How my first adventure into the world of seasonal ski jobs came to be…
My twenties have been rife with the big questions we ask ourselves as we move into adulthood. What do I want to do with my life? What’s important to me? How do I get to where I want to go? After working in the San Francisco Bay Area for the five years following college, I found myself stuck on these questions, feeling less passionate about the world around me and my place in it. It was time to shake things up a bit.
In conversations with friends and family, inspiration for my next move began to form. Watching my cousin have an experience of a lifetime teaching English abroad in Korea, talking to my friend Casey about the seasonal ski jobs and seasonal workers she had met in Alaska, and chatting with river raft guides about their summers all came together in my mind. I knew a seasonal ski job would be the change I needed, and I couldn’t wait to start my slow travel adventure.
Landing my first seasonal ski job…
This winter, I landed my first seasonal ski job as the Retail Supervisor for the premium rental and retail shop True North at Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont. When embarking on my job search, I scrolled through seasonal work postings on sites like CoolWorks.com. Knowing I wanted to live on the East Coast for the winter, I also kept an eye on Craigslist in the towns I thought I might like best (Portland, Maine, Asheville, North Carolina, and East Tennessee, to name a few). Narrowing it down to location was helpful for focusing my job search.
I settled on working for a ski resort after finding that Vail Resorts upped their minimum wage to $20/hour for all seasonal positions. Leveraging my experience in retail and management, I was able to snag a higher-paying position ($23/hour!) as a supervisor. In the world of ski resorts, opening, and closing dates for winter vary based on location. Here at Stowe, I started my first seasonal ski job on November 1st and can expect to work until Mid-April. I’ll be working 40 hours per week minimum, with the possibility of overtime on those busy holiday weekends.
Let’s talk housing and room and board for seasonal ski jobs…
A crucial factor when considering where to work is housing. Some seasonal ski jobs at resorts come with the possibility of housing, but availability can vary. In my case, dormitory-style housing through the resort was rather limited, so I took my search to Craigslist, Apartments.com, Facebook Marketplace, and other sites. I’m glad I started this search about two months out from my first day of work; I had a couple of options fall through before getting lucky. The third try really WAS the charm! I found an amazing FURNISHED room for rent, within my budget, with a fabulous roommate around the same age with similar interests and values.
As I’m rounding out my first month in Vermont, I feel that this was the right choice for me. It’s not all rainbows and butterflies, but there’s a lot to be excited about. There are plenty of opportunities for me to continue to find my place here. So far, there is NO shortage of things to do, which is perfect for my new slow-travel lifestyle. My immediate area hosts plenty of restaurants, cafes, hiking trails, a public library with ongoing events, and much more. In either direction from Stowe, there are the bigger metropolises of Vermont, Burlington and Montpelier, each with their own personalities and New England charm.
The challenges of relocating…
Relocating doesn’t come without its challenges; it can be lonely, and the unfamiliar can be a bit disorienting at times. However, I’m finding that there is so much to gain during the low moments. It’s pushing me to become more self-reliant, find communities and hobbies that fill my cup, and strengthen my resilience. All in all, I consider myself very lucky to be able to have this seasonal job experience to continue my own personal growth.
Check out other Wake WANDER Repeat seasonal work posts here.
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