Qualities of a Happy Tracks Guide
The Happy Tracks team is made up of local guides. Even Grant and Joel (the co-owners and brains behind our tours) are qualified, experienced guides. Because of this, we know first-hand what makes a good guide; we know what’s important in making you feel safe, welcome, and motivated. Here are the main characteristics that all of our guides share :
Approachable
It’s important to us that every guest feels welcome and comfortable to move at their own pace. Much of this is shaped by the guide, which is why we carefully choose people who are not only highly skilled, but also approachable and attentive. You should feel able to talk with your guide about any worries, and you should never feel rushed or out of place.
Experienced
All our guides are qualified International Mountain Leaders*, assessed to a high standard in mountain skills, safety, and environmental knowledge. Beyond these qualifications, we choose guides who have years of experience in the mountains. In this way, your guide will bring a unique insight and added value to your trip; you can expect them to be knowledgeable not only in navigation and safety, but also in local flora, fauna, and culture.
Fun
The camaraderie that develops over the course of a tour is often shaped by the personality of the guide. While each one brings their own character and back-story, all our guides share an easygoing sense of fun. At the end of a long, challenging climb, they know how to lighten to mood, and they have some great adventure stories to share when you need a distraction. You can read about some of these adventures below…
Meet our amazing guides!
Grant
Where you are based: Chamonix, France
Favourite trail: Grant loves guiding on the Haute Route and visiting the remote villages of the Valais. When he’s on his own he loves the wild Aosta valley for big ascents and amazing scenery.
Favourite sport: Ultra distance running and ski mountaineering
Best adventure highlight: A two month trip to Peru and Bolivia to ski, hike and run in the Andes. The highlight was skiing from the summit of Sajama at 6500m, the highest peak in Bolivia in the middle of the desert!
Joel
Where are you based: Chamonix, France
Favorite trail: Wolfberg Cracks, Cederberg, South Africa – A wild and remote trail involving some tight canyons and epic views. Close second is the high trail from Rifugio Bertone – Rifugio Bonatti on the TMB. As you turn the corner you are greeted by an amazing panorama from Mont Blanc to the Grand Jorasses and over a dozen 4000m Peaks!
Favourite Sport: Ski Mountaineering and Alpinism. I find the best views are often from the top of summits!
Best Adventure Highlight: Summer of 2020 – Climbing 47 x 4000m summits in the Alps. What started off as just helping out a friend try to climb them all led to an obsession of my own. Currently on 71/82 with a goal of being the first Welshman to climb them all!
Alessandra
Where are you based: Euganean Hills, Padua, Italy
Favorite trail: The ones I haven’t done yet! But if I have to choose then I’d say the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt and the Anello Zoldano in the Dolomites.
Favourite Sport: Alpinism, rock climbing
Best Adventure Highlight: The traverse of the 13 Peaks in the Ortles Cevedale in 2021 and the attempt to Mount Aconcagua in Argentina in 2023 in an all female expedition.
Anna
Where you are based: The Hague, Netherlands
Favourite trail: I enjoy trekking the Lebanese Mountain Trail, the trails along the Khumbu Valley in Nepal and The Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan, but it’s the trails along Scotland’s West Coast that truly make me happiest.
Favorite sport: Hiking, cycling, skiing, and more recently, padel — though I’m still figuring that one out.
Best adventure highlight: Waking up to a stunning sunrise after a night in a bivouac during the Cuillin Traverse on Scotland’s Isle of Skye.
Astrid
Where you are based: Chamonix, France
Favorite trail: La Jonction, at Les Bossons where the glaciers meet at 2589m, high above the Chamonix valley. The Platé desert above Passy. This place is unique, lunar and wild, with an incredible view of the Mont Blanc massif. I love every trail in the Dolomites. Plattkofel, Val di Siusi, Val di Gardena. I love Zion and Red Rocks Canyon in the USA.
Favourite Sport: Trail Running, rock climbing, ski touring, trekking.
Best Adventure Highlight: Climb the Dibona, a very narrow peak in the Ecrin massif, and opening a bottle of champagne at the summit at 3130m after 12 pitches. Climbing Chamonix’s Aiguille du Peigne via the Pascal Meyer route is also one of my fondest memories.
Bénédicte
Where are you based: Briançon, southern French Alps
Favorite trail: if I really have to pick one, the part of the TMB on the Swiss-Italian border – the Grand Col Ferret has the best view!
Favourite Sport: I love gravel biking. The perfect versatile kind of bike!
Best Adventure Highlight: Sea kayaking along the southern coast of Corsica in autonomy. Turquoise water, hidden beaches, animal-shaped granite rocks… it’s absolutely beautiful!
Cecilia
Where you are based: Chamonix, France. I come from Trento, Italy
Favourite trail: The high routes in Valle d’Aosta, at the feet of the highest mountains in the Alps. The Alta Via 2 in the Dolomites, lesser known than the AV1 but a spectacular route. The hidden trails of Val di Funes, a “secret” valley in the Dolomites.
Favourite sport: Walking and running in the mountains, rock climbing.
Best adventure highlight: Trying to climb to the top of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the American continent, as part of an all female team.
Fernando
Where you are based: Chamonix, France
Favourite area: Tibetan Plateau- I have hiked, biked and climbed in this remote area of the Himalaya with some first ascents of some impressive peaks.
Favourite sport: Climbing, split boarding, alpinism
Best adventure highlight: I made the first solo crossing of the Corona del Inca by bike, a high altitude volcanic desert at an altitude of over 5000 metres above sea level. I have also had many adventures snowboarding in the Andes on the volcanoes of Chile and the mountains of Patagonia.
Kirsti
Where you are based: Finale Ligure, Italy. I come from Finland.
Favourite trail: Svaneti in Georgia: Nakra – Mestia – Ushguli for the stunning landscapes, wilderness and unique local mountain culture with tasty feasts when passing villages.
Favourite sport: Rock climbing, running and skiing
Best adventure highlight: It has to be climbing up the overhanging rock face of Verdon one spring day and getting to know a rope team who was on the same route. The day got cold, I really was at my limit but with the encouragement of my rope partner and this new buddy I pushed through. Over the following days of climbing adventures I got to know my new friend… and now, 8 years later, we’re sharing our life together!
Maria Azucena Collar
Where are you based: Between Asturias in northern Spain and Chamonix, France
Favorite trail: erhaps because it was many years ago and it was the first time I saw glaciers the Fizt Roy’s trekking in the Andes.
Favourite Sport: Ski muntaineering and alpin, mountain biking and gravel.
Best Adventure Highlight: Climbing Mont Blanc in alpine style, with equipment and food in the pack for two days. Walking from Le Crozat hamlet at 1400m with trail shoes and arriving the next morning to the top 4805m, of course with rope, rigid boot and crampons!
Nick
Where you are based: Chamonix, France
Favorite trail: One of my favorite trails is climbing up to the Augustbord pass on the haute route. You go through alpine meadows into huge bowls of scree and hanging glacial lakes before taking an exposed descent round to Jungu and surprise kicker to st Nicklaus!
Favorite sport: Climbing. It takes me to all the corners and lesser traveled areas of so many countries, and keeps me fit!
Best adventure highlight: Standing on top the les petit drus in 2016 after 2 nights and 3 days of winter climbing
Ninon
Where you are based: I live & grew up in le Plateau d’Assy, France
Favourite trail: In the Chamonix valley the valley, I would pick Tré les Eaux. On the TMB I would go for the variant between Bonatti and Bertone.
Favorite sport: I like hiking, running, climbing, slakc-lining, stand up paddling, alpine skiing, telemarking
Best adventure highlight: A solitary TMB, which I did in four days with my dogs last November using almost every variant. It was breathtaking to find these deserted trails and It always amazes me how we can find out inner resources to get up and search for water or a place to plant your tent even if you’re totally exhausted!
Oli
Where you are based: Chamonix, France
Favourite trail: Anywhere in Italy!
Favorite sport: Hiking, Mountain biking & ski touring!
Best adventure highlight: Sharing the mountains with new groups!
Pavel
Where you are based: Currently Bansko, Bulgaria is my home, but still spending lots of time in the Chamonix area
Favourite trail: Hard to pick one! Hiking under the 4000 m giants in the Mont Blanc Massif in Val Veny and Val Ferret never gets old. The high mountain trails traversing the main ridge of Pirin mountains in Bulgaria that I admire from my living room window!
Favourite sport: snowboarding, paragliding, climbing
Best adventure highlight: Exploring my home mountain ranges – Pirin and Rila in winter and doing first splitboard descents in some of their remote areas.
Richard
Where you are based: I recently moved to northern Japan but spent the best part of ten years in and around the Chamonix area before that
Favourite trail: Tough question! Anything in the Lake District or the Grand Chamossaire in Villars, Switzerland
Favourite sport: Running, ski touring and paragliding
Best adventure highlight: Learning to paraglide over the past couple of years. It’s pretty cool.
*What is an IML qualification? The International Mountain Leader (IML) can lead groups in different mountains all over the world. IMLs can work with groups on high altitude treks as well as lead groups on snowshoes. Read more about UIMLA certification
The hikers Newsletter
Get trekking info and our latest deals.
