Here you can read some testimonials from clients I have guided on both skiing and climbing trips over the past few years.
“Dave guided me and my two daughters for a magical week in Chamonix. Prior to our arrival, the snow had been sparse but the snow gods let loose for our trip. Dave gauged the ability of our group and planned the days to perfection with a mix of lift, sidecountry and backcountry across all of Chamonix. His deep knowledge of the area and his judgement kept us challenged, safe, away from crowds and in fresh powder. Most of all we had great fun thanks to his sense of humor and good cheer. The trip culminated with a challenging climb, a couloir that the girls handled with newfound confidence and 1,000 vertical meters of untracked powder to the valley floor.”
Jake
“Dave is a true professional, and brings bags of enthusiasm for sharing all the goods that Chamonix has to deliver. Collaborative and educational in his approach, Dave will piece together an epic program that pushes your competencies just the right amount. Looking forward to more adventures!”
Chris
“I’d been looking forward to being guided by Dave for a while. We met up in the summer in Chamonix to discuss what we wanted to achieve in our week. This was a great set up, especially for Hannah as it was to be her first time with a guide. Our goal was to do the Vallée Blanche.
Dave was super easy to contact and make the arrangements with and discuss options as the dates came nearer. Unfortunately Hannah was ill so was only able to ski for one day, which turned out to be the worst weather day of the week. But we still got to do some skinning skills, technique and have a great lunch. It made her week much better.
I was lucky to have a mega powder day on day 1 and we just dropped in and skied some incredible lines and had an amazing day. Less techy talk, just skiing to make the most of the conditions and ski some of Dave’s favourite stuff. It was nice to ski what he would have skied that day if I wasn’t a client.
What I valued most across my week, were the chairlift chats and discussions about gear, about technique, the conditions and generally just skiing like two mates having a good time. We had some good lunch breaks too! Dave likes a lunch. I’d recommend Dave (just not when I want him), superbly professional and good fun in equal measure. In my mind what a guide should be!”
Mark
“I found Dave through my social media contacts and from the very first e-mails I felt a great grip in terms of quality and communication. As I had a project upcoming to summit Matterhorn, Dave carefully and precisely helped me to work out a strong plan with what we could maximize the opportunities for a successful project (& summit). The co-operation during the guiding was nice, neat and concrete – everything was strictly and efficiently planned. We had a strong preparation schedule in order to be as ready as possible prior to the main target, which was Matterhorn itself. As in this spectacular time I had not much prior experience in such climbs, nevertheless, I felt confident with Dave’s guidance and trusted every single pitch that we moved together while roped up in duo. We managed to succeed Matterhorn despite demanding circumstances as the mountain was more difficult than it has been usually during this spectacular season. Unbelievable ropework, skills and sense of safety. Surely will climb with you again in the future!”
Kaspar
“We had a fantastic 3 days with Dave in Chamonix, Feb 22. Knowing he was IFMGA/UIAGM Mountain Guide, we had complete trust in his decision making and he expertly customised the trip based on our ability and the type of challenges we wanted to do. We did a combination of ski touring (including glacier travel) and ski mountaineering. Dave was super helpful in teaching us some new skills and knowledge in areas we interested in and less experienced. It was great to finish off the day with a well earned beer together. Whether you are looking to challenge your ski mountaineer skills or just have a fun day out ski touring I would highly recommend booking Dave as your guide!”
David
I’ve skied all over the US, Canada and Europe and I had one of my best weeks on snow with Dave in Chamonix. I was keen to work on steeper objectives and Dave was enthusiastic to help me reach those goals – while having a fun time skiing together! Having a car available also let us travel away from the crowds in Chamonix to find the best conditions across the Mont Blanc area.’
Andy
I’ve been out with Dave on many trips now. I’ve invited friends along to share in the experience of his company and humor in beautiful and exposed terrain. I’ve grown my comfort zone and skills with his help while having some of the best days out of my life. I’m always looking forward to my next trip with Dave.
Brian