Darren Farley grew up cross-country ski racing before getting into backcountry skiing. He spends his summers helping run the Nordic ski facilities at the Haig Glacier. In the winter he guides for various ski lodges. In between ski trips he has found time for many excursions to the Himalaya and Andes. In his travels he has spent several weeks following Tibetan pilgrims, has been an extra in a Bollywood film and was once held up at knifepoint by a gang of little kids.