I Love Being a Ski Instructor 

Moi in My 20th Season as a Ski Instructor in Telluride

In honor of my twentieth anniversary of teaching skiing at the Telluride Ski Resort, I thought I’d post some of the many reasons why I love being a ski instructor.

-I’m paid to ski in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

-I’m part of a big family that is the Telluride Ski & Snowboard School. The camaraderie we share among our fellow instructors, supervisors, managers and other mountain workers is tops.

-It’s wonderful to spread rainbows and sunshine everyday; we are truly the cheerleaders of the hill and the people who spend the most time with the guests.

-I love teaching.

-My job requires me to be playful, especially when teaching kids, however, I’ve found that adults respond well to play also.

-I love socializing. Instructors need to be very social; we are people people. We are often social planners, especially when it comes to facilitating a guest’s experience on the mountain.

-Teaching children to ski and spending time with them fills a big whole in my heart that was created when I was not able to have children of my own.

-It’s most convenient to have a locker right at the base of the slopes.

-Ski School provides us with many opportunities to work on our own skiing and I take advantage of as many training sessions as possible.

-I like being a part of PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) where the emphasis is on continuing education. They can be kind of nerdy but that’s part of what we do, particularly when it comes to technique.

-I think of my father most every day when I’m on the mountain and feel gratitude toward him for introducing me to skiing and Colorado. 

-I do like wearing a uniform and red is my favorite color.

-There’s nothing like fresh air and exercise.

-I eat pretty much whatever I want during ski season since as instructors that are out in the cold many, many long days in a row, we burn a lot of calories.

-I like the perks we have, including pro discounts on lots of goods and services and free skiing at many resorts. It’s also nice to receive reduced price and complimentary lift tickets to Telluride that I can share with friends and family.

-It’s interesting to meet all kinds of people from all over the world and to turn them on to skiing.

-I like to play chairlift games.

-I feel that I’m pretty good at chairlift therapy i.e. convincing a woman why should she cultivate an interest in skiing when she’d rather be at the beach. (I like to say that families that ski together stay together and also that maybe you don’t want to send your partner away on one more guy’s trip to the slopes.) 

-It’s a wonderful feeling to have worked out in the cold all day and go home to a cozy interior to thaw out.

-I like developing a side to myself that was not so apparent throughout my life, especially during my Paris days. Self empowerment through sport has become a theme for me these past two decades.

-It’s nice not to have to wait in lift lines when I’m teaching. (Although not nearly as busy as other big resorts, Telluride has become quite busy during the vacation weeks.)

-We are an eclectic group within the Telluride Ski & Snowboard School–young and old, from all kinds of backgrounds with all kinds of fortes that distinguish each and every one of us. It’s fun, for example, sitting on the bench (in the locker room) with a twenty-something and still feeling no ageism because our common language is the ski and riding experience that we all offer. Translation:  this ‘ole gal has some good pearls of wisdom to offer to many of the youngins, even if they can ski circles around me. 

Why twenty-two? It’s my favorite number.

Tune into KOTO.org tonight, Thursday, February 15 at 6:30pm MST to listen to my Travel Fun interview with Tim Williams, Director of the Telluride Ski & Snowboard School. Talking about sliding is almost as good as doing it.

Ode to Zephyros, Bravo to the Farmers

Experiencing Joy Therapy with Molly and Rachel
Feeling a Zest for Zephyros
The Telluride Farmer’s Market

My, what a busy, sun-drenched summer it was! And with the first couple of weeks of fall being extra sunny, warm and dry, we are only slowly inching toward winter here in Colorado. This weather, which has been a boon to farmers, has resulted in bountiful harvests of fruit, vegetables and flowers that keep on coming. The big snows will be here soon enough, but right now we are enjoying an extended almost summer-like season. 

Zephyros Flower Stand

Between the blistering heat and a good amount of travels, life has been pretty intense for me in these past months. Thankfully there was one constant that was a stabilizing force, one new activity that brought me much joy:  working at the Zephyros flower stand at the Telluride Farmer’s Market on Fridays.

Zee Bouquet

Most every Friday this summer was punctuated with bright pops of color, redolent starts to the day and cheerful interactions with clients and fellow market goers. Yes, I became a flower seller. Like anything new, I was a little jittery at first. Wrapping flowers properly is an art. Doing quick additions in my head of a large bouquet composed of some twenty different stems had me dialing up skills I hadn’t used since grade school math class. And lugging heavy buckets of water gave my upper body a workout unlike anything I’m able to achieve on the ski slopes.

Greenery Make the Bouquets

But soon enough I was able to navigate my way within this bustling attraction that has ranked as one of the market’s top draws for almost fifteen years. Under the tutelage of Molly and Rachel, I learned the art of flower arranging, and after a few weeks I began to compose bouquets that embodied the Zephyros look. Their signature style evokes a poetic expression of beauty, one that the French would call champêtre. (That word loosely translates to country or pastoral.) How gratifying it was to see these little bouquets–which Zephyros refers to as ‘lil Miss–selected for purchase just minutes after I carefully assembled my interpretation of a country bouquet.

Zee Farmers

By then, I had hit my stride and I was even becoming more familiar with the vast variety of flowers and grasses showcased on the stand. Flowers such as godetia, stock and Armenian basket flower were becoming almost as familiar as peonies, marigolds and sunflowers. Sometimes I’d even learn the common names; euphorbia, for example, is known as snow on the mountain. So fresh and lovely. 

Zee Handwritten Signs

Yes, I delighted in admiring the beauty in everything I sold. Nothing went unnoticed to me. Teaching skiing on creamy snow-packed slopes of Telluride on a bluebird day fills the mind, body and spirit. To me, handling such beautiful flowers and sharing them with others stirs the senses in the most glorious ways as well.

I call it joy therapy, a theme I have focused on for a good while now. After much sadness, loss and upset, I am once again witnessing friends and family affront death and dying. I’m also still dealing with an insanely litigious person that has brought more than twenty legal actions against the family since my father passed in 2016. The best response to all that is to shine more light and what better way to do it than with flowers. 

Major Joy Therapy

My mom imparted her love of flowers to me at an early age. We always had little country bouquets in every room at our lake house. Growing cutting flowers in the garden, however, proved to be a more challenging task. I’d have to pick carefully in our flower beds to find just the right amount of blooms and greenery to fill our vases. I do the same thing now in my little garden in Colorado.

A Country Bouquet from My Garden
Zephyros at Home

So you can imagine my wonder every Friday when I helped to unload the big Zephyros truck heaping with buckets of flowers, single stems and bouquets that had been carefully prepared the day before. The bounty, the glory and the freshness of it all has made me dizzy with pleasure. Displaying their array of flowers–and also some produce–was like laying out a feast. 

I tell Molly and Rachel that their goods rival those from some of the most abundant markets of France. During a recent trip to Provence, in fact, lavender was the only flower sold at one of the big open-air markets. 

Colorado Lavender

The flower shops in Paris are magnifique yet I don’t know of a boutique that grows everything they sell. Such is the case with Zephyros Farm & Garden, a farm about two-and-a-half hours from Telluride in Paonia. These farmers grow indoors and out, from seed to dried bouquets, working the earth organically and with a passion that shows in all of their goods.

I will visit their farm and gardens some day. You can, too. Let’s keep the joy therapy coming. Thank you to all the farmers who work tirelessly to spread such goodness to us. During this harvest season where we find such abundance on farmers’ stands and markets, we have an added appreciation for what they do. For those of us that have tried our hand at growing, we know that little emerges from the earth easily. (Except, of course, weeds!)

You can visit the Zephyros flower stand at the Telluride Farmer’s Market, which typically goes from early June through early October. Today’s market will be the last one of the year. I’ve completed my work there but hope to return next year. 

Zephyros Tomatoes
Salsa Time
Harvest Time

If you’re not able to check them out in person, visit their website for a hit of joy. And then pick up a bouquet of flowers for yourself somewhere to brighten your surroundings. Remember to change the water daily!

The darkest days of fall and winter will soon be upon us, so have your fill now of Mother Nature’s bounty. Your local farmers will thank you.

Buttercream Sunflowers
Market Humor
Yes, I Am a Flower Slut

In September,  I enjoyed a visit to The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, one of the world’s most resplendent resorts. I posted many pictures of their gardens on my Instagram and Facebook pages. In July, I had also posted on my social media photos of magnificent flower arrangements from a wedding I attended in Saint Tropez early in the summer. Do take a peek.

Groovy Times Guaranteed at Mountain Lodge Telluride

Steve and Me at this Year’s Mardi Gras

Imagine a handsome mountain lodge in a superlative setting with an extraordinary local vibe. Think of a place that puts on great parties for locals and visitors alike. That’s what you’ll find at Mountain Lodge Telluride, one of the top places of lodging in Telluride, Colorado.

Joint Point
Jammin’

As I wrote in my story, The View at Mountain Lodge: Telluride’s Best-Kept Secret, for Telluride Magazine, their restaurant is a favorite place for great food and drink and also a happening place for parties. The View hosts all kinds of events, including weddings. And they also put on some great bashes that embody the vibe of a good ‘ole Telluride party. Joint Point, a favorite local rock band with solid jamming chops, has been putting on shows twice a year here for a number of years. Their Snow Dance the Friday after Thanksgiving and their Electric Luau, a Friday night in the first part of June, have become traditions in Telluride’s roster of good times. 

Costuming is Part of the Fun
Fun Times with Friends

Music festival season is almost here. And there’s no better way to warm up for it than attending a fun evening of music and dance within a fabulous great room, a space surely designed with extraordinary gatherings in mind. Dig out your Aloha shirts, board shorts and flowered sarongs and put your bright on this Friday, June 9th to welcome the summer season. 

With chilly temps still bringing in some fresh fallen snow (up high!), it has not felt very summery around this part of the Rockies so far. But we have had some spectacular rainbows and you’re sure to bask in your own kaleidoscopic array of light by attending Friday night’s Electric Luau at the Lodge. Reasonably-priced and super tasty food and drink will be served, so go hungry. 

Full disclosure:  my guy, Steve Togni, the general manager of Mountain Lodge Telluride for almost twenty years and my significant other for about fifteen of them, usually steps in and plays a song or two with the band. How cool is that? No wonder this elegant establishment can so easily take on a hippie vibe. Anyone in the know, knows that that’s part of the beauty of Telluride. It’s our way of keeping it real.

Lighting Up the Night Old School

Know that even if you miss Friday’s party at the Lodge, there are plenty of other opportunities to enjoy this wonderful venue. Check out my story, The View at Mountain Lodge:  Telluride’s Best-Kept Secret, to find out more about the restaurant and bar. Note that changes are afoot and there will be a whole new food and beverage team this summer. In keeping with the trajectory of The View since it’s conception in 2008, offerings here are sure to be better than ever.

The Mountain Lodge Spirit

Wow What a Ski Season in the West

Wow, what a winter it was! 

Spring Skiing at Purgatory in Durango

Wow, what a ski season!

First of all, I have to say I’m sorry I dropped out of posting at my blog all these months. I was busy with lots of projects in the fall, then boom, winter hit. And what a winter it was! What a spring it has been! With skiing still going on (yes, even in May) here in the West, this one ranks as an epic season. (Today, in fact, Telluriders woke up to about a foot of fresh powder.)

The start of the ski season is always filled with a flurry of activity, dialing in equipment, sorting out big stacks of ski clothing and accessories, skiing into shape and training for what we always hope will be a promising season at the Telluride Ski Resort.

This year, expectations were low among my fellow instructors at the Telluride Ski & Snowboard School. All the forecasts predicted a not-so snowy winter. And indeed the start of the season was scant. But partway through the week between Christmas and New Year’s (our busiest week of the year), snow began to fall.

Top Ski Instructor John Balmain Shredding It in Telluride

We ended up being blessed with huge quantities of the fluffy white stuff. I’m not one to count snow totals but I can say that in the almost twenty years I’ve been in Telluride, I don’t remember quite so much snow. And the bluster! This part of southwestern Colorado is known for its sunshine and glorious weather. (The temps here typically range about 10 degrees higher than at resorts in Summit County.) But this year, we had a ton of grey days. Yet in addition to keeping the snow nice and creamy, all those cold and cloudy days preserved the snowpack like never before.

Lots of Work for Ski Patrol this Season

I was sick a lot–in typical ski instructor fashion–unfortunately. That was not surprising in view of the harsh weather but thankfully my health was restored with the arrival of the warmer, sunnier days. With so much outdoor activity in the relentless cold, many of us that worked on the mountain (at about 10,000 feet in elevation) were perpetually sick.

Big Snow Pillows
Moi

I did, however, have many terrific ski lessons that buoyed me up. It’s all about the people, or clients, when you’re a ski instructor in Telluride. We are the consummate cheerleaders, the lauded ambassadors of the mountain, the people that have the most contact with the guests. And we aim to please. Whether the client wants to work on the shaping phase of their turn or just wants a fabulous tour of the mountain (without having to wait in line, which people sometimes now have to do in T-ride except if you’re with an instructor), we know how to accommodate. From children to adults, first timers to advanced intermediates, I love teaching people with personalities and learning styles as diverse as the color of their ski outfits.

Each experience enriches me in a variety of ways. Plus, I’m out and about in beautiful Telluride, Colorado, skiing and enjoying the view. What could be better!?!

Revelation Bowl in Telluride

Here’s something that was new this year: We were constantly sold out at the Telluride Ski & Snowboard School. Our demand has been building these past years but now it’s ridiculous. People have to book months and months in advance if they want private or group lessons for kids or adults. Yep, no more downtime. So, if you’re considering a ski vacation in Telluride for next season, start making your plans this summer and reach out to your instructor to check on availability. 

Family Fun

We must be worth it because people keep coming back. Most of us have repeat clients for years and years. It’s about creating relationships. The beauty of Telluride is awe-inspiring, the terrain is extraordinary and it’s the instructor’s job to showcase that for a client whether they are a first-time skier or a seasoned expert. We also add that certain je ne sais quoi that makes the lesson all the more memorable.

Happy Client
Little Ripper
End of the Ski Season: Such a Colorful Time of the Year

So have I hung up my skis for the season? Most likely, but you never know, especially with this week’s fresh snowfall. There’s still so much snow to ski on and the spring skiing has been primo. Kudos to Purgatory in Durango for remaining open through this Sunday, May 14. My guy and I have been having lots of fun there, since it’s a great little mountain with a fun vibe. Staying Saturday nights in the charming western town of Durango has been super special, too.

Arapahoe Basin is slated to close early June, and at Mammoth Mountain in California they have already announced that they will remain open at least until July. I actually heard a rumor that they were going to try to do a big first and remain open year-round until next ski season. Hey, with their record-breaking snow totals of close to 700 inches, anything is possible.

Spring Skiing in Durango
Feeling Spring-y in Durango

As our robust snowpack melts, let’s give thanks to the snow gods that blessed us with this tremendous ski season and an abundance of much-needed moisture. Our rushing rivers are filling lakes and reservoirs within and beyond Colorado, providing water that will sustain us more than anyone had hoped going into this past season. Water is a precious commodity in the American West and thanks to our winter and spring snows, we have been graced with enough that will make a difference throughout, particularly in areas that have been in drought. 

Plus, recreating on all this water is fun.

Happy spring, happy snowmelt!

Spring Skiing in Durango: Almost Like Summer

To see more photos and videos from this past winter and spring, including restaurant and lodging recommendations in Durango, go to my Facebook and Instagram @maribeth-clemente pages.

Hilaree Nelson:  Mountaineer, Adventurer, Skier and Tellurider

Hilaree

“We all need a little fear in our lives. If you don’t have it, you’re not overcoming anything.”

I heard those words on CPR (Colorado Public Radio) as a segment of an interview with Hilaree Nelson played the day after her body was found in the Himalayas. She perished on September 26, 2022 as she started to ski down Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world. After having summited this monolithic peak with her partner, Jim Morrison, she sadly triggered an avalanche that swept her away.

Her thoughts on fear have resonated in my head ever since. So this is how Hilaree Nelson became so fearless.

I first heard about her disappearance on NPR (National Public Radio) earlier in the week. Somehow I had missed the update on KOTO, our local NPR-affiliate here in Telluride. It didn’t take long for me to realize, however, that our small mountain community was steeped in grief.

“She was a regular Telluride local,” said Ben Kerr, Station Manager and Program Director at KOTO. “Anybody who can accomplish what she did and maintain that sense of humility is amazing.”

Ben and I talked about Hilaree as I sat down in the studio to listen to a Travel Fun interview she did with me on March 12, 2015. In the podcast we sound like two Telluride gals chatting about travel and adventure almost as though we had met up for an après ski. It was an après ski of sorts because we taped the interview fresh off the slopes during an extraordinary snow week.

We were especially happy to talk about women and skiing, since Hilaree (then O’Neill) had just participated in Telluride Women’s Week, a long-running ski camp for women (actually the first in the country) at Telluride Ski Resort

For a big dose of inspiration on how to live your best life, listen to the half-hour podcast below.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM MY INTERVIEW WITH HILAREE NELSON

On Everest and Lhotse

Hilaree talks about her epic 2012 adventure when she linked two peaks:  Everest and Lhotse. “It was sort of a never-ending day,” she says. Pringles washed down with instant coffee mixed with protein shakes fueled Hilaree as she went almost fifty hours without sleep.  But it was mostly the exhilaration she felt around that expedition that enabled her to accomplish this remarkable feat.

Going for It

The Zone You Get In Before a Big Adventure

“I can do it,” Hilaree says. She also emphasizes research and gaining as much confidence and knowledge about something before diving in.

About Butterflies

“I like being uncomfortable,” she says. “I like having a big dose of fear.”

Hilaree Skiing Telluride; photo by Brett Schreckengost

Why Telluride

“I couldn’t get enough of the peaks around here,” Hilaree says as she refers to the Fourteeners in the area.

The Motivation

Hilaree and I talk about self empowerment through sport, a theme that has been a big part of my life the past two and a half decades. (It’s also underscored in my travel memoir, A Tour of the Heart:  A Seductive Cycling Trip Through France.) “It’s really empowering to push beyond our own walls,” she says. “I get that through being uncomfortable.” You’ll also hear that Hilaree’s adventures offered her a certain level of silence…both externally and internally.

Regarding Chamonix, France

“It’s French but very international…it was very eye-opening for me.” In our interview, Hilaree talks about this whole new world where the commonality was the mountains. Chamonix is also where Hilaree honed many of her roping skills. 

On the French

Hilaree came to appreciate their frankness but was also happy that although she learned French, her language skills were not quite strong enough to engage in conversations about la politique. This extraordinary athlete also loved indulging in many luscious aspects of French life, including les pâtisseries, other French foods and wine. She also very much enjoyed the French people’s appreciation for leisure time. 

Advice for Someone that Wants to Have More Adventure in Life

“Figure our what your passion is,” says Hilaree. If you’re really into wine, for example, she recommends going to France in the fall–during les vendanges–to pick grapes.

Cheers to you Hilaree Nelson! Thank you for being such a force and for seizing the day.

Ballard: One of the Views Outside of Hilaree’s Window in T-ride

Manchester Memories:  Nostalgic About Fall Foliage Trips with Mom

Mom and Me Shopping in Vermont in 2017

I grew up with five brothers and no sisters. My parents had four boys in a row, then me and many years later another boy. With this configuration, I was destined to be either a tomboy or a girly-girl. My mom was a little of both. But since she finally had her long-awaited daughter, she wanted to make sure I became as much of a little lady as possible. And what’s one of the most feminine pastimes? Most would agree that shopping and going out for lunch rank high in that category. Yes indeed, a tremendous amount of female bonding takes place over browsing the boutiques and chatting about life over a delicious lunch of quiche and salad.

There’s Nothing Like Vermont in the Fall

We lived in Troy, New York, just fifty minutes from Bennington, Vermont, close to the New York/Vermont border. Manchester is less than a half hour from there, so in all it would be about an hour and fifteen-minute trip. As soon as we left our house and headed east we plunged into delightful countryside, passing small family farms and traversing quaint villages as rural upstate New York morphed into bucolic Vermont. Rolling through once verdant landscapes kissed by fall’s golden sun and chilly nights, we delighted in viewing an artist’s palette of every variation of red, yellow, burnt umber, sepia and chartreuse. The brush, fields, flowers and trees all revealed their autumn splendor.

As if this festival of colors was not enough, most every house and business was done up with often fabulous displays of pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn (now known as Ornamental corn), cornstalks and sometimes a smattering of ghosts. Here the scarecrows were authentically clad and many had also served a purpose in the fields where crops had been freshly harvested. Today, these colloquial scenes have been souped up with giant plastic blowups in the form of spiders, ghouls and other representations of today’s exuberance over Halloween.

Yet the sincerity of these Vermonters remains true; fall is a time of sensory celebration. As many in the world know, autumn in Vermont stirs all of the senses.

Sure, the traffic through these country roads and towns has increased over the years. But when you’re on a fall foliage tour, leaf peepers don’t care much. That was the case for Mom and me when we had encountered a few jam ups some years back. Those slowdowns provided us with the opportunity to take a closer look because driving to Manchester meant enjoying the sites and scenery along the way. One could take a week going to Manchester from the capital district area of New York, a route followed by many New Yorkers, including those coming up from the city.

Peppered with antique shops, farm stands, all kinds of specialty shops and places to enjoy a bite, this near-famous Route 7 could easily be considered one of the top shopping and touring thoroughfares of New England. 

Mom and I Hitting a Vermont Country Store

When Mom and I were making Manchester our final destination, we’d typically only allow ourselves to stop at a handful of spots because we wanted to save a chunk of time for this oh-so happening Vermont town. Our goal would often be to arrive at The Equinox, an inn that has existed since 1769. Spotting the tall and stately columns in the front of the inn signaled that we were stepping back in time. Lunch within this bastion of tradition was always very special. Today, known as The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa, this historic property continues to evolve and is now a destination hotel and a Manchester landmark more so than ever.

The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Vermont

After lunch we’d mog around the center of Manchester, popping in and out of shops to our heart’s content. By 1977, Mother Myrick’s also rose to the top of our list of must-sees in Manchester. This confectionery began as a small fudge shop and now ranks as a first-class purveyor of all kinds of yummy sweets, including baked goods. People from all over the country order from their online boutique. Mom’s favorite was their buttercrunch, a handmade toffee made with Cabot Creamery butter. So many memories are wrapped up in foods. I’ll have to procure some for myself soon. Is candy a food?

Mother Myrick’s Fudge

Northshire Bookstore also opened during this era in an historic building that operated as an inn for over a century. One of the best-known small independent booksellers in the country, Northshire Bookstore has grown throughout the decades both in size (10,000 feet) and stature. Browsing here offers a delightful experience. In addition to being a general bookstore, they also showcase a curated selection of magazines, cards, stationery and all kinds of Vermont-made goods from comestibles to crafts. They, too, have a strong online presence and their author’s events are first-rate. 

Northshire Bookstore

We would usually leave the town center at a reasonable hour to save lots of time at the now defunct Jelly Mill, a huge old barn filled from the floor boards to the beams with an immense selection of gift items. Seeing this beloved establishment close its doors after so many years was sad but thankfully its disappearance allowed smaller boutiques to shine. Manchester Woodcraft and Above All Vermont are a couple of the shops that make this lovely Vermont town worth the trip. 

As time went on and the influx of travelers to Vermont’s Green Mountains grew, so did the shopping scene in Manchester. By the eighties, outlet shopping had become big here and soon Mom and I were spending less time at lunch and more time scouring the discount stores. Favorites outlets have long been Pendleton (for gorgeous woolens), Marimekko (for colorful prints), Le Creuset (for super sturdy cookware from France) and Armani (for fabulous Italian fashions). 

We’d sometimes stop into the Orvis store to pick up Christmas gifts for the brothers that liked to fish. (The Orvis family, who once occupied a wing of The Equinox, founded this esteemed company in Manchester in 1856. Known as a world leader in fly fishing, their goods embody the spirit of the Vermont way of life. So it’s only fitting that you’ll find two Orvis stores here, the main one and an outlet.)

Mom and I would pull into our garage past dark with a car stuffed with a prized selection of goods and gifts. Typically we’d only bring the Vermont cheeses, sausages, maple syrup, cider, apples, cider donuts and other goodies into the house. The rest would be stashed away for our own pleasure or for future gift giving to others. Either way, all that we purchased had so much more meaning because of the manner in which we did our shopping and the charming places where our treasures were found.

One of My Books on France, a Travel Memoir Entitled
A Tour of the Heart:
A Seductive Cycling Trip Through France

These trips with Mom were repeated year after year in the fall as well as during other seasons. They left an imprint on me so indelible that I developed an aversion to big cookie-cutter stores. No, I needed to shop in places full of character and charm, even if I only picked up a thing or two. 

From Vermont Country Stores to Paris Big Names

With these seeds planted, I eventually founded a shopping service in Paris, France called Chic Promenade. During this time in my life, I organized visits behind-the-scenes to the big names, so that people could learn the story of revered French houses such as Dior, Nina Ricci, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and many others. Chic Promenade also helped visitors discover the lesser-known boutiques of Paris, establishments full of history and tradition that provided a unique experience as soon as you passed through their door.

Before I even conducted my first tour, I began to write about these boutiques as well as the special places of interest, neighborhoods, restaurants, hotels, spas, tea salons and wine bars you’d want to incorporate into all kinds of shopping and touring excursions. In all, I have authored four books on shopping and touring in Paris and the French provinces.

It was a proud day when Mom and I went to Northshire Bookstore for my author’s presentation of one of these books. My passion for shopping and touring in Vermont had come full circle.

Thank you Manchester. Thank you Vermont. Thank you Mom. Merci to all for providing me with such inspiration. I’m sure you’ll find your own form of je ne sais quoi in Vermont when you go as well.

Tuning into KOTO Now and Always

Me Surrounded by Ben, Cara and Julia on KOTO’s Guest DJ Day

This is a big weekend in Telluride. It’s Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, more casually referred to as Blues & Brews. The air is crisp, there’s a dusting on the peaks, the aspens are changing and the town is poised to say goodbye to summer with its last big music festival of the season. For those like me who are currently not in T-ride, you can tune into this great big musical extravaganza at KOTO.org. Of course you can–because KOTO is the heart and soul of our beautiful mountain town known worldwide for its first-rate music festivals. In addition to broadcasting performances by talented artists such as Ceelo Green, Tab Benoit, John Hiatt and Samantha Fish, interviews with artists by our radio station besties will also be aired during set breaks. So thrown down your tarp, fire up the grill, serve yourself a cold one and party Telluride style. That’s exactly what I’ll be doing from my special beach destination here on the Outer Banks.

Telluride Blues & Brews Festival

If you tune in this weekend or if you’ve listened to KOTO before, you know that our Telluride radio station is all about community. One of the best community-oriented events on KOTO is Guest DJ Day. I was honored to be a part of it this year and wow, I never thought it would be so much fun. But it was! It was one big love fest. And who doesn’t like love? I had an hour on Friday, August 19 to schmooze up the airwaves to raise money for our community radio station’s summer fundraising campaign. And it was all about sharing the love.

The timing of my Guest DJ Day was especially poignant since I had not been on the air in a long time. What a way to make a comeback! Plus, it was the eve of my birthday weekend, so it was a great way to kickoff my celebrations.

Thank you to our beloved Ben Kerr, the driving force behind KOTO, for engineering my show. Thank you to the whole KOTO staff for all your efforts all the time and for making me feel so welcome. I am so grateful to my guy, Steve Togni, for his support and his generous donation of the grand prize of a two-night stay at Mountain Lodge, the beautiful property he manages in Telluride Mountain Village. As usual, he was an interesting and articulate guest. He’s a radio natural, which is why I’ve been trying to convince him to have some fun spinning tunes at KOTO.

Merci mille fois to Johnny Gerona, owner of The Village Table. After Johnny closes his restaurant that we all love so much, he might infuse the KOTO airwaves with a different kind of global dish. It was lovely to have Noah Sheedy, Director of the Telluride Ski & Snowboard School, come by to show support and talk skiing with us. All those smiling faces! Peter Hans, the guy who makes most adventures happen at Discovery Map, called in from a beach in Rhode Island. He brought us some extra sunshine and also chatted about the world of travel.

The Grand Prize of My Guest DJ Day: Mountain Lodge Telluride

Thank you also to everyone else that called in, texted and donated to KOTO and Travel Fun, my talk show on travel. You helped me raise a good amount of money for a good cause. Best of all, you’ve inspired me to get back on the air soon. I have the start of the winter season, perhaps just before Thanksgiving, in mind; so stay tuned.

Steve and Me Hamming it Up at KOTO

I’d like to once again showcase all of those businesses that generously donated premiums that were used to incentivize donations to Travel Fun. Please patronize them and thank them for supporting KOTO.

Mountain Lodge Telluride and The View restaurant

Telluride Aveda Spa

Mesa Rose Kitchen + Grocery

Telluride Coffee Roasters

Arena Hair Studio

La Coçina de Luz

Cindybread Artisan Bakery

Sawpit Mercantile

Nails with Mandie

Counter Culture Kitchen and Catering

It is so wonderful to be a part of the greater Telluride community. It’s so rewarding to be a part of KOTO. Long live community radio! And remember that you can be an active part of KOTO and one of Telluride’s best-loved music festivals by tuning into KOTO this weekend.

Steve on the Outer Banks: Big Surf this Week

KOTO, Kittens and Kookiness

My Friends and Me at KOTO’s Purple House on Pine

Leave it to KOTO, our beloved community radio station here in Telluride, Colorado, to bring me back into the fold. I’ve been wanting to get back on the air with Travel Fun, my talk show on travel, and start blogging again for quite some time. But life has kept me occupied with other doings and it has been hard finding the time for these two favorite ways of being in touch with you. 

My last post, which highlighted a photo of my mother and me fresh from the hairdresser, was in March 2021. Sadly, my sweet mama passed away that following July and exactly three months prior to that–in April–my dear brother, David, succumbed to his three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Needless-to-say both left a gaping hole in my heart as well as much to do, including clearing out a large family home stuffed to the heavens with belongings and an abundance of memorabilia. The fact that all of that occurred back east–a great distance from Colorado–in the height of a pandemic and after much caretaking made it all the more complicated. But I’m back in Colorado now full-time slowly picking up the pieces of my life after having been intimately involved in theirs for many years. 

KOTO is the heart and soul of Telluride. Most of the community, its visitors and folks tuning in from afar turn to our little radio station, an NPR affiliate, for all kinds of musical entertainment, talk, news, the avalanche report and other important announcements such as a lost dog report or road closures and traffic slowdowns due to a mudslide or elk crossings. Plus, they regularly broadcast most of Telluride’s big music festivals, including the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Telluride Jazz Festival and Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Its audience is truly worldwide. So when the bright and shining Cara (Pallone), Executive Director of KOTO, asked me to be a guest DJ for KOTO’s 2022 Summer Fundraising drive, a live one-hour segment Friday, August 19 from noon to 1pm, I was deeply honored and also somewhat daunted; I knew that this marked a time when I was to put it in gear. 

And maybe you thought I was just horsing around in my little town of Norwood, Colorado?

Me Down on the Farm in Norwood

Admittedly I love the peace and tranquility of this old ranching town less than an hour from Telluride and I have been hooked to the Netflix series “Heartland.” But you can take the girl out of Paris but never Paris out of the girl. As much as I’ve embraced a more down-to-earth lifestyle in Colorado, there’s still a big part of me that’s every bit of a Parisian sophisticate.

With KOTO’s Summer Fundraising theme of Across the Universe, I thought I’d dust off my cowboy boots (gardening clogs, actually) and tell you my story.

I’ve been a travel writer since the late eighties. I lived in France eleven years and have traveled back to Paris and the French provinces considerably since I moved back to the States in 1994. France has always been my specialty but since I moved to Colorado over twenty years ago, I have also become passionate about and well versed in the American West. I authored five books on France, three shopping and touring guides to Paris, one shopping and touring guide on the French provinces and one travel memoir entitled A Tour of the Heart:  A Seductive Cycling Trip Through France. I segued into travel writing after I had created a shopping service in Paris, called Chic Promenade. During those years, I lead people on the discovery of off-the-beaten-path boutiques and also arranged behind-the-scenes visits of the big names such as Hermès, Dior and Nina Ricci.

My Travel Memoir: Tour of the Heart

I’ve traveled extensively throughout the world to places as far-flung as Guilin, China, and big parts of Morocco and Nova Scotia. I’ve written about many of these places at my blog, www.BonjourColorado.com. I’ve fallen way behind on posting there because I have been involved in lots of family doings since 2016. But I’m back at it now!

In past years, I’ve freelanced for Forbes, The New York Times Syndicate and a number of other outlets. I currently write online content for Discovery Map, a company that publishes those colorful, hand drawn maps that you find in about 150 destinations throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. For them, I’ve written about great places to visit such as the Outer Banks, of North Carolina, Cape May in New Jersey and Bozeman, Big Sky and Livingston, Montana, to name a few. And yes, I even wrote about Telluride because there’s a Discovery Map here as well. I have to admit it’s the longest and most inspired writeup of all that I’ve done. I also recently wrote a blog for them entitled “Summer Travel Woes: How to Make the Best of Your Airline Experience,” which anyone planning to hop on a plane anytime soon should read.

Steve and Me at Telluride Jazz Festival

I am happy that a few special guests will be chiming in during my big Guest DJ appearance on Friday. Steve Togni, General Manager of Mountain Lodge Telluride and also my partner of almost fourteen years, will be there to talk about the hospitality industry in Telluride and also to tout a very special Mountain Lodge premium that he has graciously donated. 

John Gerona, Owner of The Village Table in Telluride Mountain Village and another of my favorite persons, said he’ll stop by. That will give us the opportunity to thank him for providing a super convivial and delicious dining experience to the community for the past ten years.

On Duty as a Telluride Ski Instructor

Noah Sheedy, Director of the Telluride Ski & Snowboard School, will be popping in as well. I’ve been a ski instructor in Telluride for almost nineteen years, a profession that has helped to balance out my writing career–and me–in many ways. If KOTO is the heart and soul of Telluride, then Telluride Ski Resort encompasses a good part of the rest in our majestic mountain town.

Peter Hans, the driving force behind Discovery Map, will be calling in either from their headquarters in Waitsfield, Vermont or from his sailboat in Newport, Rhode Island. We’re similar in that we summered together up in the Adirondacks, both lived for a long time in Europe and then settled in quaint mountain towns in America where we continue to live out our passion for sharing travel and ski experiences with others. 

Victoria at Her Paris Boutique

If the lines aren’t too busy, I hope to have a special phone call from Paris from my friend, Victoria Wolff. I met her during my Paris days and her boutique, Wolff et Descourtis, is still my all-time favorite address in the City of Light. Her family has been in the textile business since 1875 and at her Galerie Vivienne showcase (and online) you can buy the most magical shawls you’ve ever seen. La beauté française est extraordinaire!

Mountain Lodge Telluride

And yes, I have rounded up quite a few premiums–or gift certificates–from some of my favorite places within the region. The grand prize is a Mountain Lodge premium for a two-night stay in a one-bedroom residence, valued at approximately $1500, at this beautiful slopeside property.

Mountain Lodge: A Great Place to Party

And here’s the fabulous news: 

ANYONE DONATING A MINIMUM OF $25. TO KOTO WITH THE TRAVEL FUN DESIGNATION WILL BE ENTERED INTO DRAWINGS to win my premiums. That means that if you make your donation at KOTO.org or call the station at 970-728-4334, you have a chance of winning either the grand prize of two nights at Mountain Lodge or one of the other great premiums I’ve also rounded up. The drawings will take place at the end of my Guest DJ segment, which is Friday, August 19 from noon to 1pm MST. Remember that you can tune in online at KOTO.org if you’re not local. Note that your chances of winning are quite strong, since I likely will not have a gazillion donors. You can enter as many times as you want as long as you make a $25. donation each time. Tell your friends and family! I will start out with the Mountain Lodge drawing at about 12:50pm MST and make my way down the gift certificates listed below with their corresponding values:

Aveda Telluride Spa, one of my favorite spas in T-ride has generously offered one custom facial valued at $170. and one custom massage valued at $150. Merci mes amies!

Mesa Rose Kitchen + Grocery

Mesa Rose Kitchen + Grocery in Norwood, the best address in Norwood for fresh foods and a real community vibe:  two gift certificates, each worth $50.

Coffee from Telluride Coffee Roasters

Telluride Coffee Roasters, the premiere coffee purveyor in Telluride that also has an online boutique:  $70.

Arena Hair Studio

Arena Hair Studio: Sandra Arena, my gal in town (Norwood,) who knows how to make me beuuuuuutiful:  $60. gift certificate for any service.

Beaucoup de Breakfast at The View

The View restaurant at Mountain Lodge Telluride, excellent food and drink with spectacular views:  $50.

Loving La Coçina

La Coçina de Luz, super fresh Mexican food restaurant: $50.

Cindybread: Pains aux Chocolat Just Like in Paree

Cindybread Artisan Bakery, an all-time délicieux bakery in Lawson Hill: $50.

Sawpit Mercantile

Sawpit Mercantile, a fabulous pitstop for barbecue, gas, liquor and other much-needed goods:  $50.

Nails with Mandie

Nails with Mandie in Naturita:  one of my new West End discoveries for having my nails done:  $40. gift certificate for a pedicure.

The Friendly Folk at Counter Culture; photo credit: Michael Mowery Media

Counter Culture Kitchen and Catering, for great takeout sandwiches also in Lawson Hill:  $25.

Thank you to all that have generously donated gift certificates that will be used for my KOTO fundraising campaign!!!

Remember that if you donate $100. you will also be entered into two separate KOTO drawings: one to win a brand-new SOL GalaXy paddle board and the other to land yourself a two-night stay at The Peaks Resort & Spa package.

Our Happy Place with Our SOL Paddle Boards

Steve Paddling at Sunset in Norwood

And if you donate $50., you will receive a KOTO sun shirt (in addition to being entered into my drawings). Super cool. The supply is limited, however, so act fast.

Note that all proceeds are tax deductible and all go to KOTO.

Once again, in order to be added to all of my drawings, donations must be paid in full by the end of my show by let’s say 12:50pm on Friday. So break out the plastic!

With added luck, I might even have some additional premiums come Friday.

The Superlative Setting at The Peaks Resort & Spa

In terms of music, I, of course, I will be playing some French and maybe some Chinese and Moroccan tunes as well. I’ll also have bluegrass, which I’ve come to love since I’ve been in Colorado. And since I’m originally from New York (upstate) and love Frank Sinatra, I’ll definitely be playing “New York, New York.” I’d also like to work in some Dooby Brothers and/or Eagles because they remind me of summers spent at Lake George, New York.

Had I not taken a hiatus from Travel Fun, my talk show on travel, I’d be up to almost nineteen years of doing radio at KOTO. Yet between the pandemic (when I only did a handful of shows remotely) and spending lots of time back east for family matters, I’ve had to take a break from doing my show. I look forward to being back on the air on a regular basis very soon. For Travel Fun, I’ve enjoyed interviewing all kinds of people about travel, beauty, fashion, food and wine and a variety of other subjects including one program entitled Sex, Travel and Fun. Travel, of course, can be very exciting. Guests on my show have included lots of locals, many second-home owners and a good amount of “outsiders” I contacted because I thought KOTO listeners would enjoy hearing what they had to say. One such example is Graham Watson, renowned photographer of the Tour de France bike race.

I’m most definitely an avid listener of KOTO. I love radio in general, so much so, in fact, that I don’t even own a TV.

In past years, I was very involved with volunteering at KOTO events, which was always fun and super interesting. I hope to get back to that soon as well. Some of my most memorable gigs included being in charge of the green rooms for KOTO Doo Dahs and other happenings. I did this for Jackson Browne, the Subdudes, Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett, Michael Franti and some LIp Syncs. I was also in charge of KOTO merchandise for Bluegrass a number of years and yes, I had my stints working the KOTO beer booth at Bluegrass and doing endless hours of decorating for the fabulous KOTO Halloween parties. A lot of this I did with Jumpin’ Jan, which made it all the more meaningful.

KOTO is my family. I love being a part of the ski school family and my KOTO family. I started both in December 2003. That was when it was not very popular to be writing about France. (Remember Freedom Fries?) So I switched up my life and the rewards have been far better than I ever could have imagined. A very well known travel writer once told me that having a radio show is a great way to build your audience. Far more than that, however, it has made me feel very loved. I have truly enjoyed working with KOTO staff and DJs and it has been fun, too, when people recognize my voice and say things like “oh, you’re the travel lady.”

If you’ve made it to the end of this story, you deserve a glimpse at my kittens. They are the ultimate kure-all for all kinds of kookiness. 

It’s a Star-Spangled Blue-Eyed Holiday Everyday with Our Kittens

Thank you to Amy Peters for her great coverage of this summer’s Guest DJ Day in the Telluride Daily Planet and the Norwood Post. Her piece, KOTO Radio Takes Over the Universe, will tell you even more about what’s happening at KOTO and what’s in store for all on Friday, August 19.

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    This blog is a personal blog written and edited by Maribeth Clemente. This blog sometimes accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. The owner of this blog is sometimes compensated to provide opinion on products, services, Web sites and various other topics. Even though the owner of this blog receives compensation for certain posts or advertisements, she always gives her honest opinions, findings, beliefs or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blogger's own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.
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