{"id":25490,"date":"2026-03-04T20:09:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T20:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/25490\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T20:09:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T20:09:08","slug":"what-european-mountain-guides-wish-american-skiers-knew-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/25490\/","title":{"rendered":"What European Mountain Guides Wish American Skiers Knew"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated March 4, 2026 12:14PM<\/p>\n

I\u2019m about to express an opinion that may be controversial to some of our North American readers: \u201cThe Alps are far and away the best place in the world for lift-access skiing.\u201d Let the pandemonium ensue. There may even be some dispute amongst our staff<\/a> at SKI.<\/p>\n

My friends always ask for recommendations about the Alps. What\u2019s the best place to ski? What\u2019s the best time of year to come? What skis should I bring? Usually, there\u2019s no correct answer. I\u2019ve realized that the number one recommendation I can make is the one many Americans overlook: hiring a mountain guide.<\/p>\n

Americans may underestimate the value of a guide partly because guiding isn\u2019t integral to our culture. It sounds laughable, but when I first traveled to Europe to ski as a teenager, I didn\u2019t even know mountain guides existed. You just didn\u2019t need one to pick your way around Sugarloaf\u2014or even expert-lauded resorts like Aspen or Palisades Tahoe. I\u2019d simply never conceived of the profession.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve got no skin in the game. I\u2019m not a guide, just an American skier in love with the Alps and everything they have to offer. In the years I\u2019ve lived here, I\u2019ve developed a great respect for mountain guides and the Alps\u2019 historic guiding culture. And it\u2019s become apparent to me that, whether you\u2019re an intermediate or the best skier in the world, there\u2019s something you can gain from a guide.<\/p>\n

Therefore, I set out to interview several fantastic IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations) guides in the Alps to learn what they had to say about their profession, their clients, their guiding ethos, the future of skiing, and any other tips they might have. I found their answers incredibly illuminating, even after 6 winters in France, which goes to show how much there is to be learned from these professionals.<\/p>\n

\"SkiingClients often hire IFMGA guide Pol Decelle to explore the French Alps\u2019 glaciers. (Photo: Courtesy of Sergei Poljak)<\/p>\n

Like any iconic destination, the Alps\u2019 reputation precedes it. And this is indeed a land of extremes. In addition to favorable regulations, guides flock to Europe because it offers a massive playground that requires their skill set. Joe Vallone says it straight: \u201cIf I were an American skier\u2014whether on a budget or not\u2014I would look toward Europe before anything in the continental U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anthony Franklin, a British-born, France-based guide with decades of experience running clients on \u201cski safaris\u201d around the Alps, is even less inclined to beat around the bush: \u201cAnyone who is a proper skier, I mean, people who really ski, think the Alps are the best place in the world,\u201d he insists. Perhaps anticipating a response from potential naysayers, he also acknowledges that it\u2019s not just about the snow: \u201cIn Europe, it\u2019s 50 PERCENT about skiing\u2014but the best parts are the cultural elements\u201d.<\/p>\n

Planning A Ski Trip To The Dolomites? Ski And See More By Doing This<\/a><\/p>\n

Yes, the snow can be terrible, with dry spells sometimes lasting a month as high-pressure systems block storms from the Atlantic Ocean. But it can also snow feet at a time every few days for months on end. In total, the Alps receive far more snow than most areas of North America. The iconic cascading glaciers that define these mountains don\u2019t just materialize out of nowhere. Joe acknowledges this: \u201cReliability is an issue. But it\u2019s not as bad as heli-skiing in Alaska, where clients are locked up for 6 days, then slammed with a bunch of vertical on their one fly day to meet the quota for the week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes, the pistes can be scratchy, crowded, whited-out ribbons of death. Frankly, though, you can find even worse conditions on the off-piste, where old ski tracks can set up like frozen railroad ties\u2026for 5,000 vertical feet. But the next day, you could be skiing the same run in frothy, bottomless powder snow. \u201cThe Alps are really big with lots of different weather systems,\u201d Anthony says. And he would know; he\u2019s basically a part-time weatherman, keeping an eye on the forecasts as he plans powder chases for clients.<\/p>\n

And yes, the Alps can be deadly. In just one week this winter, 17 skiers died in avalanches in three countries: France, Switzerland, and Austria. Awareness of hazards is integral to skiing in any big mountain environment. Joe and Anthony both repeatedly stressed the value of a guide for expert (and even pro) skiers as well as for intermediates. \u201cEven the best of the best will use you for local knowledge,\u201d says Joe.<\/p>\n

The Alps are massive, much more imposing than any range in the U.S. The elevation gain from Chamonix to the summit of Mont Blanc is equivalent to that from Everest Base Camp to the summit of Mount Everest.<\/p>\n

\"MontA cable car between France and Italy through the Mont Blanc. (Photo: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

American IFMGA guide Erin Smart is accustomed to these statistics and the reality of this mountainscape. Over the years, she\u2019s developed an enticing pitch: \u201cWhat\u2019s remarkable is that this scale is paired with infrastructure that makes it accessible. Cable cars put you into serious alpine terrain quickly, and from there, you\u2019re skiing lines that would be multi-day objectives elsewhere. It\u2019s not just about steepness or exposure\u2014it\u2019s about how much terrain is available in a single day, if you know how to read it.\u201d<\/p>\n

As an American guide living in France, Erin uniquely understands the challenges Americans face when trying to make the most of the Alps: \u201cThe Alps are not intuitive if you grew up skiing in North America. The logistics alone\u2014lift systems, valley connections, weather patterns, avalanche forecasting, route finding\u2014can be overwhelming. Much of the best skiing is unmarked and uncontrolled, necessitating decisions that require experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

That brings Erin to her conclusion: \u201cHiring a guide removes that friction. A local guide understands how conditions vary from one aspect or valley to the next, how to move efficiently through big terrain, how to match objectives to a group\u2019s actual skiing ability\u2026Instead of spending your trip figuring out where to go or what\u2019s safe, you get to ski the best possible terrain for that day, with confidence and flow.\u201d<\/p>\n

The good news is that this is true not only for expert skiers, but for those who ski for a week or so each year. That\u2019s because Americans tend to be well-trained and responsible skiers, according to French IFMGA guide Benjamin Ribeyre (Erin\u2019s husband): \u201cOne thing I\u2019ve often noticed\u2014and this is something I\u2019ve said half-jokingly before\u2014is that American and Nordic skiers tend to underestimate their ability, while French skiers often overestimate it.\u201d<\/p>\n

In fact, Benji\u2019s outlook for American clients is overwhelmingly positive: \u201cAmericans are usually very solid technically but cautious, respectful of the terrain, and genuinely eager to learn. That humility actually makes them great clients in big alpine terrain.\u201d It\u2019s something I\u2019ve noticed as well, possibly because out-of-control skiers at American resorts are liable for any accidents they cause. Or perhaps bad American skiers don\u2019t bother taking overseas ski trips.<\/p>\n

Joe, who mostly guides American clients in the Alps, was more direct in his approach: \u201cMany American clients have more money than time. Why waste time looking around for good snow?\u201d To hammer home his point, he notes that the guides themselves are frequently clients: \u201cOften, guides will hire guides when they take their clients away from their home turf. Just learn about a new place, get seasonal knowledge, and discover the spots. Naturally, guides understand the value of hiring a guide.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"EuropeanPol Decelle threads the needle through some of the finest lift-access couloirs on Earth. (Photo: Courtesy of Sergei Poljak)
\nThe Birth of the Mountain Guide<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s travel back to 1786, to the first ascent of Mont Blanc, Europe\u2019s highest and most iconic peak, located on the border of France and Italy. Jacques Balmat and Michel Paccard were cristalliers: crystal hunters. It just so happened that crystal hunting also involved extensive scrambling in complex terrain, preparing these two men for the adventure of a lifetime. With their daring ascent of Mont Blanc, recreational mountaineering was born.<\/p>\n

The product of this history is that the climate for guides is much more favorable in Europe, particularly in terms of permitting and liability, as well as terrain. Twenty-year veteran American IFMGA guide Joe Vallone would never even consider guiding in the U.S. \u201cThere\u2019s a ton of friction with guiding there, with permits and insurance and everything,\u201d he laments. The result is far fewer guides in the U.S. and a weaker guiding culture.<\/p>\n

Nowadays, nearly every village with any Alpine tourism is home to a Bureau des Guides, or local guide office. France alone is home to about 1,500 IFMGA guides. Italy, Austria, and Switzerland also boast significant numbers.<\/p>\n

Not only are there thousands of certified guides, but it is illegal to guide without certification, which requires at least four years of training in addition to the years spent learning to ski and climb at a high level. Not only will you face criminal punishment if you\u2019re caught guiding without a license, but local guides won\u2019t hesitate to turn in suspected pirate guides if they suspect foul play.<\/p>\n

\"LesFreeride powder, snowboarding in Les Deux Alpes resort in winter, mountains in the French Alps, Rhone Alpes in France, Europe (Photo: Getty Images)
\nHow to find the best guides<\/p>\n

Each guide I spoke with focused not only on why you should hire a guide, but also on the importance of finding the right guide.<\/p>\n

Joe and Anthony were the most vocal of the guides I spoke with. Joe made it clear that the best guides will work hard to teach you something about the mountains. \u201cThere are two types of guides,\u201d he explained, \u201cthe kind that will have you follow them down the mountain. And then the kind that strives to make you a better skier\u2026to make you more than just a client, but a partner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Anthony was even more direct. \u201cIt\u2019s true with all professions,\u201d he says. \u201cEven doctors, lawyers\u2026you have a lot of mediocre people. And some bad ones who slip through the cracks. And a few great ones at the very top. To be really good at something, you\u2019ve got to be passionate. And it\u2019s hard to be passionate, you have to be alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

I ask what exactly it takes to \u201cbe alive,\u201d and in a nod to his \u2018ski safari\u2019 guiding style, he mentions travel. Experiencing new things. Breaking out of the doldrums. \u201cTo be alive, you have to be out of your comfort zone and always exploring,\u201d he says, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.<\/p>\n

I followed up the exchange, asking for some tips on just how Americans can zero in on the best guides. Anthony shrugged. \u201cWell\u2026to some extent it\u2019s just luck. You can do the research, and that helps, but a lot of it is trial and error. And when you find a good one, it\u2019s so worth it.\u201d He pauses and then adds, \u201cBut the best thing to do is to ask a friend. Hey, did anyone use a great guide?\u201d<\/p>\n

French guide Pol Decelle had a slightly different approach. \u201cDeveloping a personal relationship is very important.\u201d So the best way to hire a guide may be to hire them for an entire week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"EuropeanAnthony and his maps. (Photo: Courtesy of Sergei Poljak)
\nTips for a great guided day<\/p>\n

Of course, it\u2019s always prudent to do one\u2019s homework, but guides don\u2019t necessarily want you to show up with a list of potential accomplishments. \u201cThe best clients don\u2019t have an itinerary of dream lines or some kind of schedule,\u201d says Joe, \u201cThey just trust that I\u2019m going to take them to the good stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin stresses the necessity of experiencing the mountains on their own terms, while Benji is adamant that the Alps have far more on tap than big, steep lines. \u201cI\u2019ve had plenty of American clients finish a day saying \u201cThat was one of the best ski days of my life\u201d \u2014 and it wasn\u2019t even that steep.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anthony, meanwhile, takes spontaneity to another level. \u201cOften, I\u2019ll pick my clients up at the airport, and I\u2019ll have them drive. Then I\u2019ll start booking hotels for where I think the best skiing will be tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pol stresses that every guide is highly knowledgeable about the mountains, but it takes curiosity from clients to share that knowledge. \u201cA guide can tell you about everything from animals to avalanches to crevasses to powder stashes. Be prepared to pick their brains about everything that they know.\u201d<\/p>\n

The financial factor<\/p>\n

Guides generally charge 400-500 euros a day, and each guide I spoke with was most comfortable managing up to four clients at a time. That\u2019s relatively affordable if you split the cost amongst a group. Off the cuff, Joe stated that \u201cYou could take four people on a week-long trip to France and hire a guide every single day and it would still be cheaper than heli-skiing for one person.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"BureauMost alpine villages in France have a \u201cBureau des Guides,\u201d or Guide Office, where you can hire a local guide. (Photo: Courtesy of Sergei Poljak)
\nAcknowledging Risk<\/p>\n

Just as I was finishing this article, La Grave experienced its worst accident in decades. A large avalanche took the lives of two skiers out of a group of four clients; their guide was also severely injured. The village was devastated. Despite its dangerous reputation, accidents in the main La Grave ski domain are extremely rare.<\/p>\n

This terrible accident was just one of dozens in the Alps this year. A cold, dry spell in early winter favored the development of frictionless \u201cfacets,\u201d which were then buried by copious amounts of fresh snow. This persistent weak layer struck again and again, in increasingly unlikely places.<\/p>\n

No matter where we are, the mountains always get the last word. Risk is something that we can only mitigate, not remove. But I stand by my recommendation. In the end, the best way to mitigate risk in the Alps is to hire a guide.<\/p>\n

Guide Contacts<\/p>\n

Looking to mull over some options for a ski adventure in Europe? Feel free to contact any of the guides who contributed interviews for this article.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Erin Smart<\/p>\n

erin.g.smart@gmail.com<\/p>\n

Benjamin Ribeyre<\/p>\n

benjamin.ribeyre@gmail.com<\/p>\n

Pol Decelle<\/p>\n

pol.decelle@gmail.com<\/p>\n

Anthony Franklin<\/p>\n

franklin.a@orange.fr<\/p>\n

Joe Vallone<\/p>\n

\u200b\u200bjoe@provallone.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Updated March 4, 2026 12:14PM I\u2019m about to express an opinion that may be controversial to some of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23362,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[50,4484,4479,11101,5094,14943,1644],"class_list":{"0":"post-25490","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-alps","8":"tag-alps","9":"tag-audio-true","10":"tag-parent_category-adventure","11":"tag-tag-europe-skiing","12":"tag-tag-evergreen","13":"tag-tag-guides","14":"tag-type-article"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ch\/116172722436199750","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25490"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25490\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}