Women Who Can’t Not: The Mother Daughter Duo

Some trips are about the destination. Others become memorable because of who you share them with.

For Mel and Sarah, a mother daughter ski trip to Jackson Hole started with a simple invitation and turned into one of those weekends neither wanted to end. Between tram rides, summit waffles, skiing laps together, and meeting a group of women who instantly felt like friends, the retreat became more than just a ski trip. It became a reminder that shared experiences create memories that last far longer than the weekend itself.

What made you decide to do a ski retreat together?

Charlotte: What made you decide to do a ski retreat together?

Mel: I had so much fun doing it before, and I knew Sarah would love it. So I made her come with me.

Sarah: Twist my arm. A weekend of skiing in Jackson Hole, a place that has always been on my list. Twist my arm.

Charlotte: Did she have to convince you?

Sarah: No. It was more about timing. She was basically like, “We’re going on this ski retreat. Are you free?” And I said, “Yeah, sure.”

Mel: I said, “We’re going to Jackson Hole February 5th. Make sure your calendar is open.”

Sarah: That’s pretty much how it went down.

Charlotte: Have you ever done a trip like this together?

Sarah: Not a ski retreat like this, but we ski together all the time.

Mel: We’ve done day trips to Big Bear and weekends in Mammoth and Big Bear.

Sarah: Sometimes with siblings, sometimes without.

What was it like sharing this experience as mother and daughter?

Charlotte: Was there a moment that felt especially meaningful as mother and daughter?

Mel: The last day, when Sarah was packing, she told me she had a really good time and hoped I had a really good time too.

That was really cool. Then she texted me from the airport saying it wasn’t going to take her as long to get back to Montana and that she was going to come back and spend more time.

That meant she really did have a good time and wanted to stay.

Sarah: I had FOMO. I didn’t want to leave.

I had another ski trip right after Jackson Hole, and while I was in Big Sky, I missed the Jackson Hole group.

I kept thinking, “Dang it, I wish I was still in Jackson Hole with everybody.”

Mel: I also loved when we went to the Silver Dollar that first night. I didn’t expect Sarah and Katarina (another retreat guest) to come out, so when they walked in, it felt fun that we were all experiencing it together.

Charlotte: Did skiing together bring up any memories from earlier years?

Sarah: Skiing together is normal for us, but we hadn’t taken a ski trip together in about a year.

The last time was Mammoth.

It was fun getting back out there together again.

How did being surrounded by other women change the experience?

Charlotte: How did being in a group full of other women impact your dynamic together?

Sarah: I don’t think it changed our relationship specifically, but it made me feel more comfortable.

We ski with guys sometimes, but skiing with women who were at a similar level felt different.

Like I said during the gratitude circle, being surrounded by like minded women made me feel like I was meant to be there.

Mel: I felt joy.

That’s the emotion I keep coming back to.

It was joyous.

Sarah: There was no pressure.

It was so much fun.

Charlotte: Was there anything that surprised you about sharing this experience together?

Mel: Not really. We’re together a lot.

But I think it helped that Sarah had her good friend Katarina there too.

She had her people, and I had my people.

We skied together, but we also had room to do our own thing.

Sarah: The tram was fun. Going up to the waffle house and doing all of that.

Whenever we ski, we have a routine. We ski fast together, then we get beer and food together, then we ski more. We have the same ski vibe.

Mel: Like mother, like daughter.

What would you tell other mothers and daughters considering a trip like this?

Charlotte: What advice would you give to other mothers and daughters considering an adventure like this?

Sarah: Don’t think. Just do.

I know a lot of mother daughter relationships are different from ours.

Some people don’t have a great relationship with their mom, or they might worry there would be drama.

But doing something like this in a group setting actually takes some of that pressure off.

There are other women, different activities, and new relationships happening around you.

That can actually strengthen the relationship indirectly.

Mel: Shared experiences deepen the bond, especially when it’s something new that you’re both experiencing together.

Sarah: It creates new memories.

Charlotte: What is one quality you admire about each other?

Sarah: My mom is always up for the adventure.

Mel: I was going to say the same thing.

Sarah: Every time I’m planning a ski trip or some kind of adventure, she’s always like, “I want to go.”

Mel: Whenever I see Sarah’s Instagram, I think, “I want to go.”

Why do you keep coming back to The Retreat Company?

Charlotte: Mel, you’ve been on multiple retreats now. What keeps bringing you back?

Mel: I love the destinations.

I love skiing with other women who are my age or around my age.

A lot of times we end up skiing with guys or with people who have completely different goals for the trip.

It’s nice to ski with people who are there for the same kind of experience.

I also love that it’s women empowering other women.

You are always finding women who have created something interesting and are doing something badass, whether it’s photography, food, art, business, or something else.

There are all these amazing experiences, but it never feels overwhelming.

There’s still time to relax, explore, and do your own thing.

You’ve created something really magical.

Charlotte: What does celebrating women together mean to you as mother and daughter?

Sarah: I think we’re kind of badass. My mom is badass.

We’re strong, independent, intelligent women who take the bull by the horns.

We do what we want to do, and if something happens, we pivot and figure it out.

I don’t need a month or a day to tell me that’s who I am.

Charlotte: What does women supporting women mean to you?

Sarah: It’s being a girl’s girl.

It’s no judgment, constant support, reality checks, and showing up for each other.

Sometimes one person needs more support. Sometimes the other does. It’s not always fifty fifty.

You’re there for each other without questions and without strings attached.

When I see women being unkind to other women because of insecurity, I always wonder why.

Everyone should want everyone else to succeed.

Mel: There should be no reason to be jealous of other women. We’re all on the same side.

Sarah: It’s collaboration over competition.

It’s like giving someone the perfect gift.

You’re excited because you know they’ll love it.

It’s the same when someone gets a new job, finds love, or achieves something meaningful.

You’re genuinely happy for them.

Charlotte: Any final thoughts?

Sarah: I want to go back.

I’ve been dreaming about those summit waffles since I left.

Mel: I’m excited for Sun Valley because Sarah gets to come.

The day I got back from Sun Valley, I told her, “We’re going again, and you’re coming with me.”

I’d love to go back to Jackson Hole too.

I love the destinations.

Ready to find your people on the mountain?

Whether you’re joining solo, bringing your best friend, or sharing the experience with your mom, our retreats are designed to create the kind of memories that stay with you long after the ski season ends.

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