How Run the Alps’ Guides Spend the Winter
Lead image: Toni Spasenoski
They make you laugh, share trail snacks, keep you safe, offer local knowledge, tell long-winded stories to distract you on those sustained climbs, and generally do everything they can to help you have a great trail running tour.
Our guides are one of the very best things about Run the Alps. They have dozens of years of experience trail running throughout Switzerland, France, and Italy, and all over the world. But besides their knowledge and strength, what really makes them great are qualities like their humor, patience, and kindness.
We’re fortunate to have such a solid team of trip leaders.
If you’re wondering how your favorite guide spends those months when Alps trails are snow covered, well, we’ve got answers!
We asked them to share what they’re doing this winter. And– no surprise here– they’re each up to interesting adventures, building skills and stories to share next season on the trails with our guests.
You can read more about our guides— their favorite Alps trail run, what they do in their free time, and even which tours they’ll be leading next summer, here.
Now, from Tibetan Buddhism in India to leading a group up Africa’s Mount Meru, becoming parents to ski patrol in Zermatt, and taking some much needed sauna time too, here’s what our guides make of the winter months.
Alistair Crompton
As soon as summer was over, I headed to Himachal Pradesh in the Indian Himalaya and spent 4 weeks hiking up mountains and paragliding off them. I finished my time in India with ten days of study in Tibetan Buddhism, at a silent retreat at the Tushita Meditation Centre in McLeod Ganj where the Dalai Lama lives. From there, I went into the Borneo jungle to catch up with an old friend and help map routes for various expeditions that will visit his jungle retreat Tampat do Aman in 2025. I spent Christmas in the famous surf town Byron Bay in Australia, before heading back to Chamonix in time for the New Year.
From January I’ll be working as a vegan chef at Shambala Gatherings retreat center in Sweden to improve my cooking skills and teach yoga. Then the real adventure begins! In April I’ll travel to Marrakech for a solo bike packing trip of over 4,000 kilometers back to Chamonix. I will use the Route of the Caravans through Northern Morocco and connect to Spain via a ferry from Tangiers. Then I’ll spend 30 days on the Altravesur route through Andalusia. Once I arrive in Valencia I need to figure out how to get to Girona, across the Pyrenees, through France into Provence, then the Alpes-Maritime. Then, I’ll pick up the famous road cycling Route des Grandes Alpes, for the last 700km back into Chamonix. And breathe…
Gary Daines
This winter I’m working in Tanzania doing humanitarian projects. I’ll be taking a group up Mount Meru, which is the fifth highest mountain in Africa at just over 4600 meters, as well as taking groups on safaris. I am also enrolled in an instructors course for Oxygen Advantage Breathwork. So, come next summer, I will have another useful qualification under my belt. This won’t take all my winter, so I’ll also have time to be at home with my teenage son Marley.
Emily Geldard
While I’d normally be out ski touring and nordic skiing most days, this winter has been very different: We welcomed baby Marcus at the beginning of December! Like a trail running ultra, giving birth took days of physical and mental challenge, had a jubilant finish line, and I relied on Tailwind to keep going when food wasn’t working well. For now, we’ve been enjoying daily snowy walks with our dog Bari, and I’m looking forward to gently easing back to skiing and running soon.
Marion Giraud
As you can see from the pictures, I am not doing any guiding this winter as I’m training for another kind of ultra—the pregnancy ultra. Trust me, it’s quite demanding ! The baby is due on the 19th of February, so I’m having a winter off, preparing for the baby’s arrival, and enjoying some time outside as well. As long as my body feels energized and strong enough, I’m trying to spend time in the mountains, where I always feel my best.
Claire Janigo
I will be spending the majority of my winter in Chamonix—skiing, working, and taking advantage of the best snow we’ve had in years! I will also take a couple weeks to continue education in winter rescue and survival techniques to complement my studies. In February I get to join my family for a week of backcountry skiing in Canada.
Kristians Lunins
Being a guide takes a lot of energy, so I use these winter months to restore myself—either by simply relaxing or having a bit of a routine. Of course, I take time for training, staying fit, and building strength for the coming season.
I’m from Latvia and my wife is from Estonia, and we spend winter back home where our families live. As I’m away from home for most of the year, this is the time for me to be with friends and family. It’s also a time to do some other work—maintenance of my home (which happens to be a van), which usually travels with me throughout the year. I am also working part time as a nordic ski instructor, and helping my family with some tasks this winter.
By the way, my favorite part about being home is the sauna. In my opinion, going to a sauna three or four times a week is the best way to reset the body and mind!
Mike Murray
Winter for me is a mixture of work and relaxation. After a busy summer guiding, I return to the Peak District in the UK to enjoy running on my local, often very muddy, trails. I also spend time in the Alps, ski touring and snowshoeing with friends. I have several trips to Tanzania throughout the winter, where I work with young people, leading a variety of expeditions. In between all of these projects, I also squeeze in some very different work as an actuary!
Coline Paquereau
Winter time takes me north to snowshoe. This year I’m going back to Tromsø, Norway, where I’ll be guiding in the Lyngen Alps and on Senja Island, exploring fjords and enjoying northern lights. Winter is really special at 70° north and I love to share it with guests.
Becki Penrose
Autumn into winter, I’ve been facilitating team and personal development with colleagues, school students, and family groups. Based in the UK and mostly at home for a solid three months, I manage to spend a lot of time with my family and run the good old local trails with my husband.
I’ll head to a warmer climate for much of January and part of February in Tanzania, where I’ll be working on youth development programs based around community services projects. These projects involve working with international students to build primary school classrooms as well as getting to experience Tanzania’s rich wildlife. Then, it will be time to head back to the UK hills and mountains to get ready for another exciting summer season trekking and trail running in the Alps.
Astrid Renet
During winter I’m still doing my dream job: being an International Mountain Leader! I have the pleasure of leading snowshoeing excursions on the Mont Blanc massif, and also trekking and trail running. I enjoy helping guests discover sublime places to extend the unique experience of mountain life in the middle of winter. I organize half-day, full-day, and winter bivouac excursions using tents, snow shelters, or unstaffed mountain huts.
Giles Ruck
For the first part of January I’m in Antibes in the south of France … for school! I’ve gone as far away as possible to learn French without the temptations of Chamonix winter sports. There are no snowy mountains, so nothing to tempt me away from the classroom for a few weeks. I’m trying to get from level A1 to A2, which is fairly basic, but should help me order croissants and hot chocolate.
I did spend most of the festive season ski touring near Chamonix with friends. So far, it’s proving to be a proper winter, which includes an awful lot of scraping ice off the windshield and occasionally getting the car stuck in snow drifts.
While in Antibes I’m trying to improve my flat running—by the sea—which feels pretty alien to me. But the effort will be worth it in the long run … literally. Doug, Paul, and I have entered the draw for a place in the infamous PTL team race in the UTMB® Mont-Blanc series. PTL covers about 300km and 25,000 metres of elevation, on an estimated 10 hours of sleep over the week of the race, and hopefully with many thousands of calories on board! The training starts now for August—wish us luck!
Siebrig Sheeres
In winter, I change my running shoes for skis and work as a ski patroller in Zermatt. I continue to work a little as a physical therapist and guide snowshoe tours, mainly in Zermatt. In my free time, I like ski touring with friends and indoor climbing. Oh, and I love to bring my dog with me for cross country skiing and trail runs!
Paul Spackman
For me the winter starts in the Himalaya, leading expeditions to the high mountains of the Khumbu Valley, in the Mount Everest region, such as Ama Dablam and Lobouche East. Then it’s back on the planks for as much ski touring with friends as possible, and winter mountaineering as well. Between all these activities, I can also be found leading snowshoeing adventures across the Alps.
David Williams
Winters for me is a mix of snow-based activities, combined with mountain biking and trail running where time and conditions allow. This winter, I’ll be leading snowshoe trips in the Alps, squeezing in ski tours, and working on my cross country ski instructor qualifications, the latter with the aim of leading trips in Norway over the next couple of winters. I’ll be chasing some Mediterranean winter sun in February and March, exploring the trails around Sospel and Menton in the Alpes-Maritimes of southern France.
Gideon Zadoks
This winter, I’m trying to rebuild my new, but very old, house. I’m guiding snowshoe treks in the French Écrins National Park and ski touring. The house work is not moving fast because, well, snow conditions are great so far!
All photos courtesy of respective guide.
