Motivated by a shared love of moving light and fast through the mountains, Adam and Nikos began adventuring together in 2019.
They quickly discovered a shared approach to trail running, ski mountaineering, and alpine climbing. When they met as next-door neighbours on 3rd Street in Canmore, the onset of the pandemic shifted their focus to the peaks and valleys just beyond their doorsteps.
Days spent studying maps and trip reports turned into a fascination with the seemingly endless network of trails that connect the Front Ranges of the Canadian Rockies. Even as millions of visitors pass through the area each year, it is still possible to find solitude and discovery between the known.
In 2026, this shared passion led to the founding of Front Ranges. It’s a way for Nikos and Adam to share their love of the mountains through guided running and hiking adventures. Through storytelling, photography, and partnerships with like-minded individuals and organizations, they aim to help others connect deeply with nature and experience the Rockies in a meaningful, human way.
Built by a community of runners and adventurers.
It was very apparent in the early days of developing Front Ranges Running that we needed to lean into the community of runners all around us. Ours is a community that brings in people from all backgrounds and creates opportunities for everyone to challenge themselves and to feel like their best selves.
Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, runners in the Bow Valley gather for weekly runs at 6 PM. On Tuesdays, Canmore Trail Culture rallies around a shared love of coffee and runners self select into different speeds — herbal tea for those looking for a more leisurely pace, full caff for those looking for something with a little more kick. Then on Thursdays, Dirtbag Runners of the Bow Valley do interval work under the guidance of coach Andy Reed.
What these two groups share in common — in addition to a love of running — is a passion for coming together and telling stories, both during and after the run. We gather as a community, together with people who we might not otherwise have the joy of meeting if it weren’t for this common thread.
The amount of expertise that exists within these groups is staggering. If it weren’t for these connections, this business would never have come to be. Among these runners are coaches, lawyers, bus drivers, farmers, guides, nutritionists, doctors, teachers, photographers, and marketing experts. We seek to bring in these different perspectives and to make connections when we see them. It isn’t our goal to fill every niche within the running and hiking world, but rather to elevate the experience of everyone in the space.
If you see an opportunity for collaboration with Front Ranges, please reach out. We look forward to running together!
Meet Our Team
Adam Mertens | Founder + Lead Guide
Adam is a Canmore-based hiking guide, teacher, and mountain athlete. A lifelong runner, his passion for trail running truly took shape after moving to the Bow Valley in 2017. He quickly discovered that running offered one of the most rewarding ways to experience the grandeur of the Rockies. In a matter of a few hours, it allowed him to reach peaks and see places that would normally take entire days.
Since making the move to Canmore, Adam has found his greatest joy in sharing experiences in the mountains with others. The vibrant local running community continues to inspire him through stories, motivations, and the friendships that it fosters. Guiding people’s first experiences in the Rockies with The Howl Experience, Outward Bound Canada, and SkiUphill has been one of the most meaningful parts of his work.
Adam has been an ACMG Hiking Guide since 2018. He is also a certified Elementary Teacher and ambassador with Arc’teryx Alberta, combining education, mentorship, and adventure in all that he does.
Contributors
Nikos Schwelm | Fast Light Photography
Nikos is a professional photographer, currently based out of Canmore, AB, on the edge of the Canadian Rockies. He thrives on moving quickly through the mountains with a camera, capturing authentic stories showcasing his friends and fellow mountain athletes. The perfect day would start with waking up well before dawn, packing up a bag of gear, then heading off on an all-day exploration with a few good friends, capturing candid shots as we go.
Nikos has found his life-long passion in the world of mountain sports photography. Trail running, Ski-touring, Mountaineering, and Backpacking have all captured the attention of his lens. He especially loves to explore the boundaries between various mountain sports, and tell the stories of those athletes who choose to find their own ways through the mountains, blurring the lines between those traditional mountain activities.
Nikos's approach to photography is taken directly from the activities that he loves to capture. Less is more. Speed is safety. Plan obsessively, adjust when necessary. Enjoy every moment. His photos are featured throughout our website.
Andrew Cotterell | Jelly Legs Coaching
Andrew is a trail, road and ultra runner based in Canmore. Equally at home on wild, remote trails or competitive road races, he finds joy in everything from 5K road races to multi-day wilderness thru-hikes. Beyond running, he’s also an avid cyclist, hiker, and skier, embracing all the ways to move through the mountains and develop ‘jelly legs.’
In 2021, Andrew set the supported Fastest Known Time on the Great Divide Trail, covering more than 1200 km from Kakwa Lake to the US border in just 20 days and 7 hours. The effort reflected his deep connection to the landscape, his love of endurance challenges, and his curiosity about what’s possible through dedication, preparation, and grit.
As a coach, Andrew combines the art and science of endurance performance. Drawing on principles of exercise physiology and sports psychology, his approach emphasizes balance, consistency, and the mental aspects of training just as much as physical fitness.
Contact us
Interested in exploring the Rockies with us or collaborating on a project? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!