Certainly the first question that every hiker asks himself: who will I hike with? Who will be my guide in Queyras? Who will accompany me to Crévoux? These legitimate questions invite you to discover me.
I am Nicolas Djerekian [aka Nico or Djé] and I am an athlete, a mountain guide and a former firefighter. Yes, all of that in 1.80 meters. To find out more, join me, follow the markings and let me accompany you on a private path.
My life like a hike
My life does not follow a marked path. Rather, it is drawn on an unpredictable route, offering different itineraries as I go along. Track on the right, path on the left, which path could I have taken? What GPS trace could I have left?
Starting point / My childhood
Originally from Var, very attached to my region, I grew up in Saint Maximin la Sainte Baume. It is in a reassuring and peaceful setting, surrounded by my family that I spent my childhood. As a child, I had many ideas in mind for my future (firefighter, high-level athlete, military). But, already, family hikes, on foot, on Sundays in search of mushrooms were a source of emotion for me. I explored with insatiable curiosity the mountains of the Hautes-Alpes that surrounded me, and vibrated to the rhythm of my steps.
Small detour / Firefighter
In 2000, I hit the road, heading for Marseille. I chose to join the Marseille Marine Fire Brigade (a unit of the French Navy) for its intense pace and the spirit of cohesion and fraternity that reigns there. After 10 years of service, I took a parallel path and became a civilian firefighter.
Being in excellent physical condition is essential in this job. So I do sports, a lot of sports and I enjoy them. Kick boxing at a European professional level, swimming, road cycling, running, but also in my free time, mountaineering, climbing, ski touring, ice climbing. Finally, as you can see, the mountain is never far away.
The ascent / Mid-mountain guide
But, in my mind, the idea of returning to the Embrun region, this region that I love so much, runs too often. So, big change in 2018! I leave this well-trodden path of firefighter. I venture on a side road, steeper, strewn with pitfalls, but which corresponds more to my expectations. I register, in September 2018, for the probationary tests in order to pass my state diploma of mountaineering guide in the middle mountains. In April 2022, I reach the summit and obtain the famous diploma of medium mountain guide. It is then that I definitively leave the rescue environment and settle in Embrun, in the Durance valley, I create NatureXplore.
Arrival point / NatureXplore
Starting your own business is like walking off the beaten track, going along a ledge or walking along a hillside. It can quickly become impressive and a little stressful. In these conditions, it is better to be well equipped and equipped. Fortunately, in my backpack, in addition to my compass, my water bottle and my Gore Tex, I have a range of skills useful for carrying out this excursion: courage, perseverance, good interpersonal skills, composure and a good dose of humor.
I invite you to walk with me through NatureXplore, to discover the magnificent landscapes of the Embrun region, Queyras and the Écrins massif, the Verdon; hiking or snowshoeing; in summer and winter; day and night. To give you a little idea of the magnificent panoramas visited, I invite you to walk toto my photos page.
In my opinion, hiking is synonymous with…
Freedom.
When you walk in nature, when the stones crunch under your shoes and the wind whistles through the treetops, you forget everything. Personally, I leave behind the constraints, the incessant ringing of my phone, my connection that goes off the rails. Hiking embodies this nomadic dimension, this letting go that breathes a breath of fresh air into our existence, a parenthesis outside of time.
Humility.
When you hike in the mountains, when your eyes marvel at these peaks that tickle the sky or get lost in the dizzying voids, you feel infinitely small in the face of these immensities, humble before the power of these colossal giants. How can we not feel this modesty in the face of the grandeur of the nature that surrounds us?
Respect.
The mountain opens its doors to us and lets us discover its fauna, its flora, its forests, its valleys, its silence and its intimacy. Like a discreet guest, we owe it respect.
Mountain walking also invites us to respect ourselves, our own limits, but also to consider others, those who are hiking near you.
Solidarity.
If there is one area where solidarity is clearly expressed, it is the mountain. Faced with those who are struggling, their foreheads sweating and their legs wobbly, the famous "rope team spirit" is manifested and translated into kindness, security, friendship, mutual aid and listening.
It's time to put on your hiking boots, get some height, discover new horizons and share strong human values. Explore the page SUMMEROr WINTERto find the formula that suits you, or leave me a messageto discuss your project.
So, wearing a good pair of (hiking) shoes, I'll see you soon in the mountains near Embrun.
Nico.
"Be amazed, I'll take care of the rest"