The Adventurous Spirit: Alex Parsons

The Adventurous Spirit is a content series by Archie Rose Distilling Co. and Arc'teryx, celebrating bold minds and curious hearts — those who push boundaries, embrace the unknown, and carve their own path.

In this edition, we meet Alex Parsons, a snowboarder and mountain safety expert whose world is all about risk, reward and the wild outdoors.

Image Credit: Alex Parsons

Alex, can you paint a picture of where you spend most of your time — what does a day in your world look like?

Nearly every day, I am surrounded by snow and ice. The landscapes I work and play in are beautiful - windy summits, rocky crags and icy mornings. I either guide or work in snow media. My days can be either walking in the alpine, in a moonscape of snow out in Australia's highest mountains with great people, or the fast paced ski and snowboard life of powder days and high speed chairlifts in a ski resort.

Your world sounds like it’s packed with adventure — how did your journey lead you here?

I have an insatiable love of adventure, exploration and wild places. I found snowy mountains ignited this love more than any other environment so I chased certificates in snowboard instruction first, then alpine guiding and avalanche safety. I've done courses in Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Australia, and am still learning about these wild and unpredictable environments. I also studied journalism at university, so I wanted to write about all these adventures and now share them via photos and videos too.

Image Credit: Ethan Helferty

Was there a moment when you realised this wasn’t just a passion — it was your path?

There was an exact moment on my first ever backcountry tour in Japan back in 2015, where the powder was deep among the trees, and our day finished with gliding over snow covered rice paddies as the sun set. I came to a stop on my snowboard and had a sudden realisation — I'm going to do this for the rest of my life.

What are your drivers — curiosity, challenge, or something else entirely?

Primarily, I'm driven by a love of people and places. I fall in love with places and I want to share them with people. I also want to protect them, so I leverage my time in the mountains to talk to people about protecting the environment, sustainability and conservation. When it comes to adventures outside of work, that's where I find an intense drive to go further and harder, to physically push myself in the mountains and to challenge mental limitations.

Do you think your upbringing or childhood experiences helped shape your adventurous spirit? Was there a moment that really forged it?

I grew up travelling a lot as my father worked for Japan Airlines. We lived in Hawaii for a few years, visited him in Japan a lot, and generally jet-setted around. Back in Australia, I spent a lot of time exploring the bush by myself. I've always been a little restless, prone to wandering and not afraid to explore on my own. Come to think of it, I'm still known for my solo adventures - multi-day hikes or solo bivy trips, sleeping on the snow!

How does your personality show up when you're in unpredictable terrain — calm, calculating, gutsy?

Sometimes I surprise myself at how light-hearted I can be in tricky terrain. I'm often cracking a joke and having a laugh with my friends, but that's when I'm well within my limits in situations like sweating my way up a peak, heli skiing, snow camping or crampon-ing up the side of an active volcano. But I am also known for getting very serious, very quickly. Then the other side of my personality shows up, which is analytical and intense. When things feel dangerous, it's time to switch on and make the best decisions possible. Coming home safe with your team is always the goal and more adventures await!

What’s your go-to cocktail after a day on the slopes?

I'm a huge fan of a vesper strained over ice and with a twist of orange. Ice cold, a touch of sweetness and a bit intense - kind of sums me up!

Image Credit: Aedan Odonnell