We are an international climbing and skiing guide service owned and operated by UIAGM / IFMGA Certified Mountain Guides Kathy Cosley & Mark Houston. We specialize in small-group and custom climbing and skiing trips and expeditions to the great alpine destinations of the world. Our programs include mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, expeditions and ski mountaineering.

We spend every summer guiding in our backyard, the Alps. Let us know if you think you might like to join us.

This is a challenging high altitude trek linking the Chamonix Valley and Zermatt. For much of this route we are on glaciers or off trail, on climbers paths and routes. We'll stay in mountain huts, rise early and enjoy long days in high alpine terrain. This 7-day route is distinctly more difficult than the Walker's route (below), but offers the rewards of a greater challenge.

The classic Swiss countryside trek. This is a 6-day trek with an optional 3-day add-on ascent of the Wildstrubel. The trekking portion links remote villages in what is arguably the most quintessentially "Swiss" alpine scenery in the country. We stay in small hotels and inns, and the trekking is on trails (though occasionally quite rough). The optional Wildstrubel ascent is a great introduction to glacier climbing and offers a fine finish.

This version of the Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route avoids the more rigorous glaciers and off-trail hiking of the "Glacier Trek" (above). But even though the route stays on trails, and lodging is in more comfortable village inns, it is still a demanding hike, with some big days. The entire program is 9 days of alpine trekking.

Les Calanques are the French Riviera's answer to the fiords of Norway–deep canyons of limestone dropping down in the gentle Mediterranean. Climbers have been enjoying the rock, the beaches and the water for over 100 years. In October and November, the weather is usually wonderfully warm, the sun is out and Les Calanques becomes a fantastic place to store up memories and sunshine before a long, cold winter.

In January of 2014 we are heading back to Argentina to climb the highest peak in the western and southern hemispheres. Our route of choice includes a traverse of the peak, ascending the Vacas and Relinchos valleys to the Plaza Argentina Base Camp, and descending via the normal route on the Horcones side.

After our return from Argentina at the end of January, we'll jump right into the Chamonix off-piste season. Lots of options for either lift-served or touring.

This quiet corner of the Alps is known for powder snow and sunshine. Think "Colorado" with huts that have showers and a full bar. In our Queyras tour we spend 6 days skiing, staying in both hotels, gites as well as three nights in mountain refuges.

Just north of St-Moritz and the Julier Pass, and southwest of the Silvretta Group is a ski touring paradise called the Albula. We start this trip with a one day descent from the Diavolezza before continuing on to spend an additional 6 days of touring, connecting St. Moritz to Davos. Mostly north-facing, the descents are amazingly good.

The Silvretta group straddles the border between Italy and Austria. Our 5-day tour starts on the Austrian side and visits 3 huts, the Heidelberger, the Jamtal and the Wiesbadener. This is a prefect choice as an introduction to ski touring in the Alps, with comfortable huts (showers, again!) and superb touring terrain.

This tour is one of our favorites. Great huts, fantastic ski descents, and big, glaciated peaks. We have 7 days of skiing starting and ending in Sulden, Italy. The daily routine: get up, enjoy a fine breakfast, climb another big peak, have a great ski down, shower, relax in the bar, dinner, to bed, and repeat. The perfect tour for skilled and adventurous skiers who enjoy their fun.

This is the classic Chamonix to Zermatt ski journey. Our 8-day program starts with a day of off-piste in Chamonix (usually the Vallée Blanche) and cruises into Zermatt a week later. We'll stay at the Trient, Mont Fort, Prafleuri, Dix and Vignettes huts as we wind our way through the highest and most impressive section of the Alps.

This is the hardest tour we do on a regular basis. The "Classic" Chamonix to Zermatt, traversing the Plateau du Couloir, with an added ascent, and (of course) descent of Mont Vélan. 8 days of skiing, with big days every day. Some serious vertical, up and down. For expert skiers, happy to push themselves.

The Berner Oberland is a vast complex of giant valley glaciers and big peaks. This country looks more like Alaska, with immense glaciers, big icefalls and long descents. Unlike Alaska, however, there are comfortable huts and easy access from the Jungfraujoch train. 6 days of skiing, staying in a new hut every night (except the two we spend in the very nice Finsteraarhorn hut.