Guiding

# Guiding in the Caucasus

Join me on an unforgettable trip through the Caucasus — in Armenia, Georgia or both! — far from the density and choreography of European and North American backcountry skiing.

You’ll climb and ski massive volcanic lone peaks and steep mountain ranges, usually gaining between 800 and 1,500 vertical meters, and laying tracks of four to eight kilometers across completely untouched snow.

There are no queues. No skin tracks from the week before. Some days, you’re the only people within twenty kilometers — and the only ones who will touch that slope for weeks.

# What the Skiing is Like

The terrain is big, open, and consequential, but not theatrical.

Ascents are long, steady, and intense workouts with laughs and comradery. Descents are generous, with lots of routes to pick, from steep couloirs and fall-line drops to long, easy descents following mountain trails through forests and valleys.

The snow stays cold. Tracks stay yours.

This is not the kind of typical US or EU skiing that’s more sidecountry than back… where you still feel like you’re orbiting a resort. Once you’re out there, you’re properly out there.

That remoteness is the point.

# Armenia

• Season: February to April
• Terrain: Lone, gentle volcanic slopes and open alpine bowls.
• Vibe: Remote, cultural, and profoundly quiet.

# Georgia

• Season: January to April
• Terrain: Technical ridges, steep couloirs, and deep valley floor descents.
• Vibe: Epic and challenging long days.

# The Tradeoff

Being this far from infrastructure changes the equation.

Weather moves fast. Help is not immediate. Decisions matter more because there’s no one else to defer to and no easy exit if things unravel.

That’s also why the reward is what it is: pristine snow, full silence, and days that feel complete rather than rushed.

The work of guiding here is about choosing the right line, the right timing, and sometimes the right moment to stop — so that tomorrow is just as good.

# Who These Trips Are For

Most people who come already have years of ski touring experience — in the Alps, North America, or elsewhere.

They’re comfortable with long days, conservative decision-making, and adjusting plans based on conditions.

What they’re looking for isn’t instruction or adrenaline. It’s space, scale, and the feeling of skiing somewhere that still feels unscripted.

# Armenia & Georgia, Beyond the Skiing

The skiing is only part of why these places stay with people.

In Georgia, days often end with long tables, deep red wine, and food that assumes you’ve earned it. Hospitality isn’t a feature — it’s just how things work.

In Armenia, winter strips things back. The landscape feels older, quieter, and more off the map. Ancient churches sit alone in the mountains. Villages don’t expect tourists, especially in winter.

Both are among the world’s earliest Christian cultures, and both carry that history lightly — woven into daily life rather than performed for visitors.

# What Makes This Rare

It’s not that the lines are extreme.

It’s that:

• You’re skiing mountains that see no regular traffic
• Your group is the only presence on the landscape
• The days are long enough to feel earned
• And the places still feel culturally intact

Most people don’t realize how unusual that combination is until they’ve experienced it.

# Is This the Right Fit?

These trips work best for people who:

• Are comfortable being far from infrastructure
• Value solitude as much as terrain
• Prefer shared effort over individual heroics
• Enjoy the cultural context as much as the skiing

If you want efficiency, crowds, or guaranteed outcomes, this probably isn’t it.

If you want a handful of winter days that don’t blur together later, it often is.

# Getting in Touch

If this resonates, reach out with a bit about:

• Your touring background
• The kind of days you enjoy most
• What draws you to the Caucasus

We’ll figure out quickly whether the timing and the conditions line up.