Frontier

Words by Thomas Gaisbacher
Photos by Thomas Gaisbacher and The North Face

A chairlift chat

Everything started on a chairlift ride at Les Marecottes. Sam Anthamatten and I were skiing together and talked about our plans and projects for the end of the season. He told me about a big project at the very border of Alaska and Yukon. The email that he received a few days ago mentioned that the trip was supposed to last for three weeks in April and involved glacier camping, heliskiing and a really big spine wall. Strange coincidence was that I have received a similar message as well, the only difference was that I have been asked to serve the crew as a guide.

A chairlift chat

How could that be? Is it the same project? This would be really funny because it meant that the project went around the world just to connect us on a little chairlift in Switzerland. In the evening we checked our mails and yes – it was the same project! Sam as a rider, me as a guide. At first I was not really sure if I wanted to do that, because I’m more into riding than into guiding right now. But Sam and I did a lot of projects together, so why shouldn’t I be the guide for him this time. He also liked the idea. We both signed in and really looked forward to the trip!