Had a funtastic (sic) backcountry freeride day out with Taylor and the crew from Vagabond Adventures. Knowledgeable, calm, measured, assured = exactly what one wants in big mountain, backcountry terrain.

The skinning was set at a cruisy pace for our slowest group member. And whilst the snow wasn’t awesome when we went out, it didn’t matter. We knew what we were in for, and we laughed our way through it and appreciated the grandeur and quiet of the place. No one else was where we were. The mountains are vast in this region, and some of the backcountry descents could be amongst the all-time best skiing moments of your life in stable powder.

In a foreign country, no matter how friendly the locals are, it is always nice to have a guide like Taylor, a native English speaker, that is fluent in the local language. His and his team’s experience in Georgia counts for a lot. It smooths out the ever-present creases that one comes across in Georgia.

We learnt in Gudauri to never bother asking why? Why, well because there is no point. Sometimes there is just no reasonable answer. And so it was a pleasure to catch Taylor out asking why ……… and getting him to drop and give me ten (push-ups that is!). Classic.

When the ski resort has done all it can for you, get out with Vagabond Adventures and discover the real reason for coming to Gudauri.