About Us

Cordy brings her passion for travel, outdoor sports, and organisational skills to the Tracks and Trails team as a Programme Manager for our Scheduled Departures. With a background in teaching as a PE instructor and working with young people on the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, she combines her love for the outdoors with planning and setting up our adventures. Cordy’s enthusiasm for exploration began in her school days with expeditions to the Lake District, North Wales, and France. As a young teacher, she organised trips to Borneo and Ghana, experiences that inspired her to earn her Mountain Leadership qualification. Moving to a forward-thinking independent school, she had even more opportunities to share her passion for the outdoors, leading trips to destinations like Ladakh, Rajasthan, Southeast Asia, Morocco, Finland, and the European Alps. Cordy is instrumental in helping us 'green' our trips and promote eco-conscious travel practices. Her commitment to protecting the environment ensures our adventures leave a positive impact on the planet. When she’s not crafting Tracks and Trails holidays, Cordy loves exploring new places in her motorhome with her partner Byron and their dog Teddy. Her energy and dedication to inspiring others make her an invaluable part of our team.

Byron keeps our Scheduled Departure trips on track, ensuring every itinerary is meticulously planned and executed. As a Programme Manager, he oversees the preparation and logistics for our adventure holidays. Hailing from the South West of England, Byron’s passion for the outdoors took root during his university years in Wales. This love for adventure has taken him across the globe, and his background includes competing as a sponsored athlete in events like the Salomon Adventure Series, Camel Trophy, Landrover G4 Challenge, and Fulda Arctic Challenges in the Yukon, An experienced International Mountain Leader, Byron has guided iconic treks such as the Tour du Mont Blanc, Pyrenees GR10, and the Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route. His expertise extends to snowshoeing trips in Finland and the Pyrenees. Beyond Europe, Byron has led expeditions across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australasia. Byron’s previous career in education focused on planning and delivering UK and international expeditions for school students, equipping him with a wealth of experience in managing complex logistics. His dedication to detail and his vast experience in the field ensure that every trip runs smoothly, offering guests the adventure of a lifetime.

Born and raised in Belgium, Fran is our Programme Manager for Trail Running, and private trips. She has always had a deep love for the outdoors, which led her to leave her home country to explore the mountains of British Columbia. Her journey began with two years working as a ski instructor in Whistler. Seeking broader horizons, Fran  moved into teaching, starting with a PE role in Egypt, followed by an opportunity to work in Thailand. During this time, she recognised the power of outdoor education, inspiring her to take courses with NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School), including their Rocky Mountain Instructor course. These experiences deepened her understanding of how nature can foster personal growth and resilience in students. With her NOLS qualifications, Fran secured a new role in Switzerland, where she taught PE, skiing, and outdoor education, further combining her love of sports and the outdoors. Eventually, Fran decided to change her career, retraining as a sports masseuse while continuing to pursue her passion for mountain guiding as an aspirant International Mountain Leader. Today, she spends as much time as possible in the French Alps sharing her love of outdoor exploration with others.

Inez is the engine behind the scenes at Tracks and Trails, serving as our Business Development Manager. She ensures everything runs seamlessly while constantly seeking new ways to grow our business and enhance the experiences we offer. Her innovative approach blends her love for adventure with her talent for coming up with new business ideas. Born in Belgium, Inez has lived in Sweden and now calls the French Alps home. A true nature enthusiast, she is passionate about mountains, the great outdoors, and activities that keep her moving. Her insatiable curiosity about the human mind has also led her to become a mental performance coach, where she helps athletes push their boundaries and gain the perspective needed to achieve their full potential. When she’s not exploring the mountains or driving innovation, Inez finds solace in the stillness of drawing and painting. Yet, her social side shines through as she’s always ready for a lively *apéro* in the right company. With her energy, creativity, and adventurous spirit, Inez is an integral part of the Tracks and Trails team.

Paul is a highly professional and experienced mountain leader, alpinist, ultra-runner and former British Army Officer who is happiest when climbing, running and leading on mountains. In spring 2022 he summited Everest, the highest mountain in the world at 8,849m (29,024 ft). He has completed the iconic Ultra Trail Mont Blanc not once but twice, this is a mountain race over 170 km's (106 miles) with 10,000 m (32,800 ft of elevation. Paul was also one of only 40% of starters to finish the inaugural OMAN by UTMB. A run of 137 km (41 miles) across the heights of Jebel Akhdar, and finished in the top ten of the Jurassic Coast Ultra. When guiding he combines enjoyment, safety and progressive learning with a focus on beating client expectations. He’s been to the top of a number of Alpine classics such as the Matterhorn, the Eiger, Mont Blanc and the Dent Du Geant to mention a few.  Further afield he has climbed and guided in Wadi Rum in Jordan, on Kilimanjaro, summited Island Peak and thoroughly explored the Himalayan Khumbu Valley. Paul is passionate about the mountains and truly believes in their power to inspire people’s positive outlook on life. 

Ewen Martin is one of our most experienced ski instructors and ski guides. He has been a ski instructor since 1985, he has a great sense of humour and it is a real pleasure to share time in the mountains with him. Ewen, who is a Trainer for BASI (British Association of Snowsport Instructors) is one of the highest qualified Nordic Skiers in the UK. He is also a Telemark and Alpine Ski Instructor, and has extensive experience of cross country ski racing. He holds the International Mountain Leader award which means that he has worked as a guide in mountain terrain around the world. In addition he is a Heeresbergfuhrer, the German Army equivalent of a High Mountain Guide. So as you can see he is well qualified to be leading you on your ski trip, and has indeed led many ski tours and expeditions in Norway. Ewen speaks fluent Norwegian, and has lived in Norway for over 15 years. He will be well able to share his knowledge of Norway, its people, and culture.

Christel is from the Netherlands, but now lives in the Swiss Alps. She has a passion for languages and if you join us on a trip you can chat to her in Spanish, German, French, English, Dutch and Basque! She has many years of experience working in the outdoors, and is a fully qualified International Mountain Leader. In the winter months Christel is a BASI Nordic Ski Instructor, and has also qualified to teach cross-country through the Swiss exam system. She also holds the high level ISIA qualification to teach Alpine Skiing, as well as BASI Level 1 to teach Telemark Skiing. She has worked on a range of projects with us and is always a ray of sunshine with her cheek to cheek smile! She also practices aromatherapy, and mindfulness, and loves to explore how nature can help us in many different ways. Christel's view is that "There is always something to learn at the magic grand school of the great outdoors all over the world." She is also a keen rock climber, ski tourer, and mountain biker.

Alex is a great example of the kind of guide we like to work with. Always a smile, and a fabulous attitude when it comes to encouraging and helping our guests to get the most out of their trip. Like all our guides she is a fully qualified International Mountain Leader with the skills and expertise to make sure that you have an enjoyable, and safe time in the mountains. She is also qualified as a Mountaineering Instructor having spent more than three decades playing in the mountains. She divides her working life between the Alps, the UK and some far flung corners of the world, such as the Himalaya where she regularly leads mountaineering or trekking expeditions. When not working, Alex enjoys summer mountaineering or winter ski-touring in the Alps and dog-walking. She has been known to do some trail running, having completed the full Ultra Trail Mont Blanc in 2006 & 2007. Oh, and she enjoys a good book with a large glass of wine of any colour!

When it comes to helping others achieve their aspirations then Keith puts his heart and soul into providing energy and enthusiasm to the job in hand. He built a successful career in the British Military where he was employed as a specialist, delivering mountain leadership skills to the Armed Forces and Special Forces world wide, from Bavaria to Belize. Keith has been a member of the British Nordic Ski Team representing his country at 2 World Championships and 11 World Cups. He currently manages and is a squad member of the British Winter Triathlon team. Needless to say we are more than happy to have him working on our cross country ski trips! He is a BASI Level 3 ISIA Teacher, and an International Mountain Leader, and holds other qualifications too numerous to mention, including a Diploma in Management and Leadership, Sports Science & Therapy. He has climbed all over the world, including 4 expeditions to the Himalayas’ and was a supporting leader on the Military’s 2006 West Ridge of Everest Expedition junior team. He's a great guy and loads of fun to ski with. 

Elaine has spent her whole life exploring the outdoors, from family holidays to the Alps as a child right up until today when nothing inspires her more than a mountain vista seen from on high. She qualified as an International Mountain Leader in 2004, and since then has guided trips to Africa, Mongolia and the Alps. Each outing brings new pleasures, and she just loves to introduce people to new places and experiences. As well as walking, she is an enthusiastic skier, rock climber and cyclist, enjoying the latter two activities from her home in the English Peak District. Her other passion is yoga, which she began as a counter balance to her outdoor activities, but which has since become much more. Elaine studied to become a Iyengar Yoga Teacher 10 years ago and teaches regular yoga classes near her home in England. She has recently begun to lead trips oversees which combine yoga with days out in the mountains, two passions combined into a great mountain experience for her guests. 

Ten years ago Arno decided the flatlands of Holland were simply 'too flat'! He decided he wanted more adventure in his life and ran away to the Alps. He made his home in the lovely Savoyard village of Samoëns where his 'new life' was filmed for a series on Dutch television. However, fame hasn't gone to his head, and he's to be found guiding our Samoens Snowshoe Summits trips, amongst others. Arno trained as an 'accommpagnature' which is the French version of the International Mountain Leader, and also works as a professional Mountain Bike Guide during the summer months. He speaks fluent English, French and, of course, Dutch! As well as working year round in the mountains, like all of us, he also spends every spare moment either hiking, biking or skiing, this guy is an all round mountaineer. 

Born and bred in Chamonix, France, often described as the mountaineering capital of the world, Sebastien Gros fell in love with the mountains at a young age. Following in his grand-father's footsteps as a 'guide' he started skiing before he could walk and competed in cross-country ski races in his teens. He moved to the south of France to study and has travelled extensively around the world. He has a Masters in Sport, Tourism and Local Development and is qualified as both an 'Accompagnateur en Moyenne Montagne', which is the French version of the International Mountain Leader, and as an Alpine Ski Instructor. He is passionate about trail running as it allows him to explore new places, and he has run the famous GR20 in Corsica, in the Swiss Alps, Mallorca, the South of Spain, and off the beaten track in France. Seb also lectures in 'mountain environment' to those studying to become hiking guides. He is well qualified to enhance your mountain adventure with his knowledge.

Vic formed a love of the outdoors at a young age, and from sixteen years old she worked towards a career in the outdoors experiencing Scottish winters walking and climbing, while her summers were spent instructing rock climbing in North Wales. In 2007 she moved to Chamonix, France and has made the valley her home, pursuing her career as an International Mountain Leader. She has recently discovered the joys of trail running and has competed in the Marathon du Mont Blanc, Chamoinx, The Aiguilles Rouge Race, and the CCC which is part of the world famous Ultra Trail Mont Blanc weekend. We know Vic as a 'live wire' always full of enthusiasm for her work, and happy to share her knowledge. She is definitely an 'achiever' and holds the top level of UK Mountaineering Instructional Award (MIC). She has also worked as a trainer and assessor both for the National Governing Body (MLA Scheme) and the British Military. Today her energy is put into her main work as a trekking and expedition leader. 

Al has spent the past two decades devoted to climbing and running in the mountains, and has a great passion for the outdoors in general. He is a qualified International Mountain Leader, and works on our hiking trips, as well as our Trail Running camps and tours. Having worked as an outdoor educator and facilitator in the UK and on several overseas expeditions, Al brings a great deal of experience in group management to ensure your trip is an enjoyable and safe one. He now spends his time mainly in the European Alps where he has an immense 'playground' on this doorstep. He's also an avid runner, and a racer of distances on road and trail from 5 kms-168 kms, having pushed his limits to achieve a number of top 10 finishes in many mountain races in the Alps. But don’t let his 'fit as a flea' reputation worry you, if you join Al in the mountains either on a hiking or running trip, he will support, encourage and inspire you!

As a keen mountaineer, trail runner, road cyclist and all-mountain skier 'Suze' has been in Chamonix, in France for seven years learning as much as she can about her local environment as well as mountainous regions further a field. After organizing a ski mountaineering expedition to Tajikistan in 2014 she qualified as an International Mountain Leader and now enjoys leading both walking, trail running and snowshoeing groups. Suze is also a qualified 'Rolfer' and has a clinic in central Chamonix where she helps people with their postural alignment and movement patterns through the hand-on bodywork practice of Structural Integration. As an avid bird watcher (she can identify most bird call's in the Chamonix valley) and all round nature enthusiast she is just as happy wandering through a magical forest as she is ski-touring and climbing in the steep peaks of the Alps.

Stefano is from Tuscany, in Italy a landscape famous throughout the world for its beauty and nature, and one which Stefano loves to share with our guests. He was born in the celebrated town of Lucca, birthplace to Puccini, in 1991. He loves local history and is something of an expert on the Garfagnana region which is where he lives and works and for this reason he guides on our "Hiking in Hidden Tuscany' walking weeks. Stefano will explain to you that it is the ruins, ancients legends, and folklore of the region that hold the greatest fascination for him. In 2013 he became a professional Italian hiking guide "Guida Ambientale Escursionistica" and now leads groups through the area including the National Park of Tuscan Emilian Apennines which is a UNESCO Reserve. Since 2019 Stefano is working as a trainer and sharing his expertise with those who are hoping to qualify as hiking guides in Tuscany under the Italian guides programme. Our guests love being with Stefano and learning about Tuscany from a true local.

Jason guides our Nordic 'off-track- trips and is the T&T equivalent of explorer 'Ranulph Fiennes'. His passion is experiencing, exploring and sharing the beauty and remoteness of snowy landscapes while 'breaking' trails in the backcountry. He is a BASI Nordic Instructor, Telemark Instructor, and Winter Mountain Leader. He is a former Royal Marines Commando Officer and developed a passion for snow during winter deployments in Norway. He has skied and ski-toured in the Alps, Europe, Scandinavia, and United States, as well as extensively in Norway, Scotland and the Jura Mountains. He is a Nordic ski tour leader for the UK military, but do not worry your trip with Jason will not be a boot camp! He has a relaxed attitude to guiding. During the summer he is at sea using his various yachting qualifications, as well as in the sea as a PADI diving Instructor; or in the air as a CAA Helicopter Flying Instructor and Commercial Pilot. Jason has a PhD in International Relations and works in academic research, and consultancy. You will be in safe hands with Jason at the helm. 

Emma is a hugely experienced guide, a qualified International Mountain Leader, who has been leading expeditions and treks around the world for nearly 20 years. When asked about her favourite locations she lists Nepal, Corsica and the Alps as her top 3 trekking destinations. We are often asked if we ever get bored of a route, and Emma is testament to the answer that it is hard to get too much of stunning mountains views. She has guided the world famous Tour du Mont Blanc over 50 times and still it is one of her favourites. Given that she speaks fluent French, Russian and Spanish, and she loves to chat, you can expect some interesting conversations with other people on the trail. She is also a qualified Trail Cycle Leader, and a BASI Level 2 Nordic Ski Instructor. Her main passion is alpine skiing, and in 2009 she made the first ever ski descent of Manaslu 8163m, in Nepal, the 8th highest mountain in the world. 

Joy is passionate about mountain adventure and has over twenty years of personal experience rock climbing, trekking, skiing and mountain running. Pursuing these passions has taken her to North America, the Indian Himalaya and the Karakorum, Pakistan, as well as closer to home in Europe. Originally a Chartered Physiotherapist in the UK, the pull of the mountains was too strong and in 2002 she relocated to Chamonix, in France. Now an experienced International Mountain Leader, she is enthusiastic about sharing her love of the mountains with our guests.  Joy is a BASI Level 2 Nordic Ski Instructor and for the last two winters she has been based in Norway, just north of the Olympic town of Lillehammer in the mountains of the Rondane National Park. From here she often joins us to lead our Norwegian ski journeys, and offers our guests a wonderful insight into what it is like to live and work in Norway. 

The British Army has a very strong tradition of supporting and encouraging Nordic ski-ing, and that is exactly how Dave go into the sport over 30 years ago! He went on to become a high performance competitor, and a top coach who helped various individuals reach a standard where they were representing their country. We are delighted he brings his expertise to Tracks and Trails. By way of reassurance we would like to stress that he may have been in the military, but your holiday will not be a boot camp! His coaching style is a lovely mix of enthusiasm and patience, combined with a liberal dash of humour. Dave is a BASI Level 2 Nordic Instructor, as well as an NLP Master Practitioner, Personal Trainer, Sports Massage Therapist and Nutritional Adviser.  Triathlon is his other passion and over the years he has represented Great Britain as an age group athlete at World Championship competitions in Canada and Australia.  All in all he has a wealth of experience and many years of coaching and competing which contribute to his vast knowledge of cross country skiing, fitness and wellbeing. 

Kathy, as we know her, is a hugely experienced mountaineer. She has guided trips ranging from the Scottish Highlands, to the Himalayas where she has climbed the infamous and iconic peak of Ama Dablam. Kathy is from the English Lake District where she was brought up in a remote valley surrounded by mountains. Her holidays as a child were usually camping and sailing trips to the Western Isles in Scotland, or staying in remote holiday cottages where she went walking and exploring. Now, she is based in the winter months in Aviemore, in the Scottish Highlands where she is one of the senior forecasters for the Scottish Avalanche Information Service, a very responsible and challenging mountain profession. Kathy qualified as an International Mountain Leader in 2007 and has been introducing people to the mountains ever since. Formerly a member of Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue team you can be sure Kathy knows her way around the mountains. She has also been known to 'model' for various outdoor clothing companies who respect her judgement on their merchandise!

Daniele clearly likes to be out in the mountains studying the flora and especially the fauna! He guides on our 'Hiking in Hidden Tuscany' walking weeks and being a true 'local' he is well placed to share his vast knowledge of the area. Daniele was born in 1983 in the Garfagnana area, a landscape which contains the highest peaks in Tuscany. Since he was a child he is at his happiest when exploring the the mountains. In 2013 he gained a bachelor degree in Sociology from Pisa University which has encourage him to explore the cultural relationship between humans and their environment. This led him, in 2015, to combine his intellectual curiosity with his passion for the outdoors and he began the process to become a professional Italian hiking guide a "Guida Ambientale Escursionistica". Daniele now guides throughout the National Park of the Tuscan Emelian Apennines, and the Regional Park of the Apuane Alps. Tracks and Trails loves working with Daniele who truly has an amazing repertoire of stories and folklore associated with this wonderful part of Tuscany.  As you can see from his photo he also has a good sense of fun!

Richard was born and raised in Chamonix, France, a beautiful mountain environment which has fuelled his passion for mountain sports. He qualified as an 'Accompagnateur en Moyenne Montagne' in 2002, which is the French version of the International Mountain Leader, and as a Nordic Ski Instructor in 2001. He works a lot with young people and is a Biathlon Coach at the local Frison-Roche High School for the Biqualification. A passionate mountain biker he qualified as a Mountain Bike Guide in 2003.  When he does get some free time he loves to race and has finished various UTMB trail races and 3 times the Marathon du Mont-Blanc. He has also participated in some of the most famous cross country ski races in France such as La Transjurassiene, la Foulée Blanche, le Marathon International de Bessans, la Run and Skate. Richard, who is French, speaks fluent English. He has to, he's married to a Welsh girl! He has two young boys and has built his own traditional Savoyard Chalet. He is to be found pottering in the garden cultivating his fruit and vegetables, and raising a flock of chickens! 

Fern is from Shropshire, but now lives in Chamonix, France, from where she works as a team GB cross-country ski & para Nordic national performance coach. Basically she coaches skiers to get to Olympic and Paralympic level. Fern spends most of the summer coaching on rollerskis before taking athletes to international competitions in winter. She holds the Level 3 ISIA Nordic Ski Teacher qualification and is a Nordic Ski Trainer for BASI. Growing up, Fern was a competitive open water swimmer and alpine skier before seeing nordic skiing on TV which soon became her dream sport, at eighteen she left the midlands for Sweden where she studied political science as a full time athlete in the British Nordic Ski Team, training alongside Olympic medalists and competing at World Championship level until 2018. She returned to the UK for a while and coached the London XC Ski Club before moving to the Alps. In her spare time, Fern loves to ski and hike with her dog and is passionate about the accessibility and holistic benefits of nordic skiing for all abilities and types of skiers.

With ski instructors as parents, Martin, who is French, began his impressive ski career at the age of two. He is qualified as an International Mountain Leader and Cross Country Ski Instructor and is passionate about nature, landscapes and cooking. He is a formidable cross country skier with experience in races such as the Trans Jurassienne, Foulée Blanche, Etoile de Saisies, GTJ 200 and Patrouille des Glaciers. He particularly enjoys long distance cross country ski races, having finished three times on the podium of the longest cross country ski race in the world (Grande Traversée du Jura 200km). He now lives in the Jura mountains which are on the frontier between France and Switzerland. He has a great sense of humour and speaks excellent English. Our guests love being out with Martin. 

Marit, who is from the Netherlands, began her love affair with mountains when skiing in Austria and then developed this passion in the United Kingdom while at University. Studying in North Wales was the ideal location for rock climbing and hiking. This led to climbing and hiking trips to the European Alps, the Pyrenees and further afield in the USA, where she has climbed in Yosemite, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada. Marit has also explored Nepal, and South Africa, again following her passion for rock climbing. Originally a Computer Science and Outdoor Education teacher, she now lives in France, but also spends time in the English Lake District where her goal is to climb all the mountains known as 'Wainwrights'. Wainwright wrote seven books on walking in the Lake District and the 214 peaks are now known as Wainwrights. Marit speaks five languages and aims to learn the names of alpine flowers in English, French, Dutch, German and Italian! 

Emily Geldard’s love of the mountains inspired her to move from the West Country of the United Kingdom, to Chamonix, France in her mid-20s and she has been there ever since. Emily is a fully qualified International Mountain Leader, and has led hiking, running and snowshoeing trips throughout the European Alps since 2004. She went on to qualify as a cross-country ski instructor, and has completed the BASI Level 2 Nordic Ski Instructor award. Over the years, Emily has mixed her mountain work with her other career as a Geography and English teacher. Still living in the Chamonix valley, Emily enjoys all the sports the Alps have to offer, and has taken part in several ultra marathons, road cycle sportives, nordic ski races and, more recently, ski-mountaineering competitions. Emily’s work as a trekking guide has taken her around the world from the Himalayas to Kilimanjaro, as have her personal mountaineering expeditions, in wonderful locations such as northern Norway and Mount Denali in Alaska. 

Having grown up in Lapland, Finland, Timo lives in Äkäslompolo, next to the Pallas-Ylläs National Park which is where we base our Ski Lapland cross-country ski adventures. He adores the natural world, and is always outdoors hiking, paddling, cycling, or trail running. Having grown up in the Arctic Circle cross-country skiing is not just a sport, but also a way of moving around the landscape. As a boy Timo skied to school, and often took shortcuts through the forest. He broke many skis while attempting to jump across rivers! Now, he works as a Nordic ski instructor having qualified in 1996 as an alpine and telemark instructor. He holds the ISIA Nordic Ski Teacher qualification, was a member of the ski patrol in Ylläs, and ran the local ski school for 10 years. In addition he has worked as a ski guide in the Austrian Alps, and is a qualified Wilderness Guide. Timo takes part in Nordic ski marathons such as the Marcialonga, in Italy, the Engadine in Switzerland, and the Ylläs-Levi in Finland. In the summer months he is a member of the local orienteering club team and competes at national level in Finland. 

After many years exploring Slovenia; hiking, snowshoeing and climbing, Mikaela and her young family moved from South Wales to a small settlement in Idrija Geopark in 2021.  As an International Mountain Leader, published photographer and qualified teacher, all of Mikaela’s experiences are connected by a passion for the outdoors, and adventure.  Mikaela has walked the entire length of the Pyrenees, cycled across Europe, snowshoed into remote backcountry areas and has a love for long-distance human-powered journeys.  With over 15 years of experience working with groups around the world, including leading expeditions to India, Nicaragua, Java, Morocco and South Africa, and having trained and interviewed prospective leaders, Mikaela brings her enthusiasm, skill and joy for outdoor adventures to every trip. Since moving to Slovenia, Mikaela has established herself as a hiking and snowshoeing guide, immersing herself in Slovene culture, learning the language and sharing her favourite journeys across this small country’s three incredible alpine ranges.

Andrea is a seasoned cross-country ski instructor and IFMGA High Mountain Guide based in the Italian Dolomites. His passion for skiing began at the age of ten. Starting as a member of the renowned Cortina Ski Club, Andrea honed his skills and eventually joined the elite Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Oro, the Italian police ski team. His time with this legendary team saw him competing at the highest levels, achieving top-20 finishes in several World Cup races and a victory at European Cup level. For years, Andrea was a familiar face on the international ski marathon circuit. In 2001, he turned his focus to teaching skiers. By 2008, Andrea had earned the prestigious title of National Italian Instructor, enabling him to train and mentor the next generation of cross-country instructors. Andrea’s dedication to the mountains extends beyond skiing. As an IFMGA High Mountain Guide, the highest certification in the world for leading mountain expeditions, Andrea is well-equipped to provide safe and unforgettable adventures. His passion for sharing his love of the mountains is the driving force behind his career. 

Michelle works on our cross country ski trips where her experience as a ski instructor combined with her background in sports science is a true asset. She has a real love for the outdoors and she says the best part of her job is being able to help others to also get out and enjoy the mountains as much as she does. After spending some twenty winters in the Alps, including seven seasons teaching Telemark and Nordic skiing, she found herself increasingly drawn to the wilder terrain and adventurous trails of Norway. She is a qualified BASI Level 2 Telemark Instructor and also a Norwegian qualified Nordic Instructor, as well a qualified Mountain Leader. Michelle is also a Sport Therapist and Remedial Massage Therapist with a degree in Physical Education & Sports Science from Loughborough University. All of this means she is well placed to provide the very best learning experience for each individual so that they get the most from their holiday. In particular she has a lot of experience in working with veteran athletes. Remember you are never too old to learn! In the summer she is to be found running on the mountain trails, or trekking in the Alps, Corsica, UK and Himalayas.  To quote Michelle, "What matters to me is that my guests enjoy the whole experience and become skiers for life.” 

Mark Brown grew up in the north of England and as a teenager would hitch hike to the Lake District to rock climb. Now living between Switzerland and Bavaria he has realised his teenage dream of being in the mountains and sharing the joy of these wild and inspiring landscapes with other people. He is a qualified International Mountain Leader, and BASI Level 2 Nordic Ski Instructor, as well as having a strong professional interest in promoting sustainability in mountain tourism. When not coaching, teaching or guiding Mark spends his time ultra-running, ski mountaineering, rock climbing and biking around the globe. In his guiding work he loves to share an appreciation of the local environment, traditions and culture. He adores wilderness and is most at home in the big open spaces of Scotland, Norway, and British Columbia where winter is his favourite time of year.  

Andrea is Italian, guides our Italian Dolomites Snowshoe trips, and lives in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Andrea is a professional High Mountain Guide, and hugely experienced in the mountains of his homeland. He was born in Udine which is on the plains, close to but not actually in the mountains. His natural curiosity lead him to explore the mountains he could see from his home, and so his passion for exploration began. He believes the mountains are a 'place without boundaries' where you can truly be 100 per cent yourself. After graduating in Environmental Science with a specialisation in Snow Science in 2014 he then qualified in 2017, as a IFMGA Mountain Guide. Since then, he has devoted himself to a life in the mountains. Andrea says the most rewarding part of the job is to see the satisfaction and joy in the eyes of those who spend time with him in the mountains. He considers mountaineering in all its forms to be an “excuse” to travel and discover different cultures, near and far, in the deep snow of Greenland or the rocky Berber valleys of the Moroccan Atlas Mountains.

Sam transitioned into a career as a personal trainer, venturing outdoors to offer invigorating exercise sessions. This marked the beginning of her Nordic Walking business, which steadily gained momentum as she delved deeper into her exploration of fitness and outdoor activities. The picturesque landscapes of the Derbyshire Dales and the majestic Peak District became her playground. Sam's thirst for adventure brought her to organising bespoke walking holidays and since 2009 has collaborated with annual Tracks and Trails in trips both in winter and summer across Europe. Since 2018, she's been at the helm of numerous walking festivals in the Peak District, drawing in participants of over 300 avid walkers each time. Sam is a Summer Mountain Leader, Hill and Moorland Leader, and also holds the National Navigation Tutor Award.

Born in Slovenia, Nina Kopčavar, has spent a life in the mountains. She began her career rock climbing and taking part in expeditions in the Alps, the Cordillera Blanca in Peru, and the Indian Himalaya. Around this time she began work as an alpine and sport climbing instructor through the Slovenian Mountain Club and trekked in Nepal, Ladakh and Jordan. In her 30's Nina became a mother of two children and a professional mountain leader (UIAA). She started to share her passion for the mountains by guiding short hikes in the Julian Alps and longer treks in the Pyrenees, Alps, Corsica, Bulgaria, Georgia, Croatia and Italy. She also facilitates mountaineering summer and winter camps for children. Recently, Nina has applied her experience and enthusiasm guiding guests on a range of long distance trails. These include the 700km (437 miles) Alpe Adria Trail from Trieste to the highest mountain of Austria, the Grossglockner; the 800km (500 miles) Via Alpina trail, from Trieste to the highest mountain of Germany, the Zugspitze; and a part of the long distance trail Via Dinarica going through the Dinaric Alps and Croatian Islands. Nina is a lover of nature, cultural wonders and the richness of humanity, with a Degree in Cultural Studies.