There are about 300 IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides) in Chamonix and they’re all well-qualified to get you to your objective and back as safely as possible. However, there’s a whole lot more to a good day in the mountains than knowing where to find the last of the powder stashes or the sequences for the crux moves on the Voie Petit. Finding a guide with whom you’d also go for a cheeky pint o’ stout at the end of the day ain’t always that easy. Here are a few I can personally recommend.
Asmus Nørreslet Nørreslet Mountaineering +33 684 209 182 info@norreslet.dk
Christian Trommsdorff +33 6 70 79 51 78 chris_trommsdorff@hotmail.com
Douds Charlet +33 677 96 06 99 doudsone@hotmail.fr
Fred Bernard Peak Powder +33 689 06 51 03 info@peakpowder.com
Jean-Frank Charlet Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix +33 4 50 18 50 63
Jon Bracey Vertigo Guides +33 671 320 222 jon@vertigoguides.com
Jossi Lindblom Big Dreams +33 677 094 503, +46 70 383 3775 info@bigdreams.se
Lars Vanhaelewyck Mountain Penguins + 33 6 24 97 02 46 info@mountainpenguins.com
Martin Svensson MWS Guide +33 689 767 484, +46 709 384 206 martin@mwsguide.com
Martial Dumas Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix +33 683 091 284 martialdumas@free.fr
Matt Helliker Vertigo Guides +33 670 819 357 matt@vertigoguides.com
Mattias Erlandsen Mountain Relations +33 616 060 155, +46 700 521 605 mountainrelations@gmail.com
Michael Silitch High-Alpine Mountain Guides +33 689 484 118 michael@high-alpine.com
Neil McNab McNab Snowboarding +44 141 416 3828 info@mcnabsnowboarding.com
Octavio Defazio Creative Guides +33 679 732 416 contact@creativeguides.com
Ode Siivonen Cohkka Guiding and Events +33 612 531 609, +358 5059 57 226 osku.siivonen@cohkka.fi
Pelle Bagewitz +33 608 946 173 pelle.bagewitz@free.fr
Sam Beaugey Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix +33 685 429 869 s.beaugey@gmail.com
Seb Montaz Chamonix Guiding +33 682 909 535 seb@chamonixguiding.com
Shaun Hutson +33 684 820 629 shaun@sphutson.com
Stian Hagen +33 637 919 926 stianhagen@mac.com
Ulrika Asp Vertical Experience +33 679 84 65 85 ulrikaasp@bergsguiderna.com
Victor Saunders Basecamp.co.uk Mountain Adventures victor@basecamp.co.uk
Wolfgang Huber Mountain Spirit +33 615 312 984 office@mountainspirit.info
Yannick Graziani +33 674 004 810 YGraziani@yahoo.com
Zoe Hart Alpine Princess +33 629 960 018 zoe@alpineprincess.com
Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix +33 450 53 00 88 info@chamonix-guides.com
Guide questions for you… I am trying to decide what resort I want to spend 3 months at in Europe next season and its pretty much down to Chamonix, St. Anton & Verbier. I am looking for awesome steeps and great powder. I am used to skiing North America (Jackson Hole, Alta, Whistler, etc) and want to experience life abroad in the Alps.
I’ve heard Chamonix has awesome powder and great steeps but those crevasses scare the sht out of me – are they all over the place and deadly or just sort of a be careful, know where they are sort of thing? 100 meters fall to icy death in a hole does not sound fun…
Are the lift lines bad at Chamonix? Do you have any advice on where to find cheap lodging for around 3 months? Can an american find under-the-table work? (speak decent French and some German)
So many questions but I though I might as well get the “guide” portion of your site started off right. I very much appreciate it.
Went riding last Sunday with Ode Siivonen, and it was a damn near perfect day. Not only is Ode the most talented snowboarder I have ever seen in person, he also is a great guy and excellent guide. We spent the day exploring Les Grands Montets with 1-1.5 meters of fresh pow (Avalanche Level 4/5….definitely worth getting a guide!). Without Ode I would have been lost, likely scared of avvy’s, and a much less accomplished rider. He gave me some tips on riding in the deep snow, navigating trees, ridgelines, and gullies and also how to plan your line. If you are planning on spending some time in Chamonix and are looking for a guide who speaks very good English (as well as a few other languages) and is fun to be around, Ode is the man to call. (He is also an excellent skier, in case you use two boards instead of one).
-Jake D.