Ruedi Beglinger
Selkirk Mountain Experience
On Colltex Swiss Ski Skins
Ruedi grew up in Linthal, Switzerland. His father was a police officer and well-known avalanche dog master in the Swiss Alps. When Ruedi was about 16 years old (around 1970), his father was given a pair of adhesive Colltex (then called Tödi Sport) skins to use during rescues. He was given these by a friend of his, who was then the owner of Tödi Sport.
At the next avalanche accident, Ruedi’s father walked several hours to the site. To ensure that his German Shepherd, Janko, didn’t get tired, he put his dog on top of his pack and carried him to the site, wearing the Colltex skins on his skis. But he didn’t fully trust the new adhesive technology yet—so he also carried an old pair of skins with him. He didn’t end up having to use them, because the Colltex skins worked so well, even with the extra weight of the dog. After that, he was sold.
Ruedi has since had a long history of using Colltex skins. When he was 22 years old, he became an Internationally Certified Mountain Guide (IFMGA) and proceeded to ski all over the world (Ruedi’s resume).
In 1980 he came to Canada to guide and fell in love with the serene, remote, and untouched Selkirk Mountains—especially compared to the busy, developed Alps. At the time, ski touring was not a well-known sport in North America, nor did people traditionally go into the mountains with guides like in Switzerland. After exploring the Selkirks by tent, he had a vision for a small chalet that would allow him to show guests these remote mountains in comfort. Using maps, he found the Durrand Glacier area and built the original Durrand Glacier Chalet in 1985, founding Selkirk Mountain Experience (SME).
Since then, he married Nicoline and had two kids—Charlotte and Florina—who were raised in the mountains. He also built two more chalets in the area and guided guests on ski trips and expeditions in Alaska, Canada, and the Alps. SME became a world-renowned ski adventure company, listed three times by National Geographic Adventure as a “Best Adventure Travel Company on Earth.”
Throughout these years, Ruedi skied on Colltex skins. With 59 years on skis, he feels that Colltex, by far, makes the highest quality skins. He refers to them as the “Rolex of skins.” SME guides will only use Colltex and recommend them highly to all their guests.
In His Own Words
I grew up in a mountain village, in the Kanton of Glarus, in the Swiss Alps, in a family where mountaineering and skiing is just “what you do.” On weekends and during summer holidays, my family packed the backpacks with food and clothing and off we went—the destination: a small hut in the high mountains.
It was natural for me to spend time in the mountains—ski racing, ski touring, hiking, or climbing. It took me a few years to realize how lucky I was, growing up in the mountains and having parents who showed me what an amazing life the mountains give us—”we just have to recognize it.”
At 15, I realized that steeper and more challenging mountains meant a lot to me. Hard alpine rock routes and mixed alpine faces became my playground. I was 22 years of age when I received the “Bergführerpatent” (Mountain Guide Certification) by the Swiss and International Mountain Guide Association. My dreams became reality: guiding people on great alpine routes and amazing ski tours—and getting paid. How much better can life really be?
In 1980, I immigrated to Canada and promoted European-style ski mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies and Northern Selkirk Mountains—something that was, at the time, almost unknown in North America. It was a tough journey and required educating skiers about this style of guiding. In 1985, I founded Selkirk Mountain Experience and built the Durrand Glacier Chalet, a remote alpine lodge in the heart of the Selkirks. Finally, by the late ’80s, it all paid off—European-style ski mountaineering was embraced in Canada.
I can definitely say I have the best life: living with my wife Nicoline and our daughters at the remote Durrand Glacier Chalet, guiding guests through endless powder and long alpine routes—always in places where it’s just me and my guests. When the ski season ends in Canada, I fly to the Alps to guide the Haute Route, Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, and other legendary peaks with deep mountain culture.
My biggest achievement? Being able to share this deep passion for the mountains with my guests. It’s not about extreme descents, first ascents, or the many expeditions—those are simply the life I live. What matters most is creating unforgettable experiences for those I guide.
Live like every day is the best day.
— Ruedi Beglinger, December 2019
Hiking