Today we’re excited to be connecting with Jillian Chernofsky again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.

Jillian , always such a pleasure connecting with you and thank you for sharing your stories, insights and inspiring messages with our community. We’re looking forward to getting the download and what you have been up to since our last interview, but first can you briefly introduce yourself to folks who might have missed the prior conversation.
My name is Jillian Chernofsky, and I’m fortunate to call the vibrant town of Salida, Colorado my home. I’m an entrepreneur, a mother, and an outdoor enthusiast. My husband and I own and operate a short-term vacation rental resort on Monarch Pass, where we welcome guests to relax, rejuvenate, and explore this beautiful valley.

Our property is nestled within ten acres of aspen groves and boasts a quarter mile of creek frontage. When we purchased it in 2016 and renamed it Creekside Chalets, the name raised a few eyebrows. The creek was hidden by overgrowth, but we saw its potential. The property had a tremendous amount of deferred maintenance from roofs to carpet to landscaping. Over the years we have prioritized our guest feedback and chipped away at our improvement wishlist. With a shared vision, we’ve revitalized the property into a little slice of Colorado paradise that we’re proud to share with others.

In 2024, I completed a Rim2Rim2Rim hike of the Grand Canyon. My motto for this challenge mirrored the one I adopted when we purchased our property: “Just say ‘yes’ and figure out the rest.” Once you commit to a vision or goal, unwavering belief and persistent optimism are vital to overcoming any challenges that may arise.

Great, so let’s jump into an update on what you have been up to since we last spoke. What can you share with us?
Since the last article in May 2021, I experienced major health issues related to childbirth and significant burnout from being a working mother. I was stretched too thin trying to balance the roles of wife, mother, and business owner. It took a toll, and I finally sought answers to my deteriorating health. In 2023, I underwent a hysterectomy and took 10 weeks to recover and rest.

During this rest phase, I yearned to start a new chapter — something to pull me out of recovery and regain my sense of self and strength. A good friend invited me on a 200-mile hut-to-hut mountain bike ride in Southern Utah on the Aquarius Trail. I was in week 8 of recovery and knew I needed this lofty goal to focus on to regain my mental and physical health. Again, I said “yes” before I had it figured out. I hadn’t been on my bike since the previous fall and had never ridden 200 miles. It seemed a little crazy, and I wasn’t sure I could do it, but I knew I needed it. I committed and then just started piecing it together day by day.

Every ride was a new learning experience. I found new ways to fuel myself, balance my work and life, empower my husband to take tasks off my plate, and eliminate people and tasks that weren’t serving me. I found that by adding more of what I desired into my daily life — movement and connection — I actually prioritized my time with my family and worked much more efficiently. Training even when motivation was low or when I was busy empowered me to believe that I can accomplish hard things by consistently showing up. These lessons translated into accomplishing more at the resort, giving me time to think creatively and gain confidence.

I enjoyed the focus and drive that I felt while training in the summer of 2023 so much that I chose another grand adventure for the following summer. I conquered the R3 on the Grand Canyon in the fall of 2024. I needed something to motivate me — something that scared me a little, something that humbled and challenged me. Chasing a goal is so important to keep things in perspective.

We have now arrived at one of our favorite parts of the interview – the lightning round. We’ll ask you a few quick questions to give us all some fun insights about you.

Favorite Movie: American Beauty

Favorite Book: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Favorite TV Show: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Favorite Band or Artist: Widespread Panic

Sweet or Savory: Savory

Mountains or Beach: Mountains

Favorite Sport (to watch): Any sport my boys are playing

Favorite Sport (to play): Biking, Hiking, Skiing, Rafting…I can’t pick just one

Did you play sports growing up (if so which ones): I was a really competitive tennis player in Northern California where I grew up

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: I wanted to sell real estate like my dad. I got my real estate license in 2014 and then bought Creekside Chalets in 2016. I have been operating the resort full time.

French Fries or Onion Rings: Fries

Chuck Rhodes or Bobby Axelrod: Don’t watch this show or much tv

Favorite Cartoon growing up: I grew up in Santa Rosa, CA where The Peanuts were created. Snoopy was my favorite

Favorite Childhood movie: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Favorite Breakfast Food: Bacon & Waffles

What are you most excited about in the coming year?
I’m thrilled to share that I’m feeling more confident than ever in my ability to overcome obstacles and challenges. I believe there’s always a way forward if we remain persistent and focused on our desired outcomes.

Finding balance is crucial, especially with all that we have planned. This year, we have a full slate of projects outlined for the resort that will introduce new amenities for both our guests and their pets. These upgrades will focus on creating spaces where you can relax, refresh, and reconnect with nature.

Prioritizing your well-being is so important, and I’m grateful that our property’s natural setting provides the perfect environment for rejuvenation.

Website: https://creeksidechalets.com/

Instagram: @creeksidechalets

Twitter: CreeksideChalets

Facebook: CreeksideChalets

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/creekside-chalets-and-cabins-salida-2

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOsbVqEHTCms-Y2_0Emr_fg/videos

Image Credits
Taylor Jones Photography
Cloud Level Media
Catherine Eichel Photography

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