A unique journey through the mountains of Atomfjella, in Svalbard – Spitzbergen, islands 640 km north of the North Cape, considered in the past the obligatory passage for Dutch explorers in search of the Indies: extreme polar nature for exploratory ski mountaineering in the lands of the Polar Bear , characterized by endless days with the midnight sun, immense spaces and high-level itineraries.

Valpelline has proportions and an appearance almost reminiscent of the Himalayas! Nestled between the towering peaks of Valais, the Matterhorn, and the Grandes Murailles, its deep and long valley branches into a network of valleys and glaciers reaching significant summits, both geomorphologically and for ski mountaineering. The environment is therefore rugged and truly alpine, slightly softened by Place Moulin Lake, which is followed on the first day to access Rifugio Prarayer. The itineraries in this program lead to prestigious peaks and passes: Becca d’Oren, Château des Dames, and the Shoulder of Dent d’Hérens, from which the panoramic views extend from the nearby Matterhorn to the glaciers and peaks framing the renowned Haute Route Chamonix–Zermatt. The expedition is led by Cristian Bredy, a UIAGM Alpine Guide, born and raised in these valleys, who will guide us in discovering their secrets thanks to his deep local expertise.

Entering Val di Rhêmes from the lower Aosta Valley, one immediately gets the impression of being dwarfed by towering mountains. Steep slopes branch into rocky buttresses from which imposing waterfalls plunge, resonating through the valley floor. Snow cones persist well into the season, and larches climb along the cliffs, adding color to the austere landscape. Arriving in Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, the space opens up, and the view stretches freely upwards, across pastures and glaciers that peek above the greenery. Even higher, the massive rocky peak of Granta Parey, the undisputed Queen of the Valley, emerges. Three days dedicated to spring ski mountaineering in high Val di Rhêmes will lead us to explore these vast mountains on the border with France, with a fixed base at Rifugio Benevolo, nestled in the sunlit basin at the foot of the valley’s main peaks.

After Snowder’s first Peruvian ski mountaineering experience in May 2025, when we skied some of the Cordillera Blanca classics (Vallunaraju, Ishinca, and Pisco), here we are again with the idea of returning to Peru: the stunning mountains of the Cordillera Blanca offer the chance to climb high and ski beautifully on peaks that are impressive even just to look at! But that’s not all: the hospitality of the Andean people is wonderful—porters, arrieros, and cooks are true masters at putting us tourists in the best possible conditions to face these magnificent mountains. So last spring, descending to the valley after climbing Ishinca, we found ourselves under an immense glacier: Nevado Copa, which from nearly 6,200 meters stretches out a vast, immaculate, undulating, and inviting blanket of snow. The only thought was to reorganize and set off again! The ski mountaineering project on Nevado Copa is reserved for excellent ski mountaineers, well-trained and able to move confidently with ice axe and crampons, as well as ski on sometimes complex terrain and slopes that can be quite steep. That said, it is a beautiful program that will take us to climb—not only Copa—but also two other peaks of nearly 6,000 meters: Vallunaraju and Ishinca, while admiring the wonders, lights, and colors of the Peruvian Andes.