WE DON’T SKI THE PISTE
Expert guiding, personalised coaching, and custom-built adventure ski trips.
We craft high-end, fully tailored off-piste ski experiences for discerning skiers.
From deep powder descents in the French Alps to remote wilderness adventures across the globe, our guiding and coaching is designed around you — your goals, your pace, your mountain.
Off-piste ski guiding
Navigate the best lines in the Alps with our team of experienced professional BASI Level 4 Ski instructors and IFMGA guides. From lift-access off-piste classics and ski touring adventures to hidden powder stashes, our guiding is tailored to your experience level, conditions, and appetite for adventure.
Bespoke adventure ski trips
No set itineraries. No compromises. We create private, bespoke ski trips from the ground up—whether it's a weekend of powder hunting in the Alps or a multi-day ski touring expedition in a remote corner of the world.
Why choose Backcountry73?
100% off-piste focus
We’re specialists, not generalists. Everything we do is in the backcountry.
Premium, personalised service
We tailor every trip, every day, to your needs and objectives.
Extensive local knowledge
With roots in the French Alps, we know where and when to go, more importantly, when others don’t.
International possibilities
Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, US, Turkey, North Macedonia, Kyrgyzstan, Alaska
Who we are
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![A man outdoors in a snowy environment, dressed in winter gear, including a dark jacket with patches, a helmet, sunglasses, gloves, and holding ski poles, smiling.]()
RICH JONES
Founder
With over 20 years of professional experience in the Alps and a lifetime chasing powder, Rich Jones is a true off-piste expert. A BASI Level 4 ISTD instructor with the coveted French Carte Professionnelle, Rich specialises in off-piste skiing and ski touring, combining technical coaching with real-world mountain sense. -
![A skier wearing black gear and goggles is skiing down a snowy slope at high speed.]()
TOM CONEY
IFMGA mountain guide & ski instructor
Based in Chamonix, Tom Coney is an IFMGA mountain guide with a lifelong passion for skiing and climbing. Specialising in off-piste guiding and coaching, Tom helps skiers of all levels push their boundaries, reducing risk while making adventures fun and memorable. -
![A man in winter gear and sunglasses standing on snow with snowy mountain landscape in the background.]()
BEN LANGSTON
Ski instructor, off-piste ski guide / Photographer
Originally from Wales but a long-time Tarentaise Valley local, Ben has spent the last 22 years living and breathing the mountains of France. Bi-lingual and at home on both skis and rock, he grew up immersed in mountaineering and even spent two years with the Jeune Équipe Régionale d’Alpinisme. -
![Black and white photo of a man with glasses and a beanie, making a peace sign with his right hand.]()
JAMES ADLINGTON
Sales / Social media
Jim has been involved in the Ski industry for over 40 years, from humble dry slope beginnings, to pro skier, ski wear business owner and now behind the scenes at BC73. His life has been skiing. With 30 years in the Alps, Jim has a passion and enthusiasm for the mountains like no other.
We don’t follow trails — we find them.
Backcountry73 is a premium guiding and coaching service dedicated exclusively to off-piste skiing.
Based in the French Alps, we operate across legendary destinations including, but not limited to, Val d’Isère, Chamonix, La Grave, and the Tarentaise Valley — while also curating bespoke ski adventures worldwide.
Every trip is custom-built, with a focus on safety, expertise, and exceptional terrain.