Zom Connection: Helping the Mountain Communities of Pakistan

You’ve probably come across his inspiring posts on Whympr, especially if you're a snowboarder or a fan of steep slopes. Julien Herry, also known as Pica, is a high mountain guide, snowboarder/alpinist, and, of course, a Whympr ambassador. Today, we’ve chosen to tell you about his association, Zom Connection.

The Karakoram Range, Between China and Pakistan

Before diving into the details of the association, a brief geographical overview is necessary to understand Julien's approach. Zom Connection focuses on helping the mountain communities of Pakistan, particularly those living in the vast Karakoram mountain range, which extends beyond Pakistan’s borders.

Pakistan is home to three major mountain ranges: the Himalayas (with Nanga Parbat), the Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush. The Karakoram is located between Pakistan, China, and India, with numerous peaks over 8,000 meters, such as Broad Peak, the Gasherbrums, and K2, the highest point of the range and the second-highest mountain in the world. The famous Karakoram Highway, which connects China and Pakistan, passes through these mountains, crossing passes over 4,000 meters high. From Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, this route provides access to remote areas. Beyond its importance for oil and mineral trade, it’s also the primary route for climbers heading to the mountain valleys of the Karakoram.

While 8,000-meter peaks are of great interest to tourists, more remote mountain areas have very limited access to outdoor sports. For the Pakistani people, going into the mountains is not a leisure activity. However, with recent access to the internet, their perception of their surroundings has changed. The Madaklasht Valley in the Chitral region (Hindu Kush), where Pica visited, is sparsely populated but does have a few Pakistani skiers. This area is familiar with skiing thanks to the British Army’s occupation in the 1920s, which introduced wooden skis to the locals. Today, Pakistan has just two chairlifts, one of which is owned by the military.

"Supporting the Development of Mountain Sports in Northern Pakistan"

This is the goal of Zom Connection, founded by Julien "Pica" Herry. While in the Alps, it’s natural to enjoy the mountains as a playground, it’s not the same for Pakistanis. The northern part of Pakistan, in the Karakoram, boasts many 8,000-meter peaks, often the stage for memorable climbs like Broad Peak and Gasherbrum. These names evoke mountain mythology, yet despite their proximity, these mountains remain largely inaccessible to the people living at their feet.

Zom Connection aims to bring together mountain professionals to share knowledge and resources, allowing Pakistanis to enjoy their environment as well. Through donations and the transportation of mountain equipment to villages, as well as the sharing of technical knowledge, the association helps these communities reclaim their mountains.

Founded by Pica in 2019, the first shipment of equipment took place in 2020, followed by a second in 2021. The Zom team also traveled to teach skiing, snowboarding, and mountain safety. In 2021, the team built a climbing site in Karimabad, the largest town in the Hunza Valley in the Karakoram. In 2022, another trip delivered more equipment, as well as a new skate ramp and an indoor climbing wall.

The association’s mission revolves around six key steps: recycling, storing, shipping, gathering, training, and communicating. On-the-ground efforts teach Pakistanis mountain sports, but also how to teach them in turn. Future goals include bringing Pakistani skiers to Chamonix to refine their skills and learn how to teach. Partnerships with ENSA (France's National School of Skiing and Mountaineering) and La Chamoniarde (mountain safety and rescue organization) are in the works. Zom Connection also aims to raise environmental awareness among local populations, addressing major tasks such as water pollution cleanup, plastic waste management, and forest protection at the foot of the world's largest glaciers.

Pica, guide and founder of Zom Connection.

Julien Herry, known as Pica, is the founder of Zom Connection and a mountain guide with the Chamonix Guide Company. Originally from Chamonix, Julien was an early prodigy in mountaineering. He climbed Mont Blanc with his father from Les Houches at the age of 12 and scaled the Directe Américaine on the Drus at 15. Today, this seasoned alpinist has become one of the best steep-slope snowboarders. With two ice axes in hand, his smooth technique makes it hard to tell if he's goofy or regular, even on the steepest slopes.

Julien first discovered Pakistan in 2007 as a climber, returning later to explore the mountains on a snowboard. The beauty and majesty of the Karakoram mountains captivated him, and he started spending more time there, establishing many contacts with the people in these remote valleys. After a snowboarding accident in the Hunza Valley in Pakistan, while awaiting repatriation in Islamabad, he had the chance to meet the locals. This time with them revealed how limited their access to skiing was, and even more so to snowboarding.

Two years later, Julien decided to share his knowledge and equipment to help the local mountain communities in Pakistan. He partnered with eight skilled individuals to support his project: Jean Remi Ceron (cameraman), Arthur Ghilini (photographer and ski/snowboard instructor), Victor Lanel (circular economy expert), Paul Millet (ski/snowboard instructor), Gilles Herry (ski/snowboard instructor), Mathieu Maynadier (mountain guide), Helias Millerioux (mountain guide), and Victor Daviet (pro snowboarder).

During their first trip to deliver equipment, the French team witnessed not only the locals' eagerness to learn and improve but also that some Pakistani riders had already explored many routes. However, it remains difficult to imagine Pakistan developing ski lifts, as they still have a long way to go in this area. In the meantime, each team member contributed their knowledge and expertise to help the Pakistanis embrace their mountains and begin to make a living from them.

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How You Can Help

If you’re also keen to help Pakistani communities enjoy their mountains, you don’t need to be a guide or steep-slope skier. The Zom Connection website offers three ways to participate in the project. If you have old mountain gear lying around, you can donate it to the association. There’s a detailed list on the website of all the equipment that can help Pakistanis, from skis to simple carabiners and quickdraws. If you don’t have any equipment to spare, you can contribute through crowdfunding to help finance the shipment of gear to Pakistan. You can also become a partner in the project or an ambassador.

Now you know a bit more about Pakistan’s mountains and how to help local communities reclaim and benefit from their environment. While the mountains are seen as a tourist attraction and playground in the Alps, this perception is not universal. The understanding and development of nature vary across the world, and it’s important to ensure that local populations benefit from their natural surroundings, not just tourists. At Whympr, we believe that Zom Connection is an incredible project that we fully support.

So, if you have some old “rock skis” gathering dust in the attic, you know what to do with them! Don’t forget to follow Pica’s account on Whympr to keep up with his adventures in Chamonix or elsewhere.