ALPINR 2026 World Tour – Setting a World Record with Purpose

As a friend of our beloved organizations, The Backpacker & Alpinr Mountain Travel, we have always been excited to share our spirit of adventure and passion for the outdoors with you. We believe that the world feels bigger, brighter, and more human when you explore it outdoors.  

Today that spirit continues to live on.  I am pleased to announce the 2026 Alpinr World Tour – a one of a kind journey around the world that has taken years of imagination, planning and resources to become a reality.  On January 1, 2026 I will be stepping onto the Mt Yotei Volcano in Japan as I begin my trek to ski on the world’s 7 continents (including Oceania) in under 300 days, setting the World Record for the shortest amount of time for a recreational skier to do so.

I absolutely love the outdoors, and one of my favorite ways to share with friends and family is from the top of a snow-capped mountain.  My goal of the World Tour is about much more than our organizations or skiing itself. In an era of screentime and demanding schedules, and with participation in outdoor recreation declining, I am setting out to remind myself – and others – what’s still out there to enjoy, explore, and protect on this Earth. 

We will be highlighting each destination in an 8 episode video series that celebrates the people, landscapes, food, and cultures that define the mountains we love. Episodes 1-4, the Northern Hemisphere, will launch in Spring 2026 on our YouTube channel @backpackeroutdoors1974.  Episodes 5-8, the Southern Hemisphere, will launch in the Fall of 2026.  Not only will we visit some of the most iconic, worldly ski destinations in areas like Japan and Austria, but we will also take you via mule to climb the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco and by ship to ski and hike with the penguins of Antarctica. 

I would appreciate your support for me and my journey to share the world by following the tour on Instagram @backpackeroutdoors and @alpinrmtntravel, and join us on YouTube this spring when our series begins.  

All the while, I hope you go outdoors and take someone with you.  Have fun & share the world!  

Warm regards,

Michael Mathews

Chief Adventure Officer

Alpinr Mountain Travel | The Backpacker