About Us
Access-Adventure.net is based on the expertise and enthusiasm of company founder, Mark Dodwell. Mark worked within sport for many years and has obtained qualifications in ski-ing, mountain leading and mountain biking. He also works seasonally as a ski instructor in the Swiss Alps and as a trek guide for several adventure travel companies.
His belief for these activities has seen him ride a bike from Tibet to Nepal via Everest Base Camp, across Northern Spain on the Pilgrims Trail to Santiago as well as trekking extensively in most of the high mountain ranges of the world. His particular ski interest is in the more remote off-piste ski areas of the Alps. It is this fondness for these types of activities that is the core of Access-Adventure.net.
Each opportunity presented in the TRIPS section comes from many years of experience working with in-country partners whether in the Alps, Himalayas, Atlas or Andes. Company founder, Mark Dodwell has used his years of experience to formulate a series of well worked packages, using local guides and local information to provide some wonderful, value for money opportunities to travel and exercise worldwide.
The ski/snowboarding trips are either in the French Alps working with the UCPA or in the Swiss Alps working with The Ski Company. The treks to the Nepalese Himalayas are with Pradip Rai and his team of Sherpas (and yaks) and similarly in the Moroccan Atlas with Mohamed Mamadou and his Muleteers.On the Alpine treks such as the Tour of Mont Blanc and the Haute Route we carry our own kit or have more conventional support and we use local high Mountain Guides as required. The mountain biking, due to launch in summer 2010, will be based in the Alps and again we will work with local guides and support crew.
Please contact us at info@access-adventure.net or 07786 049223 for any proposals you may have.
If you havemore questions, maybe our FAQs page may help. To see the trips we currently have scheduled, please view the Trips page.
PARTNERS
U.C.P.A
The Union of Plein Activities (UCPA) is a French government sponsored organisation dating back a hundred years and is registered as a non-profit making organisation under French law.
Their 3 key focuses are:
- To make open air sports accessible to as large a group of young people as possible
- To keep the price as low as possible
- To encourage people to fulfil themselves and make friends through sport
As a result U.C.P.A accommodation is not classified as "hotel", although the U.C.P.A centre in Les Lindars, Flaine (often used by Access-Adventure) is an old hotel. The centres are run as sports co-operatives, which simply means self help measures are used in the form of buffet style food service, where one clears the table after use, a bar voucher system where glasses are returned to the bar after use and the tidying of rooms on departure day. The centres also aim to provide a series of evening activities, including stretch classes, bar games, snowshoe walks, discos and the "spectacular show".
All U.C.P.A trips run from Sunday morning to Saturday afternoon (14.00hr), but because of the travel generally inolved for Access-Adventure.net clients, we have a concession that allows us an extra night;s accommodation and evening meal, i.e. Saturday 18.00hr to the following Sunday 14.00hr.
The U.C.P.A is an all inclusive package which includes, equipment hire, 7 day lift pass, full board accommodation and ski / snowboard instructor option. A personal deposit is requried for the U.C.P.A centre which is either your passport or 100 Euros (fully redeemable at the end of the week on return of your equipment and lift pass).
The pattern of the week is free ski/board on the Sunday, a half day midweek and the following Saturday. There is a beginners lesson on the Sunday at 14.00. The options are:
1) Ski Passion - 4.5 days (23hours) with a ski instructor
2) Ski Evolution - half days (12 hours) with a Ski instructor mornings/afternoon alternating
3) Ski Hors Piste Expert level only- 4.5 days (23 hours) with an Off Piste Guide
4) Snowboard (surf) passion - 4.5 days (23 hours) with an instructor
5) Snowboard Evolution - half days (12 hours) with Snowboard Instructor mornings/afternoon alternating
6) Snowboard Hors-Piste Expert level only - 4.5 days (23 hours) with an Off-Piste Guide (check availability)
7) Autonome –Free ski/board.
The UCPA family week is a relatively new departure and only has the Ski Evolution option although of course you can choose to free ski. The family ski week offers a full package except to under 7’s where youngsters are welcome, but we have to make separate arrangements for their ski-ing needs. Non skiers are also welcomed on this package for example friends or grandparents.
PLEASE REMEMBER THE UCPA IS FRENCH ORGANISATION WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE: FOOD, SKI-ING and AMBIENCE.
