EN 
FR About us
Baptiste Locatelli - FR, EN, DE, IT
High mountain guide, Canyoning instructor, Mountain leader
I live in the Chambéry area, from where I can easily travel in winter and summer throughout the Alps, or to more distant mountain destinations. I'm always on the lookout for new massifs and itineraries to discover, and my aim is to never do the same race twice in the same season! I'm also firmly rooted in the Tarentaise region, where I have a house in Pralognan-la-Vanoise. It's my refuge, the place where I recharge my batteries, and my base camp when I'm working in the 3 Vallées, along with the Méribel guide bureau, where I have a permanent position.
Depending on the conditions, you'll find me on skis on the big slopes or secret couloirs of the Portetta massif, in my boots on limestone cliffs or granitic fissures, in crampons on a tapering snow ridge leading to a 4000m peak. I don't have a favourite activity or race, but if I had to name a few: the rocky ridges of the Meije, the snow ridge of the Lyskamm, the limestone promontory of Mont Aiguille, the vertiginous walls of Archiane and the Verdon, the overhanging cliffs of Saint-Guilhem, the bewitching profile of the Intégrale de Peuterey...
As a lover of the Alps and their cultures, I have a weakness for long, wild crossings on skis, the aesthetics of a rocky ridge and the technicality of a beautiful climbing line. Exploring the Alps, passing on my passion and the sincere relationship I build with my customers are at the heart of my motivation for this profession.
To stay sharp in my decisions, my movements and my physique, I keep up a regular personal practice. When I'm not practising in the mountains, I'm often on the bike on a trip, climbing in the Fontainebleau forest or on a cliff in the south of France.
I look forward to seeing you again, with your boots on, ice axe in hand or on skis, to share some great moments together up in the mountains.
Stories of customers
Frequently asked questions
How did you get into the mountains?
The mountains are in his blood and a taste for sport is in his genes. Parisian by birth but Savoyard at heart!
Very early on, my parents got me climbing in Fontainebleau, walking to the Bossons glacier, hiking at Lac Blanc and skiing at Grand Bornand. It was there that my vocation was born. We moved to Lyon to be closer to the Alps, and then I joined the mountain professions college in Moûtiers. There I met other young enthusiasts, and we forged our characters and physiques. Some of them were to become my climbing companions. Alongside my studies in a special sports section, I spent several years competing in ski-mountaineering and trail running. Between my bachelor's and master's degrees, I spent a year and a half in the Dolomites working in product development for Salewa and Dynafit. At the same time, I took my mountain leader diploma. Back in Savoie, I passed my master's in International Commerce, worked in export in the metal and then electronics industries until I fully realised that I belonged outside, in the mountains. Once I'd finished my shopping list, I bravely quit my job and embarked on the adventure of taking the probationary exam to enter ENSA, the national ski and mountaineering school that trains guides in Chamonix. All my fears and doubts about being a guide were gone: I'd found my path, the right route, and I'll never leave it again.
Do you make your living as a guide all year round?
Yes, it's my full-time job, and I wouldn't change it for the world!
Thanks to my three qualifications - high mountain guide, canyoning instructor and mountain leader - I can offer a variety of experiences all year round, adapted to the conditions, the desires and the target audience.
In spring and summer, I divide my time between climbing, mountaineering, big routes, alpine trekking and canyoning. Autumn is often a good time for climbing, travelling and more personal projects. In winter, I spend most of my time on skis or with an ice axe in my hand, between ski touring, off-piste, long traverses, waterfalls and gullies.
And when I'm not out in the field, I'm not idle: a large part of my activity also takes place upstream - preparing courses, looking after clients, organising holidays, keeping an eye on conditions and managing my business. It's also a time when I enjoy a quieter life, when I'm at home, reconnecting with my family and friends, and resting up for the next outing... because yes, I need it!
This rhythm allows me to live my passion to the full, to keep on the move and never get locked into a routine. I've found my balance in this diversity.
Do you work alone?
I am now the sole owner and manager of Alpes Ascensions. I design the courses, talk to you beforehand, prepare the trips and supervise the vast majority of the outings. On top of that, I manage communications, sales, relations with tourist offices and the website - everything that makes the company run on a daily basis, both in the field and behind the scenes.
With growing demand, I rely on a network of trusted colleagues, all state-qualified and professionals in their field. What's most important to me is that they share the same high professional standards in terms of service quality and the human qualities that ensure the best possible customer experience. Depending on the project, some of them take over from time to time to supervise activities when I'm not available. Others, who are involved in a more structured way, take an active part in the development of the offer, the continuous improvement of the activities, and the reflection on the future of Alpes Ascensions. This more structured collaboration is based on trust, the desire to create and the exchange of ideas, with the eventual aim of joining forces.
This way of working allows me to respond to growing demand, while maintaining the spirit of the company: a human relationship and a quality experience on a human scale.