The
most important element in any of our courses, is
the quality of the staff leading you. We are more
than aware of this, and truely believe that our
team of guides / instructors / leaders is outstanding.
All the guides that we use are bilingual in English
and French. Our guiding team all live in the Alps,
and they have a vast local knowledge of routes,
conditions, and weather systems. In addition, they
have great contacts, such as arranging priority
tickets for cable cars, which helps course flexibility.
The
guides have total responsibility for all decisions
taken on the mountain, to ensure your safey at all
times.
You can keep up to date with what the guiding team
has been up to by looking at the Icicle Chamonix
Blog headline on the left, and for those with RSS
news readers, you can subscribe to the news feed
for free. The blog is regularly updated by the Chamonix
team and guides.
Photo:
an Icicle instructor in the Italian Alps near Mont Blanc
Icicle's
Team of IFMGA Mountain Guides & UIMLA Leaders In the Alps
there are only two qualifications that are recognised
for leading groups in the mountains. The highest
is the IFMGA Mountain Guide, and
they are the only people who lead any of our skiing
or climbing courses in the Alps.
All our IFMGA Guides hold the International Mountain
Guide carnet (use of IFMGA logo authorised by
named course directors below), and have been selected
for their leadership style, personality, and sense
of humour, not to mention the fact that they aren’t
too bad at climbing and skiing either! All the
Alpine trekking and snow-shoeing courses are run
by UIMLA mid mountain guides (use
of UIMLA logo authorised by named course directors
below).
These instructors also run a lot of our avalanche
awareness courses. Our itineraries are planned
with guide to client ratios within the guidelines
outlined by the IFMGA and UIMLA. Each course itinerary
states these daily guiding ratios. These two qualifications
are your guarantee of the highest standards and
professionalism, and the holders of these qualifications
wear their badges with pride. Rest assured that
you are being led in the mountains by the best.
For more details on the guides qualifications,
please click here.
Icicle
Key Guides & Instructor Team 2009/10
Gilles
Originally
from Annecy, and qualified as both a Guide and an
engineer. Gilles is an especially strong rock and
ice climber, and is also a very keen skier. Gilles
is an excellent teacher, and is an instructor at
ENSA, the Guide School in Chamonix.
Kingsley
is the course director of all the Icicle trekking
and snowshoeing courses in the Alps. He first climbed
Mont Blanc when he was 17, and has climbed the six
classic north faces of the Alps. He has lived in
the Alps for over 10 years now.
Originally
from Milan, Stefano now lives near Gran Paradiso
National Park. As well as being a Guide, he is also
a technical consultant for Ferrino equipment. Stefano
leads several of our ski courses, especially those
in the Gran Paradiso region!
Languages:
,
Qualifications: IFMGA
Mountain Guide
Jean-Luc
Jean-Luc
was brought up close to Fontainbleau,
south of Paris. In the 1980s, Jean-Luc became one
of the most famous French expedition climbers, and
he visits Nepal each year to climb. He is a very
strong ice climber and skier, and is a very popular
guide.
Languages:
,
Qualifications: IFMGA
Mountain Guide
Filippo
Filippo
is from the Aosta region of Northern Italy, and
is a regular face on our off piste and ski touring
courses. He is much liked for his enthusiasic teaching
style and his infectious love of the mountains.
Languages:
,
Qualifications: IFMGA
Mountain Guide
Jacques
Jacques
is from Paris, and is a hugely respected local Guide.
In his spare time he crystal hunts around the Mt
Blanc massif and is also a qualified electrician
- not a bad eclectic mix of skills as well as being
a Guide.
Languages:
,
Qualifications: IFMGA
Mountain Guide
Paolo
Paolo
comes from the Turin region of Italy, and is well
known for his ice climbing and new routes, especially
in the Val de Cogne region. Paolo is a great all
rounder, and he definately speaks better English
than any of us!
Languages:
,
Qualifications: IFMGA
Mountain Guide
David
David
is a Canadian Mountain Guide who visits the Alps
each summer. This summer he led everything from
Mont Blanc courses to technical ascents such as
the South Ridge of the Moine,
and Matterhorn courses. He returns to the Alps next
summer.
Languages:
,
Qualifications: IFMGA
Mountain Guide
Luca
Luca
is Italian, but works often in Chamonix with Icicle
clients, so speaks highly fluent English. He is
a very keen ice and rock climber, and is a very
familiar face on the summer Matterhorn courses,
as well as on the winter courses too.
Languages:
,
Qualifications: IFMGA
Mountain Guide
Ervin
Ervin
has climbed a new route on Mount Everest, and climbed
extensively
in New Zealand and his home country of Slovakia.
He is extremely patient and is a great teacher.
Ervin regularly leads on our Matterhorn and Mont
Blanc courses.
Languages:
,
Qualifications: IFMGA
Mountain Guide
Icicle
part time Guides & Instructor Team 2009/10
Francis
Mauro
Laurence
Francois
Yves
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Lang's:
IFMGA
Guide
Lang's:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
A
true specialist in
guiding Mont Blanc!
He
works in Cham &
Verbier also in winter
One
of only 20 female guides in France!
From
village of Villes
in the Haute Savoie
Has
guided all of the
seven summits!
Yan
Severin
Evans
Marcellin
Christophe
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
Tanzanian
Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Infamous
off piste
ski guide in Cham
From
the Jura, Sev
also works in NZ
Icicle
Kilimanjaro &
safari's head guide
Skis
all winter in the
Val Thorens area
Christope
is a ski
patroller and guide
Benoit
Mohammed
Franck
Pascal
Enrico
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
Mt
Toubkal Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Lang:
IFMGA
Guide
Teacher,
paraglider,
and very keen skier
Mohammed
is also a keen trail runner
Good
rock climber
& expedition leader
Telemark
skier and
also an osteopath
A
keen ski guide
and ice climber
Jennifer
Craig
Serge
Jacques
Anna
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Lang:
IFMGA
Guide
Canadian
guide, from
the Canmore region
Canadian
guide, who
specialises in ice
Strong
ski guide &
expedition climber
Plays
in a jazz band
when not guiding
Ice
competition
climber & guide
Eric
Pierre
Julien
Francois
Alan
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Languages:
IFMGA
Guide
Strong
off piste ski
guide & heliskier
Vallorcine
resident &
all round good guy
Famed
for his love of
the Grand Jorasses
Grenoble
resident,
loves La Grave ice
Paragliding
& guiding
specialist
Icicle
Key Admin Staff 2009/10
Sarah
Sarah
is a keen ice climber, and has led several grade
V routes. She is planning to climb the Aiguille
Verte and the Matterhorn. In 1996, Sarah led an
environmental expedition to Siberia. She arranges
all the day to day logistics in Chamonix.
Languages:
,
Role: Chamonix
Office - Operations
Dave
Dave
comes
to Icicle having just left university, and is working
during the summer season before leaving to travel
around the world for a year. He is a keen climber,
as shown by the photo of him on the top of Mont
Blanc. Dave is a strong rock climber.
Languages:
,
Role: Chamonix
Course Host
Rachel
The
photo on the left
shows Rachel on the Chapelle de la Glière
in the Aiguilles Rouges, which is one of several
classic routes she has climbed this summer, whilst
working for Icicle as a course rep. She helps run
the Chamonix office and accommodation.
Languages:
,
Role: Chamonix
Course Host
Beth
Beth
worked in our Chamonix office during 2006, before
qualifying as a personal fitness trainer. Her detailed
knowledge of Icicle courses and expeditions makes
her an ideal choice for those requiring fitness,
strength or cardio training before a trip.
Languages:
,
Role: Personal
Fitness Trainer & Chamonix Course Host
Icicle
UK administrative team
The
Icicle Office Staff are based in the UK throughout
the year. Spare a thought for them when you are
enjoying your time climbing in the Alps! We have
a small but highly specialised office team. Between
the hours of 09:00 and 18:00, Monday to Friday,
the office is open to take your enquiries by phone
(0845
058 98 78)
and e-mail.
Maximus,
Chamonix Office - Dog!
Max
is a Bernese Mountain Dog who lurks around the Icicle
Chamonix office!
To
keep up to date with the latest news, and
to see photos posted by our course guests,
join our Facebook group.
FAQ
about guide qualifications
FAQ
about Icicle guides & hosts
How
do you select the guiding team? Personal
recommendation, climbing with them,
experience, personality and style.
We use over thirty IFMGA Mountain
Guides and UIMLA Leaders, some of
which are featured in the section
above. We carefully match the guides
to each course, so that their skills
are optimised. Local guides have great
local knowledge of routes, conditions,
and the orographic micro-climate.
Icicle guides are chosen for their
drive, experience, knowledge, and
professionalism. They are exceptional
in that they have all climbed new
routes or major peaks such as K2.
Your guide, as much as the route,
enhances your experience.
Is
there any difference between guides
qualifications if they are of different
nationalities?
No, the IFMGA and UIMLA qualifications
are international, and so you can
rest assured that a guides from any
country have been tested to the same
highly rigourous standards. The IFMGA
member countries include the UK, France,
Germany, Holland, New Zealand, Norway,
Italy, and the USA. UIMLA
member countries include Andorra,
Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy,
Poland, Spain and Switzerland. The
UK association of the IFMGA are the
British Mountain Guides or BMG, and
of UIMLA the British Association of
International Mountain Leaders or
BAIML. The IFMGA and UIMLA ensure
that each country branche qualifies
guides of an internationally agreed
standard. It often takes guides over
five years to qualify. IFMGA guides
can lead groups on glacial terrain,
climbing or skiing, while UIMLA guides
lead groups on moderate mid-mountain
terrain, either trekking or snowshoeing.
We verify every single one of our
guides qualifications annualy.
How
do you become a guide? There
are many stages and different approaches
to becoming either a IFMGA or UIMLA
guide. If you want further information
on these processes, click
here.
Do
all Icicle guides speak fluent English? Yes,
both English and French is fluently
spoken by all our guides working in
the Alps. Both are essential for the
Alpine courses, as the guides can
speak French fluently to tell the
hut guardians of any requirements
you have, to get advice from other
guides on the conditions they encountered,
and to get you onto cable cars quickly
(often avoiding queues). Speaking
fluent English is now a tested element
of the French Guide scheme, as it
is seen as the international rescue
language. All the guides who don't
speak English as their first language,
are carefully vetted for their communication
skills and range of vocabulary. Similarly,
all guides with a language other than
French as their first language are
vetted for their extensive ability
and knowledge of both French and English.
Why
are the majority from Chamonix? The
vast majority of our guides are local
residents, and we always try to use
guides who live in the Chamonix valley
as they know the area and the current
conditions better than those guides
who visit the region from other areas
of France or from another country
to work in the peak of season. This
doesn't mean they are all French -
far from it - there is a good mixture
of British, French, Italian, Canadian,
and even Slovakian guides working
with us, to name but a few.
What
do the Icicle course hosts do? The
key roles of the course hosts are
to organise course logistics, provide
advice, and to give daily route briefings.
Once the Guiding has finished for
the day, they run evening classroom
based instruction sessions to cover
technical aspects in greater detail.
The hosts also run our Chamonix Office,
and organise the course logistics;
check & fit equipment, book huts,
arange airport transfers, buy cable
car tickets, give advice and daily
briefings, and run the course instruction
sessions.
,
Qualifications: IFMGA
Mountain Guide (course director)
,
Qualifications: IFMGA
Mountain Guide
,
Qualifications: IFMGA
Mountain Guide
