Matthew Richards, UIMLA Certified International Mountain Leader

Matthew was born in Switzerland –from English parents who came to the Alps to hike and climb. He spent much of his youth roaming the hills and mountains of the Jura and the Alps. In 2002 he started the ASAM (Association Suisse des Accompagnateurs en Montagne) training course, the first and most renowned mountain leading school of Switzerland.  He is currently a UIMLA (Union of International Mountain Leader Associations) and ASAM (Association Suisse des Accompagnateurs en Montagne) mountain leader.

He has walked and trekked in the Alps, the Jura, the Pyrenees, Lapland (Norway), the Himalayas (Bhutan), the central Andes, jungles of Central America and the western Alps of New Zealand. He also enjoys high-mountain skiing, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing and some mountaineering, climbing and cycling.  He’s climbed famous high peaks around Switzerland including the Mönch (4107m), Fletschhorn (3927m), Liskamm (4210m), Castor (4223m), Bishorn (4153m), Pigne d’Arolla (3790m), Petit Combin (3663m), amount numerous others.  He’s also climbed the Illimani (6438m) in the Cordillera Real of the Bolivian Andes.

He is the proud father of two daughters and looks forward to meeting you over the summer!