Tom Grant
Lead Guide
Find me on: Instagram
Half American half British, Tom has been living in Chamonix since 2009 and is a full time IFMGA guide and mountain athlete, sponsored by Black Crows, Scarpa, Jöttnar, Grivel and Sungod. With nearly a decade of guiding experience, Tom is passionate about sharing epic adventures in the mountains with his guests and specialises in alpine climbing, rock climbing and steep skiing.
Tom has climbed and skied all over the world, from north faces in the Alps to big walls in Yosemite and the remote peaks of the Hindu Kush in Pakistan. Most notably, he’s skied numerous technical first descents on major ski mountaineering lines across the Alps, New Zealand, Alaska, Canada, Norway and Pakistan.
“Climbing with a guide felt very clean, safe and comfortable. They did all they could to ensure you reach the summit and return safely.”
What’s Tom all about…
Why the mountains?
I was obsessed with the mountains from a young age, always wanting to climb trees or when it snowed in Virginia where I grew up, pretending I was climbing an alpine peak. I started skiing and rock climbing in my teens and then exploring alpine climbing became a logical progression from that.
What’s the biggest challenge you face with the mountains?
Worst thing about mountains ‘how fast they are changing, it’s becoming overall a more difficult and sometimes more dangerous environment to operate due to climate change.
What’s your most epic experience to date?
In 2017, two friends and I skied one of the world’s biggest un-skied lines, the Caroline Face on Mt. Cook, the highest peak in New Zealand. The Caroline Face is one of the world’s largest skiable alpine faces at nearly 2,000m of vertical and had been attempted by several strong teams in the past. Once we rapped into the top of the face we were fully committed to the line and the only way was down. Luckily we efficiently navigated the complex line, finding a way to rappel over a large serac band in the middle.
What does life outside of Outlier Ascents look like for you?
Most of my life revolves around mountain sports, but when I’m not in the mountains I love training for them. I have a son who is 10 years old and he is a big focus of my life outside of the mountains. I also love traveling and discovering new cultures and places.
