James McKenzie-McHarg
You never regret a swim, especially after a tour
James brings a sun-on-your-face kind of energy to ski touring—no matter what the forecast says. Based between Australia’s Bogong High Plains and Norway’s Lyngen, he’s the guy who’ll wake up to flat, cloudy weather, still pull on every layer, and start moving… because sometimes the sky opens exactly when you need it to, revealing the peak and lighting up the whole route. He loves the classic stuff: open bowls, high ridgelines, and deep powder days where you can let the skis run and the smiles get bigger with every turn.
What really defines James, though, is the vibe he creates around the tour. He’s relentlessly excited on the way up, insists on “yummy snacks” as essential safety and morale equipment, and believes good food is part of the adventure, no dehydrated nonsense if you can help it. His mountain mantra is simple and perfectly him: take the extra snack; any extra food is just training. He’s also learned to respect the small details that matter when things get real, like a crampon coming loose at the worst possible moment, or losing a pole basket in the snow and needing a backup plan. And when the day is done, don’t be surprised if he’s the first one suggesting a cold dip… followed by a cold beer with the crew.
Get to know James McKenzie-McHarg
Go-to snack in your pack?
Peanut butter
An 'oh no' moment you learned the most from?
Crampon coming loose on a ski boot across the top of a cliff
One tip for great days?
Yummy snacks!
Guilty-pleasure song – giving you energy while skinning?
Innerbloom - Rufus du sol
Your 'superpower' in the mountains?
Unwavering excitement on the way up
Your perfect day recipe
Wake up to unforeseen cloudy weather, still slap on all the gear and get started only for it to clear at the perfect time with an awesome view of the peak the whole way up. Summiting and then having lunch on the way down, sitting on our skis while everybody takes turns on the poorly constructed kicker. Then it’s a clean ride back to the car in the arvo and everyone heads to the pub.
Your mountain mantra
Take that extra snack, any unnecessary food is just extra training.
How do you choose partners
First of all they have to be trustworthy extremely enthusiastic no matter their experience, and love putting a bit of effort into the cooking on the trip, no dehydrated nonsense. It’s part of the fun!
Post ski ritual
Cold dip and then a cold brewski
Coffee, tea or cocoa on tour?
Cocoa
Biggest gear fail (and lesson)?
Ski pole basket going missing in the snow. Always have another method to make a basket
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