Mike Arnold
ALPINE CLIMBER
Biography
Of the 138 IFMGA Mountain Guides in the U.S., 32-year-old American ex-pat Mike Arnold is among the youngest. Only five years after his first ski guide course, the Northern Maine native passed all three exams (rock, ski, alpine) within seven months, and all on the first try. In 2014, at the age of 27, he became the 96th American to earn his IFMGA credential.
As a former ski racer, Mike spent his formative mountain years in Colorado, skiing rarely skied lines and first repeats around the state, as well as guiding in Aspen, Alaska and Europe. His 20’s were filled with more than a dozen expeditions to Alaska, Peru and Argentina and six years skiing and climbing in Canada and the Alps and skiing steep descents in Grivola, the Argentière basin, Miage and off the Aiguille Du Mid.
Mike lives in Aosta, Italy with his fiancé.
Top 17 career highlights
ChugimaGo W-SW Ridge First Ascent (6,258m), Nepal, 2017
First Descent SE Couloir Mount Francis, Alska Range 1,000m 2019
First Descent Durrenhorn 4,035m 700m 2023
First Known Decsentt Dent D'Herenes, 4,256m Aosta Valley
First Desent Punta Patri 3,600m 800m, Conge IT 2020
First Repetition W Face Integral Chardonnet, 2017
Desent of Aiguille Du Plan North Face 2019
First Skier Decsent Col Mont Broullard, Miage 1000m 2021
Rare Descent NE Face of Grivola 3, 990m Aosta Valley, 2019
2x Nemjung Expedition to Ski West Face 7,126m (Skied from 6,500) 2019-2023
Baruntse (7,100m) Ski descent after David G Paraglided off 2024. Dhaulagiri Attempt 2022.
Nanga Parbat Attempt (6,300m)
Likley to be the first skier on the Rupal Side, Shelll Route (What a first Trun) 2024
UIAGM Mountain Guide (Guided in Africa, Europe, North and South America as well as Asia)
12 Expeditions to the Alaska Range which involved Summits of Denali, first ski descents and numerous other suffer fests being tested in the great range.
Skialper Skier Highlight Atrical/Interview Dec 2024
A Skier Way (Film outlining my life)
Quick Facts
HOMETOWN
Madawaska, Maine
HOMEBASE
Val d'Aosta, Italy
BIGGEST DREAM
The mountains are a big part of me and my family's life. I hope to continue to enjoy and experience what they have to offer until
HOW DO I FOCUS
Aligning and finding balance in all aspects of my life allows me to focus and prioritise.
BEST ADVICE
You can't please everyone, just do you and have a tight community who is always there, near or far!
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Looking back into history and seeing the evolution and whats possible for us and the future generation.
WORDS TO LIVE BY
Be Patient
FAVOURITE OTHER FITNESS EXCERCISE
Running, Golf
I DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT MY...
wihtout my knowledge of where the next pastry and coffee are.
