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Guiding Venues

THE ALPINE TRIANGLE:
The French, Italian, and Swiss Alps

Most of my guiding happens on the Mont Blanc massif, in Chamonix, France where I am based. Chamonix is the focus of most of the action, but I often guide in Courmayeur, Italy on the Other Side (a short drive through the Mont Blanc Tunnel) when conditions dictate, or when specific objectives warrant. Courmayeur has incredible lift-accessible skiing and world-class alpine climbing, and because of its geographic position relative to Mont Blanc, provides an excellent alternative to poor weather conditions in Chamonix valley in winter. On more rare occasions, nearby Verbier (Switzerland), Cogne (Italy) and the Verdon Gorge (Provence, FR) are also favored guiding destinations of mine. Verbier has some of the world’s best lift-served skiing; Verdon has some of the finest (and most scenic) sport, trad, and big wall climbing in Europe; and Cogne is an ice climber’s paradise. Taken together, these venues offer almost unlimited options in world-class terrain in a relatively small geographic area. This set up allows me to take full advantage of the region’s geology, climate and weather, and adjust itineraries on-the-fly according to conditions, interests, and objectives.


CHAMONIX

There may no better place in the world for alpine climbing and big mountain skiing than in the areas within and adjacent to Chamonix valley, the birthplace of alpinism. A vast infrastructure of lifts, lodging, mountain huts, and ground transportation links permit easy access to some of the world’s biggest, steepest, and most challenging terrain. The massif has a lifetime’s worth of routes, first ascended/descended decades, even centuries ago. At nearly 5,000 meters in elevation, the perpetual ice dome of Mont Blanc (Western Europe’s highest) looms above it all as the ultimate mountaineering prize, and serves as training ground for other high elevation pursuits. With such a huge inventory of routes and itineraries, there is always something good to climb, hike, bike, or ski, even when conditions are less than optimal, and why Chamonix is considered by many to be the adventure sports capital of the world.

I have lived in the Chamonix valley for nearly 15 years. I have an extensive network of friends and fellow guides from which to draw valuable beta on snow and climbing conditions. And since I ski or climb almost every single day here during the winter and summer seasons, I also have a deep understanding of the terrain, including the resources, tools, and time required for the safe and successful completion of each route, and how weather conditions might affect both the quality of skiing (or climbing) and the margins for safety.


EUROPE/GLOBAL

I do guide clients in many other locations throughout Europe and around the world, and I am always eager to explore places with which I am somewhat less familiar. Though Chamonix might be the best and most accessible venue for these types of (guided) activities, it is not the only one. There are many venues beyond this valley that are just as exciting (La Grave, France, or the Dolomites of Italy, for example), nearly as beautiful (Yosemite Valley, California, or the Selkirks in British Columbia), more remote (Baffin Island, Newfoundland, or the Karakoram in Pakistan), and equally as challenging (Aoraki, NZ, or Cerros Chaltén in Patagonia). The possibilities are endless. I guide the Eiger, the Matterhorn, the Weisshorn, and other major peaks in the Valais region of Switzerland regularly, and I plan several multi-day expeditions, often with trusted friends and/or qualified clients, every year to far-flung destinations around the world (A ski mountaineering trip is on the books for May, 2025 in the Karakoram!). California, Colorado and Utah are frequent and fantastic guiding destinations for me as well, and I spend time there every fall. Regardless, wherever we choose to work together, and whomever we might share a trail, tent, bunk, or rope with, you can expect the same level of care, professionalism, technical expertise, and commitment to safety as you will find right here in my own backyard.

Guide Fees

My guide rates are highly competitive and within the standards set forth by IFMGA regulations and guidelines. They do fluctuate according to number of clients, location and activity. For more information please refer to the sections on specific guided activities (click on links above) and/or my Rates/Guiding Notes and Gear/Resources/Logistics pages.

Cover Photo: Tom Grant in the Marinelli Couloir, Monte Rosa, Italy/Switzerland (photo: Aaron Rolph). Background image: Tom Grant in the Mont Mallet West Couloir (Ross Hewitt)