Guides at Skiers Lodge La Grave 2019/2020
Our Guides hold the highest internationally recognized qualification for instruction and guiding in rock and ice climbing, mountaineering and off-piste skiing and ski touring- the coveted IFMGA carnet. This badge, recognized throughout the mountaineering world is your guarantee of their professional training and competence in all aspects of (IFMGA ), followed, along with increased training and rigorous assessment.
This membership, shared at present with guides from sixteen other countries, gives all the Guides at Skiers Lodge absolute equivalence with Guides in Alpine countries and throughout the world.
Pelle Onol Lång (Sweden)
UIAGM/IFMGA Licensed Guide
More about Pelle
Wherever Pelle Lang has put his ski-boots down has been his home. Leaving Sweden some three decades ago searching for good adventure skiing in the mountain ranges in the world the ”search” is over. Being the owner and founder of the Skier Lodge made him settle down in La Grave. His dream was to create a lodge owned and operated by skiers for skiers. In 1989 this dream becomes a reality. The Skiers Lodge Guide Service, for which Pelle works daily as the chief guide, represents the ski part of the concept.
He spends his summers in Bodrum, Turgetreis together with his four years old triplets “K3” and when time off goes windsurfing or climbing in Kalymnos Greece.
30 years experience of off-piste skiing in Chamonix and La Grave, France, Alaska-Valdez, Canada, USA, Russia, Italy, India and North part of Sweden/Norway. He is a fully qualified IFMGA mountain guide with the French Brevet d´ Etat d´Alpinisme, Diplome de Guide de Haute Montagne. Pisteur-SLAO. Pro Am mogul racer. Nordic ski extreme racer. Winner of the Derby de la Meije ind/team.
Eric Mossiere (France)
UIAGM/IFMGA Licensed Guide
More about Eric
Hi, I’m Eric. I was born and raised in Grenoble surrounded by the Alpes to the east and the calcaire falaise of the Vercors and Chartreuse massif. My father was really keen on ski touring and alpinism so I had the opportunity to start very young. When I became a teenager I discovered the pleasure of sharing these passions with friends through the French alpine club courses. I met a bunch of guides that really motivated me to transmit their own climbing technique and moves and to push us to improve my own abilities.,, It’s probably from that time the thoughts of becoming a mountain guide became a target! I spent three years in university studying maths, physics, and biology but the mountains were calling, and I must go. I quit and never looked back!
In 1994 I passed successfully on the first attempt as a candidate to start the education of the French National Ski & Mountaineering School (ENSA): The same year I succeeded to become a member of the junior high-level alpinism team from the French Alpine Association. I was an aspirant guide in August 1995. My first day January 1996 to work as a mountain guide was for … Skiers Lodge! More than 20 years later, I still remember this amazing day in such dramatic surroundings. We did a long day ski touring traverse from La Grave to Saint Christophe through La Bérarde. One day in the middle of nowhere, without haven’t seen anyone excepted our guests, through the Ecrins National Park. I still remember all these happy faces, late after sunset, skating and polling on the snowy road to get the taxi… Having such a chance, to share this kind of days, with good skiers and, on the top of this, to be paid, was a kind of awake dream. And today the awake dream is still going on! From that time I worked almost full season with Pelle and from the last 12 years full time from New Year to after Easter. I like both the city life and the mountains and finds living in a small village near the town of Briancon optimal since I cannot forget my city habits living closer to civilization than La Grave. He got a great knowledge of the secret skiing spots in Serre Chevalier and Montgenevre area and calls the Lodge early every morning to tell about the snow conditions on his way drive towards La Grave. I’m in contact with the ski patrol in Serre Chevalier or Montgenevre by phone or radio to get the best inside information “French Connection” of today’s snowpack. So, Pelle and the lodge forgives him for his city habits. Early spring I guide a few ski touring trips (mainly in the Alps, once in Norway) and keep some free time for paragliding! I’m also a paragliding instructor since 2006! During summer season I share my time between alpine guiding job and paragliding instructor job. Or mixing both! I love guiding Mont Blanc and flying tandem from the summit is one of my favorites!
Statement:
Living in the mountains and sharing my passions is for me an evidence.
Impossible for me to imagine living in a flat area or a big city!
Being a mountain guide/paraglide instructor is for me more a way of life than a proper job!
Active in other geographic locations:
Winter: From new year to easter, I’m based in La Grave working with Pelle.
After and before, I’m doing a lot of ski touring (one of my main passion) and also, sometimes, during my days off (!)
Summer: I work a lot in Les Ecrins (home sweet home!) as an alpine guide, in the Chamonix area, in Italy and Switzerland. More or less, where my clients want climbing…
Fall: a lot of mountain and road biking for physical training. Many kilometers of trail running with my female border collie.
And a lot of paragliding! I’ve been in Nepal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Canaries Islands for flying.
Achievements:
- I traveled to South America (Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador) for mixing alpinism and flying from the summits.
- From 2006, I’m much more in paragliding.
- First I did hike and fly competitions.
- I finished 8th in 2012 and 9th in 2014 at the Airtour http://www.airtour.fr/english/philosophy/ , the toughest french hike and fly competition.
- Right now, I’m more in cross country (long distance) flights. This spring, in may 2018, I did my personal best from south of Grenoble to the east end of Geneva’s lake: 250km. (http://parapente.ffvl.fr/cfd/liste/2017/vol/20240584).
Cyril Dupeyre (France)
UIAGM/IFMGA Licensed Guide
More about Cyril
Hi, I am Cyril, when I was a kid, I was climbing everywhere, so my parents dropped me off at the local climbing Gym… I started out as a rock climber but became soon a member of the young French national alpinist team in 2008-2009. After a lot of hard climbs in the Alps, Norway, Marocco, Bolivia, Peru, Patagonia, Slovenia. I’m still as always traveling with climbing or skiing gear: Spain, Italia, Greece, Island, Madagascar… Utah state US. I arrived in La Grave 10 years ago and finished the UIAGM certification A year later since then, I live here and will probably never move! I’m very grateful to have the chance to live in one of the best places to ski and to guide clients in my “secret garden” below the queen La Meije. I’m also a member of the guide syndicate of La Grave. Together with Pelle, we are the members of the “commision de sécurité” composed of local guides in case of a significant change in the avalanche risk. It will follow a risk management protocol for recommending, according to the snow conditions, whether it’s possible or not to open the cable car. An announcement is made to the municipality who makes an official decision for the opening or the closing. I believe this commission is something unique to La Grave. It is always a highlight of local life.” Cyril will share the inside information “French Connection” to the lodge guides so they can provide full support in planning, safety and co-ordinating and gives flexibility of an early morning start to find the most optimal back-country ski terrain to ensure all have a successful day.
Statement:
”Hej! Sorry to take time to answer the updates of guide presentation of the BIO, to much on speed… to sit down and type,,, bye”
Achievements:
- Bolivia: a new route on Sajama 6542m, TD
- Maroco, Todra gorges: new route, 300m, TD+, 6b
- -Slovenia, Triglav range: new route, 700m, ED, 6a, M7
- Patagonia, Cuernos Este: new route, 500m, A3+, 6c
- Patagonia: Cuernos Norte: 1st repetion in 12days: 800m, A3+
- Norvege: opening ice falls 20 years ago
- Island: opening 10 ice falls vith clients (grade 4+ to 5+/6) on the north west fjords
- washington state, Cascades range: Mt Baker, north ridge, first descent integral
Ecrins national parc:
- La Meije north face direct in winter
- Olan north face
- Ailefroide north face
- Pelvoux north face
- “Tour du Glacier noir”, not finish, we missed the two last peaks but we did 15 summits and 5000 meters of climbing in 3 days. Best attempt, still waiting for somebody…
- With clients: the north ridge of Ailefroide (D, 900m), west face of Dôme des Ecrins (TD, 1100m): twice, south face of Pavé (ED, 400m), south face of la Meije (800m, TD), north face of La Meije (900m): 5 times.
- ski: Y, Râteau north-west slope, coup de Sabre, Col du Glacier Noir, North coulour Roche Faurio, new line on left side of Tabuchet, a lot of couloirs in Ecrins…
Rasmus Krogerus (Finland)
UIAGM/IFMGA Licensed Guide
More about Rasmus
Hi, I am Rasmus. I was born in Helsinki, Finland where mountains are nonexistent. My childhood was spent outdoors in the summer running around our country place by a lake and winters cross country skiing. The times when we could go skiing real hills in northern Finland I remember as epic and my mother recounts them as screaming for me to wait up.
I got more into the dark arts of snowboarding in my teens in the mid 90 in the parks of southern Finland. The revelation for me came on my first trip to the alps and Verbier. Being among the first on the top and riding down knee-deep powder in seemingly never-ending runs was something I had never before experienced. It was also then that I discovered that the board isn’t always the best tool for riding down big mountains. Skiing quickly became a addiction, it was all about getting enough money during the summer to be able to ski in the winter. Trips to the Alps and Norway became all that mattered.
I also discovered that climbing is quite a big part of getting to the good stuff in the alps, and in order to be able to ski good stuff you have to be a mountaineer. In Finland this took the form of rock-climbing witch with its potential for adventure and epics quickly captured my attention. After a spring of climbing in southern Finland I took my rack of three cams, some hexes and nuts and headed for Lofoten. For someone who had never climbed more than a 20-meter wall it was incredible, and of course full of adventure and epics.
At the same time, I got into wilderness guiding and tried quickly to specify towards climbing. After some years of canoe, kayak and climbing guiding in Finland, mixed with climbing trips to the alps and spending the winters skiing, I started the guides training in 2008. This was something I worked towards since some years already. At the time there was only 3 guides from Finland, not many people to follow. I became a fully certified IFMGA guide in 2011 and have since been working full time, both summer and winter with guiding. Living year around in La Grave since 2012 I really feel that the mountain here are my home. I have been working with the Skiers Lodge since I was a aspirant guide in 2009, following Pelle around or discovering this amazing place “on sight” on my own, a true adventure.
As much as I enjoy skiing and climbing for myself I really enjoy showing people the mountains, the adventures and the possibilities of them. To be able to help them get that same feeling that I had dropping of the top of Verbier into something unknown and seeing their smiles at the end of a run or a day is an incredible feeling.
Spending my first winter in La Grave in 2007-2008 was also a revelation for me. After many years in Switzerland I finally came to a place where adventure was around every corner, whatever you would choose to do that day, skiing from the lift, ski touring or ice climbing. I feel proud to call La Grave my home and to be fortune enough to get to share it with people.
Statement
“I really enjoy showing people the mountains, the adventures and the possibilities of them. To see their smiles at the end of a run or a day is an incredible feeling.”
Active in other locations
Winter: Ski guiding in La Grave and the surrounding area. Travels to Engelberg, Andermatt, Monte Rosa, Zinal, Verbier,
Spring: Ski touring both around home and on alpine classics like Chamonix-Zermatt. Ski touring in Norway, Iceland and Sweden. Ski and sail in Noway. Heli-skiing in northern Sweden. Ski-alpinism on 4000-meter peaks in the alps.
Summer: Alpine and rock-climbing guiding around the western alps in France, Switzerland and Italy. Alpine and rock-climbing courses around La Grave
Fall: Family life, mountain biking, rock-climbing and planning for winter.
Achievements
- Sport climbing in France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Greece up to grade 7b.
- Traditionally protected rock climbing and big walls in Norway, up Scandinavian grade 7.
- Ice climbing in the Alps, Sweden and Norway, new route in northern Norway WI4/M5, 400m.
- Steep skiing in Norway, powder hunting in the alps.
Jonathan Joly (France)
UIAGM/IFMGA Licensed Guide
More about Jonathan
- Skiing in Glacier Noir like “Pente Centrale 50º” – “Couloir Coup de Sabre 45/50º” – “Couloir Derobe 45º “ – “Col du Glacier Noir 45º” …
- Traverse North – South of Ecrins. Start from La Meije and finish to Pelvoux. 8 days in high mountain 2000
- Big Alpine Traverses : Start from Montenvers and traverse to Flammes de Pierres to Aiguille Verte ( 3 long day ) in july 2018
- Ice Climbing and mixte climbing Lofoten – opening some new route during 8 days in february 2012
- Opening lot of new routes in Freissinieres valley for Ice climbing
- 5 years of organisation Dry Tooling Contest in Ice Climbing Festival in l’Argentière la Bessée
- 2012 : Set-router to the french cup competition of ice climbing in Champagny
- 2014 : Set-Router to the younger world cup ice climbing in Champagny
- 2018 : Set-router and organisation the Europe speed competition ice climbing in l’Argentière la Bessée
- Expedition to North America for climbing the big wall in Yosemite valley 2017
- Expedition to South America and climbing Ojos del Salado 6893m and Aconcagua 6962m 2001
- Expedition to Patagonia 2018
Thomas Vialletet (France)
UIAGM/IFMGA Licensed Guide
More about Thomas
Hi, I am Thomas, in my early years, the great outdoors was my playground…. Always keen for little missions out there, in the bush or mountains. My desire to go higher and be more adventurous led me into rock climbing and ski freeriding. The Southern part of the French Alps didn’t hold many secrets for me… I was exploring every corner either with rock shoes, crampons or skis on my feet, ready for any cool missions!
I became a member of the French Young National Alpinist Team between 2009-2012 and that was a game changer! I had the opportunity to play and feed my passion while traveling abroad to overseas countries… Morocco, USA, Alaska….That was a great experience! Since catching the bug, the desire to travel has never left me and I jump on the plane on any occasion to explore more regions and hidden valleys. I even ended up living in New Zealand for a year. But for me, any of those activities, passions or travels was something I didn’t want to do alone… I have always shared these adventures with friends. In fact, it was natural for me to become a Mountain Guide ( IFMGA Certified in 2014 ) to share these strong passions with people, make them happy and keep it fun!
My guiding has taken me to awesome places all around the world with my clients… but I feel like I can call La Grave and The Ecrins home. It’s my Base Camp and every day I’m amazed about the possibilities here… Endless ski freeride sessions, amazing climbs, and a true wilderness!
I’m also a photographer so don’t be surprised if you see me with a camera hanging around my neck!
Lead Guide: I’m sharing with Pelle Lang the chief guide responsibility. I’m involved in the daily organization and logistics!
Statement:
Do what you love, Love what you do!
Active in other places:
Base Camp La Grave/Ecrins, active for ski guiding or climbing missions in the Alps, Europe, and New Zealand.
Achievements:
- Sport and Trad Climbing in Europe, USA, Australia, Morocco, China, South-East of Asia and New Zealand up to French grande 8a+
- Ice Climbing up to WI6+ ( Europe, Turkey, New Zealand )
- Alpine climbing un to French Grade ED+
- First Ascents In mixed climbing and rock-climbing on Climbing Expeditions ( Alaska, Sichuan China, and Jarjinjabo China )
- First Ascents in Mixed Climbing and rock-climbing in France ( Ecrins, Ubaye )
- Steep skiing in The Alps and New Zealand, including first descents.
Timothy Connelly (UK/USA)
UIAGM/IFMGA Licensed Guide
More about Timothy
Hi, I am Tim, and I always been an adventurer, it took me a while to discover skiing but once I did the Pacific North West of the United States was a perfect place to teach me the lessons to start gliding through the mountains of the world. From Mt Baker to the Alaska range to the Southern Alps of New Zealand and the Ellesworth mountains of Antarctica and on to the Ecrin mountains of the European Alps this journey continues and evolves.
I am drawn to long, multi-faceted adventures where skiing, climbing, and flying are some of the methods used; this has brought me to all 7 continents on the earth and continue to fuel new ventures.
I have been guiding people in the mountains since 1996 and in La Grave since 2004. I now call France my home but continue to travel a lot and have begun to think about incorporating sailing boats into the adventure equation.
STATEMENT:
My first day in La Grave, in 2004, I skied the Enfetchores via the couloir Girose. Mildly terrifying, invigorating and mind-blowing it opened up the world of skiing possibilities to me and I eagerly sought out more and more steep, long skiing days throughout the world.
ACTIVE IN OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS:
WINTER: Climbing and skiing in the Alps, mostly in La grave and Chamonix, sometimes in Antarctica and at times in the US and Scotland.
SPRING: Long ski tours through the Alps, often in Norway in Lofoten and Svalbard. The Parapenting season begins with the warming air. Africa, S.America
SUMMER: High mountain alpinism, longer parapenting flights. Europe,
AUTUMN: rock climbing and high mtn expeditions. Asia, Africa, N America
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Climbed and flown on all 7 continents.
- Several rock climbing ascents of El Capitan, Yosemite Valley
- Flown for 10 hours and 180 km in a day through the French Alps
- Pioneered first ascents in Antarctica, Alaska, and Ecuador
- Have climbed such icons as Chimborazo, N face of the Eiger, the Dome of the South Pole station, Denali and Mt Kenya.
- Skied from the Summit of Mt Vinson, Antarctica, the N face of Mt Blanc and mt Superior, UT.
- 2006 AMGA outstanding guide of the year award
Kasper Berkowicz (Denmark)
UIAGM/IFMGA Licensed Guide
More about Kasper
Hi, I am Kasper. Climbing is how it all started. I’ve always been climbing. As a small child, I climbed any tree, lamppost or stone bigger than a football. But it wasn’t until I convinced my parents to send me away on a rock climbing course as a 14-year-old that this passion really blossomed and got a direction, purpose and deeper meaning to me. It was like falling in love and I knew straight away that I wanted to devote as much of my life to climbing and the mountains as I could. My parents tell me that when I returned from that first rock climbing course, I was speaking about nature, rocks and climbing experiences in an almost poetic way. I guess you need an almost supernaturally powerful impression to make a 14-year old boy poetic -but climbing did that to me.
Eight years later, I moved to Canada. Officially to go to school, but the real reason was to spend as much time in the mountains as I could. I already had my qualification as a rock climbing instructor, but in Canada, I started my training to become a mountain guide. After a couple of years in Canada, having completed the first couple of courses of the Canadian guides training through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, I decided to move back to Europe to spend more time skiing and climbing in the alps and finish my guides training with the Swedish Mountain Guides Association. In 2010 I became a fully certified IFMGA mountain guide.
When I’m not guiding, I enjoy nothing more than climbing or skiing with good friends, discovering places I haven’t been to before. Whenever I get some time off during the winter season, I especially like finding places for ski touring that haven’t become famous or crowded. Small gems in hidden valleys. Even though the alps are densely populated, there are still places like that. At other times of the year, I like to go back to my roots, seeking out beautiful, traditionally protected climbs on the immaculate granite of the west coast of Sweden.
Statement
My first love was climbing. My love turned into alpinism – that is skiing and climbing in the high mountains – and that showed me my path in life. To be an alpinist and a mountain guide. This is my passion, the center of my universe!
Active in other geographic locations
Winter: Ski guiding in La Grave and surrounding areas.
Spring: Guiding ski touring all over the place, from Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt and Arctic Norway by boat to the Ecrins.
Summer: Guiding mountaineering and alpine climbing, usually around Chamonix. Rock climbing in Sweden.
Fall: Rock climbing and planning for next season.
Achievements:
- Sport climbing in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Norway, up to grade 8a.
- Traditionally protected freeclimbing in Scandinavia, from the arctic parts of Northern Norway to the southernmost part of Sweden, the US, Canada and the Alps. Up to Scandinavian grade 8-
- Ice climbing in Canada, Norway and the Alps, up to grade WI6.
- Alpine climbing in Canadian Rockies and Coast Mountains, the Alps and Patagonia. Up to grade ED.
- Steep skiing in Chamonix.
- Powder hunting in La Grave.
- Big Wall climbing in Yosemite and Squamish.
- Exploratory alpine climbing expedition to the Waddington Range in Canada.
- Climbing in Patagonia.
- First free ascents of old aid climbs in Sweden.
- First ascents of minor mountaineering routes in the Waddington Range.
Jurgen Krieger (Germany)
UIAGM/IFMGA Licensed Guide
More about Jurgen
Hi, I am Jurgen. I was born in Regensburg, Bavaria far away from real mountains I was lucky that my parents were passionate skiers and mountain lovers and owned a holiday flat in Austria where I started skiing in the age of three. I didn´t take too long that my parents were disgusted with following me on my favorite runs in the thick forest where I found the best jumps and most fun. So they allowed me to ski on my own and I joined a bunch of local kids. Needless to say that the rule of exclusively skiing on the flat valley lifts when we were on our own was broken shameless….
After playing handball intensely in my youth, I came to the point where indoor sports felt boring and I discovered rock climbing in the nearby Altmühltal, one of the biggest climbing hotspots in the 80´s. With big enthusiasm and little knowledge of ropework I luckily survived my first steps until I was taken under the wings of more experienced climbers who took me to the alps and also introduced me to ice climbing. From that point, there was no way back to a life without mountains.
The logical consequence was that I skipped my studies in sociology and political sciences and started the mountain guide education which I finished in 1997. Still one of the best decisions in my life!
Statement:
”The best way from the top of a mountain down to the bar leads through untracked powder”
Activity in other geographic locations
Winter: Skiguiding in Switzerland ( with a special attention to small, unknown resorts), Austria, Italy, Georgia, Iceland
Summer: Guiding, mountaineering, and rock climbing all around the Alps, Sardegna, Corse, Greece. Canyoning in Switzerland, France, and Italy
Achievements:
- Surviving some silly undertakings in my young years
- After more than 20 years of professional guiding still having fun in the mountains (whenever I have some free time I try to go to the mountains to explore some new places with skies, wetsuit or rock boots. O.k I´m simple minded….)
- Sports climbing in Europe, North America, Asia up to grade 8a
- Sport climbing first ascents up to grade 7c
- Alpine climbs up to grade 7b
- Ice climbs up to WI 5 and first ascents up to M8
- Expedition to Nuptse East as a member of the expedition team of the German alpine club
- Ski Expedition to Denali/ Orient Express
Fabien Artero (France)
UIAGM/IFMGA Licensed Guide
More about Fabien
Hi, I am Fabien, I was born in Nice and, from as far as I can remember, I have always been passionate about mountains. My passion grew as I spent all my holidays in Argentina Valley in the Ligurian Alps in the summer and in the Ecrins in the winter.
Step by step, I have discovered all the activities that mountain offers all year round. Skiing and snowboarding, first as a child and teenager and then rock climbing and alpinism. I did my first steps on the rock in Argentina valley. I had bitten the hook and then spent all my free time discovering the countless sectors of the Mediterranean coast. Quickly I was attracted to mountains again and started to climb the alpine routes of the Mercantour. Then the discovery of the other massifs obviously followed. At that time, I started skiing again as ski touring offered me the opportunity to ride untouched slopes and to explore the mountain in winter.
I never feel as good as when I am in the mountains, climbing a beautiful route, skiing a wild slope free of tracks or simply rambling around and admiring the landscape with my family.
I think the mountain is the best playing field ever where you have to play according to your mood, the weather and mountain conditions in order to choose the right itinerary. This is really fascinating!
Quite naturally, I decided to become a mountain guide so that I could spend every season in the mountain.
I achieved it in 2014 and have worked full time as a mountain guide since then. What I like the most about it is the variety. Each day is different: meeting new people, discovering new valleys, practicing so many different activities. It is very rewarding.
Planning ski or climbing trips all around the world is also one of my favorite part of my job. Every year I am guiding people to explore the mountains of the world, in search of discovery and new horizons. Combining the fun of climbing and skiing to the pleasure of discovering different cultures with a hint of adventure, it’s a dream come true!
Skiing represents a big part of my activity. Both free-riding and ski touring inspire me. As I live in a small village near Briancon, I can enjoy the huge playground that surrounds me: Serre-Chevalier, the Ecrins and of course… LA GRAVE!
When I first discovered La Grave, I was in my twenties and I was dazzled by the beauty and unspoiled nature of the place. I felt lucky and incredibly free, riding magic itineraries under the eye of La Meije. So many possibilities… So many adventures to live…
Since 2015, when I have started guiding in the vallons of la Meije with SkiersLodge in La Grave I have always found the freedom to explore the mountain in search of powder and to share my passion with the guests, revealing them a few secrets of this amazing spot. Following every morning the same routine: guide meeting to check the weather forecast and snow conditions, guests briefing… but living and sharing each day a new experience on the runs! It’s that complex game that I appreciate most: finding the best slope, the best itinerary according to these rules that can change every day.
STATEMENT: “Nature gives the rules, let’s try and listen to it”
ACTIVE IN OTHER GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS:
Winter: Ski free ride in la Grave and ski touring around with skiers lodge
Spring: Ski touring in the Alps and all around the world (Japan, Albania, Norway, Greenland, Iran, Spitzberg)
Summer: Alpinism in the Alps and canyoning in the south of France and Italy.
Autumn: Rock climbing trips (Morocco, Jordan, Spain, Greece, Turkey)
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Ski exploring in the world:
- Japan, Hokkaido Island
- Norway, Senja island and Finnmark
- Greenland, west coast
- Spitzberg: sail and ski touring
Ski exploring in the Alps: every year, far from the crowds and the classic itineraries:
Mercantour, Alpi Cozie, Alpi liguri, Valpeline, Val stura…
Rock climbing trips:
- Turkey (Geyikbayiri)
- Spain (Riglos)
- Morocco (Taghia)
- Jordan (Wadi Rum)
- Italy (Dolomites)
Projects: ski exploring in Albania, Georgia, Kirghizistan, Iran. Always in search of discovery and adventure.
Julien Marie (France)
UIAGM/IFMGA Licensed Guide
More about Julien
Julien Marie was raised and born near the sunny region of Marseille. As a teenager his passion for the mountains grew so he settled down in the mountain range of the Pyrénées very close to Andorra. He quickly became fascinated of cross country skiing, ski touring, alpine and freestyle skiing that finally lead of many years in competition as a member of Rossignol Freestyle Team. After years of improving his ski technics he passed his ski instructor diploma and worked in Montgenevre France. He is a member of the local alpinist team and a sport teacher.
The passion of the mountains environment and trying making all year living became a natural push towards to become a certified mountain guide. Through guiding I am able to share my knowledge and experience with my clients and help them to achieve their goals. He dedicate his life for this and passed his exam 2013 and received the coveted UIAGM/IFMGA badge.
It hold the highest internationally recognized qualification for instruction and guiding in rock and ice climbing, mountaineering and off-piste skiing and ski touring. He lives in Briancon with his wife and two children and does not mind the 50 minutes drive with a smile and come home to his new born child with a smile too. In brief, the life that he always dreamt of (!) Skiing and being in the mountains has given my life so much! “As a guide, I enjoy to share the beauty of nature with my clients and passing on the Alpine Spirit.”
Walfroy Constant (France)
UIAGM/IFMGA Licensed Guide
More about Walfroy
Hi, I am Walfroy, I was too young to be able now to remember my first day on skis, probably some days after my first steps on earth…
It was in Pyrénées, the natural border between France and Spain. While my studies, in Pau (near Lourdes), I discovered climbing and alpinism for which I became immediately completely addict. A couple of years later I joined the Alpinism National Team of the French Alpine Club with who I did my first expedition in 2002 on Tengkampoche (Népal) on its technical north face which is comparable to two north face of Les Droites (Mont-Blanc range) one above the other. At the same time, I passed my exam to become a physic and chemistry teacher. a couple of years later, I gave up teaching to spend all my time on skiing and mountaineering.
I moved from Pyrénées to Grenoble and I discovered La Grave… Of course, I fell in Love…
Then I broke my back falling after the first ascent of a 6000-meter peak deep in Pakistan. Badly injured, I lost time before starting my guiding career in 2008.
I started guiding in Chamonix and I moved to La Grave-La Meije in 2013. I joined Pelle’s guide team.
In 2016, I moved back to Pyrénées on Pic du Midi (2877m) free-ride area which was born as a real freeride spot a couple of years before. Considered as the “La Grave little sister”, Pic du midi offers awesome lines like the Couloir des Poubelles (45/50°, 1000m), Roche Noire (45°, 600m) Jardin Botanique (50°,600m), Palle à Pierrot (55°, 1000m) La Cuenta (50°, 1000m)…….. And Combe de l’Ours, the longest run in Pyrénées: 2000m from the entrance to exit. I’m working now as the local Pic du Midi guide for skiers lodge guide service.
Movie: La Traversée des Pyrénées à Ski
STATEMENT:
My favorite quote: “In the 60’s, mountaineering was dangerous and sex was safe” Yvon Chouinard, I was born too late…
ACTIVE IN OTHER GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS:
WINTER: Works for Skierslodge/Guide service on Pic du Midi and is my center point of guiding during the winter month
SPRING: Ski touring in Pyrénées and Arctic areas
SUMMER: Alpinism, Rock Climbing, Canyoning on Spanish side of the Pyrénées,
FALL: Rock climbing.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- 2002: Népal expédition, first ascent of north face of Teng Kampoche (Alpinism National Team of the french Alpine Club)
- 2003: Second Ascent of Japanese route on the north face of Grandes Jorasses (First winter ascent)
- 2004: Dolomites rock climbing classics lines
- 2005: 2 months alpinism on Cordillera Blanca (Pérou)
- 2006: Attempt of second ascent of Koyo Zom, Highest peak of Hindu Raj, Pakistan
- 2008: UIAGM guide Licence
- 2009: 5 month trip in north America: Climbing El Capitan, Leaning Tower, Weeping Wall…
- 2010: Back to El Capitan
- 2011: Guiding on Puta Hyunchulli, 7152m, Népal
- 2012: Pyrénées skitouring traverse. Movie: La Traversée des Pyrénées à Ski
- 2013: Greenland exploring ski touring
- 2014: Canyoning in Guadeloupe on winter time and back to Greenland in spring
- 2015: Lyngen skitouring
- 2017: Kebnekaise ski touring trip, Sweden
- Next project: skydiving, wingsuiting…..
Fred Degoulet (France)
UIAGM/IFMGA Licensed Guide
More about Fred
Hi, I am Fred, I am a skier, climber, alpinist and guide. I have been working as a mountain guide for more than 10 years but my enthusiasm for adventures in the mountains started when I was a youngster. I am a passionate practitioner of mountain sports both for my career as a guide but also for my personal goals as an alpinist. My proudest achievement was to be recognized in 2018 for the Piolet D’Or awards (the highest international accolade for alpinism) This award for the most significant climb of the year, was given to us for putting up a new route on Nuptse in Nepal.
Ski guiding in La Grave is really a highlight of my guiding year, the opportunity to work in this unique and iconic terrain, often with very highly skilled clients, is exciting and rewarding. I really enjoy the camaraderie that develop within the Skierlodge-Guideservice group throughout the week. Leading the Skier Lodge groups really plays to my strengths; creating fun and putting people at ease. If you see a flash of color go past or hear some whooping, that will be me and my team charging down through the trees, last one to the bar buys the beers!
Together with Pelle and Cyril, we are the members of the “commision de sécurité” composed of local guides in case of a significant change in the avalanche risk. It will follow a risk management protocol for recommending, according to the snow conditions, whether it’s possible or not to open the cable car. An announcement is made to the municipality who makes an official decision for the opening or the closing. I believe this commission is something unique to La Grave.
Statement – “where are the brakes? “/ “if you are not living on the edge, your taking up too much room “
ACTIVE IN OTHER GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS:
WINTER: I like to start with ice climbing ascent and guiding during December and January in the Freissinière valley. February and march I works for Skiers Lodge in La Grave
SPRING: Off-piste and Ski touring around Chamonix and week touring in the Alps . . . Norway, Swiss, Italy
SUMMER: Alpinism and Rock Climbing all over the Alps with clients and for myself
AUTUMN: Rock climbing with friends or expedition around the world
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Sport climbing up to 7c+, trad climbing up to 7b+
- Ice climbing up to WI7, dozens of new ascents in mixte/dry ice climbing up to M9, WI6.
- Skiing in France, Italy, Norway, Swiss, Sweden, Finland and soon Japan
- Alpinism, North faces List of ascent : Grandes Jorasses, Aiguilles Vertes x2, Grande Rocheuse x2, Aiguilles Sans Nom, Droites x3, Pic Sans Nom x2, Ailefroide x6, Aiguille du midi, Piz Badile, Drus, Meije, Rateau
- New route on the Grande Rocheuse, Mont Blanc range, 4102m, “Hou yeah”, 1000m, WI5+, M6, A1.
- New route on the north face of Pic Sans Nom 3913m, Ecrins range, “Le prestige des Ecrins”, 1000m, M6+/6a, WI5.
- Mont Blanc, link up of the Pilier Rouge du Brouillard by the “Oggioni” route, 350m, 6a, followed by the Pilier Central du Freney by the “Bonington” route, 950m, 7a+/A0.
- Aiguille Verte, 4122m, Integral ridge ascent of Flamme de Pierre, Drus, Aiguille Sans Nom and Aiguille Verte in 3 days, 3000m of climbing.
- Integrale of Peuterey
- Piolet d’Or 2018 awarded for the ascent of Nuptse.
Expedition:
- 2004: Greenland, 50 days in autonomy in the Tasermiut Fjord for opening 2 new route. One on Suikuarsuak called “Le temps de l’innocence”, 1100m, 7a+, A1 and the other one on the Ketil called “La clémence de l’ogre”, 950m, 7a, A1.
- 2006: Peru, 6 ascents on the Cordillera Blanca
- 2007: Nepal, new route on the east ridge of Ganesh V 6741m, 1200m, M5+, 6a, 75°.
- 2008: Slovenia, new route in winter on the Skralatica, “Patate Dabuchkaniëv”, 600m, 5c, M5.
- 2009: Chili-Patagonia, new route on the north face of Cuernos Este “Bailar con el viento”, 600m, 6c. And a new route on the north-east face of Cuernos Norte “For a fistful of chapattis”, 800m, A3+, 6a+.
- Yosemite, “Regular route” au Half Dome on a day, “The shield” and “The Nose” on El Capitan, “The Prow” and “Astroman” on Washington Column.
- 2010: Alaska, 5 ascents in Denali National Park. One was challenging on the Mont Hunter by the “Moonflower buttress” 2000m, IV, M5, A2, WI6 to reach the summit and descent by the 6km west ridge in 48 hours, in Alpine style. Summit of Denali, 6190 m by the normal route.
- 2012: Argentina-Patagonia, Cerro Torre by the “Ragni” route, 600m, WI6, Fitz Roy by the “Franco-Argentina” route, 650m, 6c, Aguja Standhart with the first link up of “Tomahawk” and “Exoset”, 800m, WI6, M6. All in Alpine style.
- 2014: Peru, new route in the Cordillera Huayhuash on the west face of Siula Chico, “Looking for the void”, 900m, M7, alpine style.
- 2016: Nepal, an impressive attempt on the south face of Nuptse, 7742m, in Alpine style. Missed at 350 meters under the summit after 6 days of effort.
- 2017: Nepal, new route on Nuptse west II, 7742m, 2200m, M6, WI6, in Alpine style. Cholatse, 6440m, by the west ridge.
Erin Smart (US)
IFMGA/AMGA Licensed Guide
More about Erin
Hi, I am Erin, I grew up in Seattle, WA with the mountain range of the Cascades in my backyard. I started skiing at the age of 2, and it quickly became the center point of my life. After visiting my brother in Chamonix when I was 15, I fell in love with the Alps, and graduated high school a year early to come and ski in La Grave for my first full winter season when I was 17. La Grave became a second home for me, and I kept coming back for winter seasons throughout university.
I started mountain guiding in 2010, and have since traveled and worked in mountain ranges around the world including Alaska, Norway, Himalaya, and the Alps. After I passed my last IFMGA guide exam in September 2016, I moved immediately to La Grave. It was over a decade long dream realized to become a guide here in one of my favorite spots on earth.
STATEMENT: ”I love steep skiing”
ACTIVE IN OTHER GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS:
WINTER: Skiing in La Grave
SPRING: Ski touring in Norway, Alaska, and personal ski expeditions to find virgin lines.
SUMMER: Alpinism and rock climbing in the Alps.
FALL: Either rock climbing, mountain biking, or on expedition. I can be found in Indian Creek Utah, the Himalaya and beyond, or at home in France.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Ski Pioneering:
- C1 Couloir off backbone ridge: First Descent—North Cascades
- NW Couloir on the Four Brothers: First Descent—Central Cascades
- West Couloir of Alta Mountain: First Descent—Central Cascades
- South face of Lemah 1: First Descent—Central Cascades
- The Stuart Range Traverse: Pioneered this five day ski traverse—Central Cascades
- Barnard Glacier: Two week ski expedition, several first descents—Alaska
- Ski attempt on southwest face of Pumori: Climbed up to 6300m on the face—Nepal
- Notable Repeats on Ski:
- Y Couloir, top entrance (first female to enter from the top)—La Grave, France
- Glacier Rond—Chamonix, France
Other:
- First woman to ever be accepted into the Bureau des Guides de La Grave
- Journalist for major ski and climbing magazines in the US: Powder, Backcountry, Alpinist
- Native English, fluent in French
- Certified Wilderness First Responder, Former EMT-B (advanced emergency medical training)
