Chamonix Skier's Epic Bike Journey to Norway Proves You Don't Need to Wait for Winter

Bikepacking from Chamonix to Norway sounds ambitious. Doing it to chase powder during a slow snow season? That's next-level commitment. Wilder North, from Chamonix-based outdoor brand Simond, documents exactly this journey. A 2,000-mile, human-powered adventure that blends backcountry skiing with long-distance cycling. As climate change makes winter conditions increasingly unpredictable in the Alps, the film offers an inspiring alternative: when the snow doesn't come to you, go to the snow. It's a story about adaptation, determination, and making the absolute most of winter, no matter what the forecast says.

As someone who is seriously looking forward to the ski season but lamenting the end of riding season, this video has me seriously considering loading up the bike with my skis and kit for another crack at an early-season mission. It also has me asking myself, "Why does one sport need to end as the other begins, and why not blend the two into an adventure?"

With the snow coming pretty late this year, many of us who partake in winter snow sports are itching to get turns in, but Jean Rouaux took matters into his own hands, riding from Chamonix to Norway in pursuit of winter, giving a new meaning to earning turns.

“The weather isn’t giving us the best skiing conditions, that’s for sure. That’s the reality when you choose to travel by bike, it’s not as simple as heading straight to a resort,” says Rouaux about the journey. “This is a slower journey, where every turn is earned and every moment on the mountain has to be fought for. It’s a different kind of adventure.” But after truly committing and arriving in the Arctic Circle, the skis hit the snow, and the mission was accomplished.

It wasn’t without issues, though, and adding a bike with its various mechanical problems meant Jean and his friend and filmer Hugo needed to remain resilient and ready for anything as they travelled across the terrain in search of good snow. 

"After skiing my first lines in Norway, I know they weren’t perfect, but what a bliss to win those curves through all my efforts, through every kilometer I’ve covered,” reflects Rouauax, “That’s a true gift. Feeling the snow beneath my skis, knowing I’ve worked hard to get there."

The journey is more than just the skiing. It’s about getting there under your own power, earning the turns, and all the type 2 fun throughout the trip. It’s not always easy, but it's always worth it.