My mountaineering story started in the Dolomites and the Adamello range. I was introduced to the mountains by my father at a very young age: via ferratas, the classic Dolomite climbs—many of them graded V+, and arguably harder than today's 6b!—and long spring days skiing on the Pian di Neve and Pisgana glaciers.

Engineering studies and an academic career in geophysics gradually took me across the Alps—and eventually much further afield. Looking back, I realise that every new job was really just another excuse to discover a different mountain range.

At the age of 24, I moved to Zurich to begin my PhD at ETH. Besides the research, it was the perfect opportunity to explore the Swiss Alps, enjoy endless powder days (yes, in 2010 we still had proper winters!) and discover legendary climbing areas such as the Wendenstöcke.

A few years later I moved to Grenoble for a postdoctoral position. If there is a place that can steal a climber's heart, this is probably it. The Écrins, the Vercors, the Verdon Gorge, the Calanques... all within easy reach. Add a few unforgettable climbing and skiing trips to Yosemite, Alaska and Joshua Tree, and I was convinced I would never leave.

Then, in 2015, an unexpected opportunity arrived: Imperial College London.

"Andrea, don't go," my best friends said. "It's England. No mountains, no skiing, and the food is terrible!"

They couldn't have been more wrong.

For three fantastic years I discovered a completely different world of climbing. Pembroke became my favourite place on Earth: wild sea cliffs, perfect limestone, trad gear, Atlantic waves crashing below, and fish & chips waiting at the pub afterwards. Together with the gritstone of the Peak District and the coastal cliffs of Dorset, it completely changed the way I looked at climbing.

Since 2018 I have been living with my wife and our two children on the southern shore of Lake Zurich. From our home we enjoy the view of the Glarus Alps every single day. I still work part-time as a university professor, while the rest of my time is dedicated to mountain guiding, teaching skiing at Flumserberg, and—most importantly—trying to be the best dad I can.

If you ask me about my favourite mountain experiences, a few immediately come to mind:

• A trad climb on the sea cliffs of Pembroke, followed by fish & chips and a couple of beers.

• Jamming hands, feet and fingers into the perfect granite splitter.

• A summit-to-sea ski descent in northern Norway... followed by a few hours of cod fishing to make sure dinner is sorted.

One last story.

The name of the website might seem rather straightforward: Andrea Colombi → AC Mountain Guiding.

But there is another meaning behind it. My wife Alicja and especially our two children, Anne and Alexander, also share the initials A.C. The name is a small tribute to them, because their endless curiosity—and their daily little adventures—are my greatest source of inspiration and happiness.

If you'd like to spend a day—or several—in the mountains together, I'd be delighted to hear from you. I work with small groups and believe that the best mountain experiences are those tailored to the people sharing them.​​​