About Me

“Discover new places and learn new skills from an experienced mountain professional”

In the Kendal Mountain Festival Back office

When you book with Andy Perkins, that’s exactly who you get. Over 40 years of climbing and skiing, with over 20 of those as a guide.

I started climbing and skiing in my teens, and have since then been lucky enough to travel all across the world to work and play in its white pointy parts.

Here are some highlights from over 3 decades of mountain experience:

My aim as a guide is to maximise my clients’ potential - for you to exceed your own expectations of what you’re capable of. This often means taking on new skills as well as sharpening your existing ones. The big grins when someone finally “gets it”, whether skiing or climbing, makes my job as a guide a real joy.

“Andy has an attitude that makes him an excellent guide. He has huge experience in all terrains, but it is his ability to judge the client and the conditions and get the best out of the two that makes it such a relaxing pleasure to climb with him.”
Kenneth I 2014

“Thank you for a terrific week in Chamonix. I arrived with hopes of improving my ski mountaineering, navigation, route planning, avalanche assessment, crevasse rescue etc. I left with all my expectations exceeded and having hugely enjoyed the course, including some great powder skiing. “
Paul R 2012

I obtained my qualification through the British Mountain Guides in 2001 and since 2005 I've been a member of the French guides' association, the Syndicat National Des Guides de Montagne.

I’m proud to be associated with Arc’teryx. In 2014 I featured in an Arc’teryx film about risk assessment and decision making for guides.

I speak fluent French and passable German and Italian, a useful asset as I operate throughout the alpine chain.

As well as guiding I have a major role in the Kendal Mountain Festival, Britain’s premier social climbing event, which takes place annually in November.

In my spare time, I ski powder, climb rock and eat cakes.

What my clients say

I came all the way from British Columbia, Canada. Having done ski touring and a tad taste of mountaineering in my country my sister invited me to come join this crew for a taste of the Alps. I was expecting sharing my days here with lots of people and with the lack of snow, testing my newly sharpened edges on ice. BUT this was not the case. If I had gone on my own, my initial thoughts would have been true, having Andy who knew the area and was able to sniff out terrain like a dog for a bone made me coming to Switzerland worth every penny!!

I was exposed to an amazing part of the Alps with sweet stashes of fresh snow, terrain just challenging enough to tease my skills and yet fun enough to keep a smile on my face. I had assurance knowing that every day was going to be safe and full of wonderful surprises. I NEVER would have bagged some of the peaks Andy roped (pun intended) us into doing either.

Thanks, Andy, for teaching me how to read terrain better, anticipate avalanche hazard and pick better up-tracks. I didn’t even cry myself to sleep after you took photos of me to help me with my skiing technique. The next day I applied them and what a difference!! I’ll take it home with me to perfect so I can return to show you my improvements. I had an amazing time both on and off the snow and will remember this always.

You were my first guide and you showed me there’s a reason to use one! Your experience shows and I much appreciated you sharing it with us.

Grand St. Bernard : First Ever Ski Tour

Colleen Ross

Just had to mention the fantastic week we had in Les Diablerets really challenging conditions. but as always Andy hit the jackpot for us, always ready to change the itinerary to get the very best from the ever changing conditions. we never failed to have freshtracks everyday.
As always it is an education to ski with Any Perkins if you haven’t yet… book early to avoid disappointment.
Once again thank you for a fantastic week. see you next year buddy

Les Diablerets 2014

Paul Martin
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