What's round the next bend - will the right trail be obvious?

 In many ways 2022 a good year for Trekking in the Alps and Provence: I managed to finally complete all the trips that had been postponed for Covid over the last 2 years, plus some new ones; in addition to guiding my own clients, I also picked up daily work with French groups, usually older folks, always big groups, but it was fun, I learnt different things, met other guides, and I worked outside my comfort zone on several levels!  Everything went well, everyone seemed happy, and so we finished the year.  

But what's next? As some of you know, for various reasons I can no longer envisage working back to back trips away from home, so I now guide the spring, summer and autumn seasons, keeping the snowy winter mountains for my own outings. Things change, we don't need to continue doing exactly the same things forever, but sometimes it takes a while to process change and to get a clear view of the way ahead. Just like being out in the mountains, you need to take your time to be sure to choose the right trail, the one that will take you where you want to go and also where you are capable of going. 

It's time now for Trekking in the Alps and Provence to follow the bend in the trail, and to find out what's around the corner! 

I have decided that, whilst I quite enjoy the day work with French groups here, this is far from ideal for me as it is really last minute, very passive in terms of getting work, and if you only have a group for a day then that's quite frustrating in terms of job fulfillment. Also, talking to groups of 15+ has never been my strong-point! 

So I really want to continue guiding my own private clients on multi-day trips that I organise myself. I have a new calendar of trips, all confirmed with a few bookings. All the trips are within 3 hours drive of my home which makes them more manageable for me. Having lived in Provence for the last 10 years, after nearly 25 years in the Alps, I feel very well acquainted with the different parts of this extensive French region which stretches from the limestone pré-Alps all the way to the Mediterranean. From the Baronnies to the Luberon to the Haute Alpes....there is enough here to never do the same hikes twice! 

I am excited to have new venues programmed, places I have wanted to add to my repertoire for some time, notably here in Provence where my new Secret Provence trip takes us to the Luberon and Alpilles massifs.   

And there will also be a new trip - Spectacular Vercors -  in the foothills of the Alps, discovering the fabulous peaks around the plateau of Vercors. This is a really fascinating region with so much to explore. Soaring limestone cliffs create the vast plateau, known for a hugely important Resistance movement during World War 2. Charming villages nestle in secret valleys and provide wonderful bases for our hikes. 

Finally, the Alps still make my heart sing, so we'll have a Southern Summits week, this time in the Ecrins region, based out of Briançon. Again this is a new itinerary. , and we'll be able to choose from a wealth of day hikes which will enable us to discover all the different facets of this the most southerly glaciated massif of the French Alps.And one of my all time favourites, the Southern Summits Ubaye based in the fabulous small town of Barcelonnette right in the heart of some of the best most interesting and most fascinating Alps EVER!! 

So, as I said at the start of this post, all my trips have a few bookings.....loyal regulars who signed up immediately they saw the new venues. I love working with these folks.....but we need more. 

I don't know how this year will go. I am really enthusiastic and the motivation is high to get all the trips full...but the world seems to have changed post Covid: it seems that one-person guiding businesses like mine are now dinosaurs, to be visible you need to be present on the big platforms of the large agencies. 

How does Trekking in the Alps and Provence gain visibility? 

No-one seems to read the emails I send out regarding trips; the hotels are clamouring for confirmation of rooms when I don't yet know how many people are coming; since I know only a handful of people will even see this blog post I don't mind telling you I am seriously questioning how this is going to pan out. I feel ashamed to say that I can't fill my trips...I know the product is really good, but my PR sucks. 

So does anyone out there want to help me? 

I am still on that trail I talked about at the start of this post, I am rounding the bend, seeing where the future takes me.....but if it's nowhere good, or too vague and disorientating, then for my own sanity I will probably have to choose a different route in the future. 

We'll see...I really want this to be a success but only my clients can save me now

  If you're still reading then why not join me this year in the continued adventures of Trekking in the Alps and Provence and help me to move through this time of uncertainty to regain a clear vision of the way forward.