NICK PARKS
The legendary IFMGA ski guide and founder of Mountain Tracks has been leading expeditions on skis and on foot for over 20 years. Here he talks about how it all began, what goes into planning a ski adventure and his exciting plans for next winter
My job in a nutshell
I’m an international mountain guide specialising in backcountry ski adventures, mainly from my home in the Swiss Val d’Anniviers and occasionally in other parts of the white world.
How it all began
I fell in love with skiing on an Erna Low ski holiday when I was 11... and never really looked back; race training with the Kandahar Ski Club as a teenager, instructing on Cairngorm for the Austrian Ski School in the '70s when I was aged 17-18, skiing the Haute Route with the SCGB at 18, working as a glacier ski guide for Alpine Guides at Mount Cook, New Zealand, before helping get Fresh Tracks off the ground in Chamonix in 1990 and starting Mountain Tracks 10 years later. It's been an adventure!
My typical day
Throughout the winter I get up at 7am and always make sure I have a good breakfast, usually porridge. I check the weather and snow forecast, especially the latest avalanche safety update. If I have more than one group out I link up with the other guides often over a cup of coffee to discuss each other’s plans before meeting up with my guests as the lifts open.
There are so many variables in the mountains in winter – snow and weather conditions, and guests' requirements, vary enormously so it’s important to be flexible; this is why I tend to decide on exact routes as I go along. Throughout the winter I’m focussed on finding the best off-piste descents for my guests through a mixture of lift-accessed skiing and ski touring; we are so lucky in the Val d’Anniviers to have so much varied terrain that doesn’t get tracked out too fast. Skiing usually takes precedence over big lunches, but the après-ski drink is not negotiable. We always eat in, usually with the guests and visiting guides staying with us. Day after day skiing and an abundance of fresh air sees me hitting the pillow by 10pm if possible.
Highlight of my career so far
I very much enjoyed leading a successful expedition to ski Muztagh Ata in China last year, but perhaps I’m most proud of recently being accepted to join the Swiss Mountain Guides Association.
What I love most about my job...
Inspiring guests to believe in their abilities and have totally memorable days. Trying to make it unforgettable for my clients makes it really fun for me.
The hardest part is…
Recently having to postpone trips to Greenland and Russia (due to the Covid-19 lockdown) and having to do the accounts!
If I had to choose one place to ski for the rest of my life…
The Val d’Anniviers. I’ve been here for eight full winters now and I’m still finding new lines to ski.
My future plans
I’ve just built a chalet in Zinal. In the course of 18 months I turned myself from someone who couldn’t put up a shelf to someone who still can’t put up a shelf... but it’s been incredibly rewarding. Next winter the chalet is part of my offering. I love it when a chalet is full of people, and we're sitting by the fire or around the dining table chatting about our day and making plans for the future.
With pandemic and climate change issues threatening tourism as we knew it I expect the coming winters will see me focusing on staying more local. I’m incredibly fortunate to have a wonderful playground on my doorstep.
Powder time: Nick's focus is on finding the best off-piste descents for his guests