Guides/Instructors 2007-2008
Our Guides hold the highest internationally recognised qualification for instruction and guiding in rock and ice climbing, mountaineering and off-piste skiing and ski touring- the coveted IFMGA carnet. This badge, recognised throughout the mountaineering world is your guarantee of their professional training and competence in all aspects of mountaineering and client care.
Our membership of the International Union of Associations of Mountain Guides (IFMGA ), followed, along with increased training and rigorous assessment. This membership, shared at present with guides from sixteen other countries, gives all the Guides at Skiers Lodge absolute equivalence with Guides in Alpine countries and throughout the world. The award of the International Guides Carnet demands the highest standards of skill and professionalism in all aspects of mountaneering. All our Guides are qualified IFMGA/UIAGM (International High Mountain Guides). They speak English, French, Swedish and German.
Swedish Mountain Guides, France Syndicat National des Guides de France, American Mountain Guide Association, Germany Verband Deutscher Berg- und Skiführer, British Association of Mountain Guides, Ecole du Ski Francaise - International ski Instructur
Pelle Onol Lång (Sweden)
Wherever Pelle Lang has put his skiboots down has been his home. Leaving Sweden some 26 years ago searching for good adventure skiing in the mountain ranges in the world the ”search” is over. Being the owner and founder of the Skier Lodge made him settle down in La Grave 1989. His dream was to create a lodge owned and operated by skiers for skiers. In 1989 this dream becomes a reality. The Skiers Lodge Guide Service, for which Pelle works daily as the chief guide, represents the ski part of the concept. The ambition is to create a good chemistry between guides and skiers. Careful thought is given to the itineraries that are chosen for each day. The goal is to keep clients challenged by the terrain, but not terrified by the surroundings. 26 years experience of off-piste skiing in Chamonix and La Grave, France, Alaska-Valdez, Canada, USA, Russia, Italy, India and North part of Sweden/Norway. He is a fully qualified IFMGA mountain guide with the French Brevet d´ Etat d´Alpinisme, Diplome de Guide de Haute Montagne UIAGM. Pisteur-SLAO. Pro Am mogul racer. Nordic ski extreme racer. Winner of the Derby de la Meije ind/team.
Martin Svensson is a fully certified mountain guide from Sweden with a dedicated passion for mountain sports. Possessing a quiver of mountain skills, including big-mountain skier, alpinism, big wall and sport climber. Martin says: “It is great to be able to practise and try to perfect different disciplines in a changeable mountain environment. It keeps “the flame burning”. Martin started skiing in 1976 in the Telemark region of Norway, neighbouring a small village called Rjukan where modern telemark skiing was born. He has spent winter seasons in the French Alps since the beginning of the 90’s exploring skiing’s ‘steep & deep’ and seeking new climbing challenges. “Today I look at mountains from a different perspective. The passion for adventure skiing remains but I can appreciate the mountains for what they have to offer on a broader level. As a guide I have the opportunity to work with people in a very fragile, environment, where it is important to pass on to people the sense of what a fantastic but fragile world we have. Three decades since his first turns he will continue to work as a guide in La Grave this upcoming winter, which he ranks as one of his favourite spots. But in spring time the ski touring in the land of the mid-night sun “calls him home” to tour in the remote areas of northern Norway and Sweden to explore more snowy reaches and new aesthetic granite lines.
Keith Garvey now enjoys wearing ski boots as much if not more than his surfing boots, even after 16 year of snowboarding. “If it wasn’t for the snowboard, skiing would still be a stale, straight and narrow sport.” Some fat skis and a little shape is what brought him back and now he claims it to be his favorite sport. He spent the last three seasons skiing and guiding in La Grave, Chamonix, Valdez, Alaska, and in the lower 48. Keith began guiding nine years ago in the U.S. working for the Colorado Mountain School. In the off season he has led expeditions throughout Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Alaska, Mexico and Nepal. He is one of the few UIAGM licensed mountain guide in the states and also works for the American Mountain Guides Association teaching and examining U.S. aspirant guides. He is passionate about guiding, loves the challenges it presents and strives to deliver, in this case good powder. “The best thing about guiding in La Grave is that there in no other; 2,150m of lift served off-piste steep skiing with nobody around, but of course those you are skiing or drinking with. I’ll be back!!!”
Born in Sweden in 1974 and hade his first skiing experience some 5 years later. Andreas is a Certified UIAGM Mountain Guide and UIAA Climbing Instructor but also a product developer with a patent on his merit list. Loves skiing and climbing and has spent a lot of time exploring different ski resorts in the alps and ski touring in the wilderness of the Scandinavian mountains. “The first time a came to la grave my mind went “Wow, I want to ski this”. Now after several years as one of the mountain guides at Skiers Lodge I still get that wow feeling every time I arrive in La Grave
Eric Mossiere is a High Mountain Guide and a member of the guide syndicate of La Grave. He was born and raised in Grenoble close to the Alpes and the massif de Vercors. He likes both the city life and the mountains and finds living in Serre Chevalier optimal since he can not forget his city habits and living closer to civilization than La Grave. He knows most of the secret skiing spots in Serre Chevalier and phones the Lodge early every morning to tell about the snow conditions, after speaking with the ski patrol in Serre Chevalier on cellar telephone or radio to get the best inside information (French Connection) of today's snow pack. We forgive him for his city habits. He started skiing very young (around three) and he has a big passion for all the snow sliding (glisse) activities: alpine skiing, ski touring, cross country skiing, snowboarding and telemarking are his favorite. He is able guiding you for all of these techniques. He also practices ice climbing but like the lizards he loves the sun to much to spend complete winters doing that. Last year he completed his exams of being a fully qualified parapente instructor. When he’s not sliding, Eric’s favorite hobby is.............fly fishing!!!!!
Farmer has a solid background in all disciplines of climbing. He particularly enjoys long alpine rock and ice climbs as well as ski-mountaineering. This emphasis is reflected in his enthusiasm for sharing with others the challenges and subsequent rewards of moving through technical terrain in the mountains. Level III avalanche certification and medical training such as EMT and OEC certifications compliment his diverse skills as a climber and guide. These qualifications, along with his B.S. in Geology, with which he says he can "B.S. about geology as long as you want," form a core of competence which ensures a fun time in the mountains whatever the itinerary. Farmer is an AMGA certified Rock Guide and has full IFMGA certification.
43 years old German UIAGM and Canyoning Guide runs the PICOS Guide Service together with Heike and his friend Jürgen and is guiding in La Grave for many years. If he is not guiding his clients he is probably, as a trained chef cooking for them on one of his trips. PICOS is based in Freiburg Germany on the foothills of the Black Forest, and offers all kinds of mountains activities all year round all through the Alps. The locations vary in between south Spain and Slovenia. Skiing. Climbing, Canyoning, Multi sport weeks you name it , we will be with you!
Alois Viehöver:
iebhaber großzügiger Westalpentouren. Alois tüftelt mit Vorliebe neue Skidurchquerungen aus und ist Meister im Auffinden gemütlicher Häuser für PICOS-Reisen. Als Freeride- Spezialist kennt er fast alle Tiefschneespots in den Alpen.
Jürgen was born in 1966 and started skiing with the age of 3. From then on a new passion has been born, which lasts till now. The base for his skiing he got in Stubaital (Austria) where his parents owned an apartment and he skied with the local kids. Later he was looking for the most satisfying runs in whole Europe and also in Alaska where he climbed Mt. McKinley. He is full certified UIAGM guide since 1997 and spends most time of the winter in La Grave for the last seven years.
Jürgen Krieger:
Vom Boulder auf Meereshöhe bis zu Expeditionen nach Nepal und Alaska hat Jürgen schon sämtliche Spielarten des Alpinismus intensiv betrieben. Aus der Ruhe bringen lässt er sich so schnell nicht. Zu einer steilen Tiefschneeabfahrt oder einer gemütlichen Kaffeepause beim Klettern sagt er wohl niemals nein.
Tom Merkel was playing as ice hockey pro in Germany before the mountaineering took over. He is a fully certified guide. He gives out a serious expression in his face when a new route or a new daily venture is presented at early morning guide meeting when suddenly he gives this huge laugh when his mind is made up and it will last the day. He is working for Picos Alpin Guideservice.
Thomas Merkel:
Als ehemaliger Eishockeyprofi macht Tom keine halben Sachen. Kompromisslos ist er sowohl beim eigenen Training als auch dann, wenn’s darum geht, seinen Gästen eine perfekte Woche zu bieten. Seine letzten Abenteuer führten Ihn nach Nepal und Südamerika.
