| |
Our British Mountain Guides
Our team are all members of the British Mountain Guides Association and fully qualified IFMGA guides. They have chosen to specialise in alpinism and adventure climbing in particular and the depth of experience, leadership qualities and technical excellence they posess cannot be learned overnight. |
| |
Ability alone however, won't guarantee to make a great guide. We always look for people with a patient and cheerful character and good track record before inviting a new member onto the team. From time to time we also bring in other trusted guides, all of whom we know personally and have observed to ensure our standards are maintained. |
| |
|
| Rich Cross |
| Rich has been climbing for 20 years, enjoying everything from bouldering to winter Alpinism [read more] |
|
|
|
| Al Powell |
| Al has lived in the mountains his whole life, both parents having been keen Alpinists [read more] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Jon Bracey |
| Jon is one of Britain's foremost alpinists having climbed some of the hardest routes in the Alps[read more] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rob Jarvis |
| Rob has a traditional mountaineering background with the major influence being scotland [read more] |
|
|
|
|
| |
| What is an IFMGA Guide? |
|
|
To quote the British Mountain Guides Website: "Put simply, it means an internationally qualified guide with the knowledge and skills to lead parties in the world’s most challenging mountain environments. IFMGA Mountain Guides are the most qualified and experienced professionals to lead people in the mountains with a training and assessment that takes many years and exceptional skills to achieve. The International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGA), is the body that coordinates the standards and mutual recognition of the twenty-six national mountain guide associations." |
| |
In the Alpine nations, IFMGA status it is a legal requirement in order to practice the profession of a mountain guide. |
|
|
| Staff Profiles |
| |
 |
| |
 |
|
 |
|
| |
Rich Cross
Rich has been climbing for 20 years, loving every apsect from bouldering right through to winter Alpinism, and has travelled the world pursuing his passion for the sport. Earlier in his climbing career he went on many expeditions to the Greater Ranges, which included the first ascent of Ama Dablams NW ridge, for which he was nominated for the Piolet d'Or.
More recently, he's moved back to his roots and nowadays spends most of his spare time rock climbing around the UK, Scottish winter climbing and exploring the European Alps. He loves being in wild places and finds great pleasure sharing these experiences - the greatest joy in life comes from experience shared!
In the winter time Rich runs the company ice climbing program, specialising in technical 1:1 guiding on ice falls and winter alpine couloirs. During the summer he runs the alpine mountaineering program from our base in Chamonix, again specialising in 1:1 alpine rock, mixed climbing and north faces. He also spends each spring in the UK guiding in the Peak District, Wales and exploring the Western Highlands of Scotland.
When not guiding or travelling, Rich lives in Sheffield with his wife Liz and their young son, balancing time between home life, Alpine Guides, road biking and local gritstone. [see Rich's Blog]
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
| |
Al Powell
Al has lived in the mountains his whole life, both parents having been keen Alpinists. In his personal climbing he has concentrated mainly on winter alpinism and expeditions, having climbed several cutting edge new routes around the world during the course of 20 expeditions to the Greater Ranges.
He has also kept up a running career, more so nowadays since starting a family, with highlights including winning the Elite course on both the LAMM and OMM Mountain Marathons and being the first Briton to run the Tour du Mont Blanc in under 24hrs (102ml & 9000m ascent - that hurt!)
In the winter months he heads up the Alpine Guides ski mountaineering program and in the summer works in the Alps specialising in Private Guiding, as well as directing trips and courses for Alpine Guides.
The rest of the year, he lives in Yorkshire with his wife Sima and their young family, where he writes and maintains the company website, whilst trying to spend as much time on a mountain bike as possible. [see Al's Blog] |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
| |
Dave Hollinger
Dave Hollinger is a full-time IFMGA guide based in Sheffield, UK. Originally from near Belfast, you're as likely to find him in the Alps, Scotland, Snowdonia or the Peak District as his native Fairhead.
Dave's enthusiasm for the mountains extends to all seasons and a huge diversity of work and play. 15 years of climbing and mountaineering have taken him all over the world from the Himalayas to the big walls of North America, the European Alps and of course, the rich diversity of climbing in the UK.
He has a similar background to Al in both expedition climbing and orienteering (ie a former Irish orienteering champion) - but also has a very strong instruction and training background, having worked at Plas Y Brenin, the national outdoor centre for several years.
In the summer months he guides in the Alps and back in the Uk runs his own mountain training company, delivering mountain leader training and awards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
| |
Jonny Baird
Jonny's passion for the mountains started where he grew up - the West Coast of Scotland - and probably about the same time too! His youth was spent rock climbing in Glen Coe and Glen Nevis and also on the great ice climbs of Ben Nevis. His love for alpinism has taken him to the European Alps and onwards and upwards to adventures in the Tien Shan, Pervian Andes, Greenland, Canadian Rockies, New Zealand and Australia.
Although his interest in mountaineering started in Scotland where he built a wealth of experience in the harsh local conditions, he now lives and works full time in the Chamonix valley where he runs many of our courses.
Jonny is keen to share his knowledge of the mountains and to make it fun - whether it's rock climbing, alpine climbing or winter alpinism - you are sure to find him happy just being in the hills.
When he's not working, he'll be away climbing one of the icy north faces of the alps, or most likely enjoying sport climbing in a sunny spot with friends in one of the many superb venues near home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
| |
Jon Bracey
Jon is one of Britain's foremost alpinists having climbed some of the hardest routes in the Alps and established several new routes in Alaska, Greenland and the Himalayas with both Rich and Al amongst others.
Jon lives and climbs in Chamonix year round, thoroughly enjoying the guiding life. He specialises in guiding winter ice climbs, classic big rock climbs, alpine faces and ridges. To quote Jon:
"I have been passionate about the mountains and the environment since a young age. Through guiding I am able to share my knowledge and experience with my clients and help them to achieve their goals. If you're seeking an adventure in some of the most beautiful wildernesses on the planet then look no further!"
Outside the guiding season, he mixes family life with personal climbing and works closely with his sponsors, being involved in design work, brand promotion and product testing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
| |
Neil Johnson
Neil comes from a background of professional outdoor instruction and traditional exploratory mountaineering, where his climbing adventures have taken him throughout Europe to Greenland, Canada, America and Patagonia. One of the highlights of these adventures being an ascent of the "Compressor Route" on Cerro Torre.
After studying a sports science degree in Leeds, he started off working with young people, then moved on to working with adults and more specifically future leaders and instructors. After working for 10 years at Plas Y Brenin as a Senior Instructor, he decided to focus his career on professional guiding and climbing coaching.
In the summer months Neil guides in the Alps, but at other times of year he delivers Climbing Fundamentals coaching seminars for the BMC as well as running his own mountain training company, delivering UK mountain leader training and awards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
| |
Rob Jarvis
Rob has a traditional mountaineering background with the major influence being thirteen full winter seasons mountaineering, climbing and guiding in the Scottish Highlands. This includes hundreds of routes throughout the Highlands but particularly on Ben Nevis with ascents of winter climbs up to VII,8.
He has climbed and guided on 6 out of the 7 continents including making first ascents on Welsh rock, Scottish ice and new routes in the Antarctic winter, Kyrgyz Tien Shan and Pakistani Hindu Kush.
He has climbed and led expeditions to the ‘Greater Ranges’ on peaks up to 7500m (Chinese Pamir, Nepalese & Indian Himalaya, Argentinean Andes, Pakistani Karakorum, Moroccan High Atlas & Antarctic Ellsworths and Peninsula). and has recently returned from guiding a 'Ski South Pole' expedition.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
