Charles Andrews

Hi! I’m Charlie and the mind behind Mountain Movement. I’m a UIMLA-certified International Mountain Leader, DIMB Mountain Bike guide and lover of all things mountain related. Moving to the Ausrian East Tyrol in 2020 with my partner Caroline, we are lucky enough to have adventures accessible from our front door. We are also just a stone’s throw from stunning destinations such as Italian Dolomites and Slovenian Julian Alps.

Growing up in Shrewsbury, England, my exposure to the outdoors and mountains started through the Duke of Edinburgh award and the group of friends who joined me through the scheme. It took us to the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons and of course the Long Mynd – our local hills – to hone skills in navigation, campcraft, decision making, teamwork and an appreciation for the environment.

We found ourselves learning the techniques of climbing so that we could enjoy some of the fantastic scrambling routes Snowdonia has on offer. These skills soon saw us travelling to Switzerland for our first taste of Alpine mountaineering. Learning how to move safely across glaciers, techniques in crevasse rescue and moving together on easy rock routes was a wonderful feeling and a rush that I wanted more of.

Moving to Sheffield in 2009 for a degree in Mechanical Engineering, I had the Peak District on my doorstep. My passion turned to mountain biking and road cycling, exploring the amazing network of roads and trails around the Peak. During university, my debut ski holiday blew my mind – not only how incredible skiing is – but how people can live, work and play in these surroundings.

As my degree came to completion in 2014, I had a plan to take a year out before returning to a career in Engineering. Finding a job as a ski technician in Meribel for a winter, followed by a summer leading hikes in Italian Dolomites, it quickly became apparent that I wasn’t going to return to Engineering anytime soon. I continued this lifestyle for five years, finding myself working across Europe; Sierra Tejeda (Spain), Southern Tuscany (Italy), Vorarlberg (Austria), Hohe Tauern National Park (Austria), but most of all in the Italian Dolomites. During this time I worked my way through the UK Mountain Leader and consequently International Mountain Leader awards in aspiration of turning – what became increasingly clear – this temporary lifestyle choice, into a long term way of life.

I’ve now been guiding trips for over 10 years and find myself enjoying putting new tours together as much as a I do guiding them. Building custom tailored itineraries in an area you know and love is a great feeling and I look forward to creating a special trip for you.

Want to adventure with me? Get in touch today!