Wood, hands, beauty

Didier Simond is the kind of person who changes his blades with the seasons: a ski instructor in winter and a cutler in summer. His workshop, run by this former joiner, is in Chamonix — and it’s in the mountains that he sources part of his material. He discovers a rare species of alpine pine, arolla, which grew 3,000 years ago where the Mer de Glace now lies. By digging through the moraine, he unearths fossilised trunks trapped in the glacier, transforming them into knife handles — knives made from ancient wood, each one truly unique. Didier and his son also work with larch from Vallorcine, walnut from Servoz, and frozen birch from Chamonix. Their trademark: a handle curved like Mont Blanc, engraved with the route of the first ascent of the summit by Jacques Balmat and Dr Paccard in 1786. A powerful gesture — part tribute, part timeless signature.

A striking name, with a hint of vintage charm: think Gavroche cap, woollen shorts or wide corduroy trousers, a jacket and pocket watch over a Norwegian cardigan. Peter Steltzner — the “rabbit on the roof” — is a colourful Californian character who has been crafting wooden skis by hand in Les Praz since 2005. Each pair is handmade in very limited numbers, perfectly combining fine woods with technical fibres. The result? High-performance, elegant skis, designed both for ski touring and freeriding.

Local mountain guides and several legends of extreme skiing have swapped their skis for Rabbit on the Roof prototypes. The reputation grew — and so did the project.
Then came 2016, when the rabbit became a phoenix. A fire tore through his workshop, the Moulin des Artistes, destroying everything — including his entire year’s production of a hundred pairs of skis, all ready for delivery. Everything was lost, except his passion. The valley’s solidarity came alive, and two years later, Peter was back on his feet, machines running once again.

This winter, keep an eye out for Rabbit on the Roof skis — the kind you spot from afar, but can’t decide whether to ride them or hang them on your living room wall.

23, chemin des Dailles – Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

06 64 35 80 93

In December, the valley comes alive with light. From Servoz to Vallorcine, the magic is real, and the Chamonix Christmas Market brings together the finest local creations. You’ll find Le Chamoniard, of course, and other gifted woodcraft artisans: crystal maker Georges Moreira, who designs necklaces combining wood with quartz or fluorite, or Graveurs des Cimes, known for their stunning mountain panoramas engraved on wooden boards.

Gifts that smell of sawdust, snow, and passion — the essence of the valley itself. Here, you always leave with a keepsake and a story to tell.