The FOUNDING of our chalet

In June 1930, Falk and Helen Storrow visited many places in Switzerland, but none of them seemed quite right. Until they visited the beautiful village of Aeschi, located between Lake Thun and the Neisen mountain, with stunning views in all directions. Helen Storrow immediately fell in love with the village. “It comes up to all my expectations, here you can find peace for your soul”, she said.

However, Falk had concerns. Aeschi's beauty was unquestionable, but as a young woman she had craved adventures - hiking, climbing, and skiing – and had not been all that concerned about her soul! Falk believed that the site was too far away from the true mountains and that the altitude was too low for winter sports.

At the Conference, Helen Storrow showed photos of Aeschi and everybody agreed that it was a lovely spot. However, after Lord Baden-Powell asked Falk for her opinion, he told her that if she was going to make trouble about the place that had been found, then she would have to find a place on her own. Falk eagerly accepted, and headed off with the following list of conditions from the committee: the site must be near a main train line but away from tourists; there must be hotels in the neighbourhood, but it must not be a fashionable place; it must be high enough for skiing in the winter and climbing in the summer, but not too high for those people with heart trouble; and there must be sufficient ground around and pleasant neighbours.

Falk rushed back to Switzerland and again started searching in the Bernese Oberland. Eventually, she saw the perfect spot high up on the mountainside near the village of Adelboden. With eagerness, Helen Storrow, Falk and Mr von Sinner climbed up the hill together in June 1931. Mr von Sinner rushed ahead carrying a long pole on his shoulder and when the rest of the party reached the top, the American flag was there to greet them.