Going Pro with Adventure Sports - Guiding

The Brass Ring of the Backcountry Experience

Feb 6, 2009 David Black

Guides get respect, work in exotic locations, and are paid to do what clients pay dearly to experience. It's the pinnacle of adventure professionalism.

Any serious adventure sportsperson has considered becoming a guide at some point in their lifetime. In many cultures and areas of the Western World, guiding is a highly respected profession. Guides are trusted by their clients to provide an enjoyable and safe experience that gives them both a challenge and an ego boost. This is a lot to give, and it requires some serious skills and experience and an ability to see things from the client's point of view.

Guide Qualifications

There is absolutely no substitute for long-term experience. A competent guide always expects the unexpected and knows how to handle emergencies. Responsible guides are concerned with continually updating and expanding their knowledge and skills. Many guides go without any type of certification, and in the U.S. there is little government oversight of guide standards or certification. As a result the guiding industry itself has promoted standardized guide certification or outfitter accreditation in many backcountry sports.

Depending on the sport, certification is a credential that can take years of coursework, exams, and apprenticing. Some good examples are the certification programs of the American Mountain Guides Association and the American Canyoneering Association. In some sports, guides must make application, submit a resume, and pass State exams before they can handle clients without supervision. This is especially true in river sports. These credentials are often referred to as a guide's, pilot's, or captain's license.

Here are some important points about guiding:

There's a huge difference between a guide and an instructor. Guiding requires much more experience than instructing. Even so...
A guide is also an instructor, and must be able to communicate effectively in simple language in order to maintain safety and control. Guides cannot afford to lose respect by being egotistical and cocky (a real problem with some climbing guides).
Critical guide skills include a detailed knowledge of advanced emergency first aid, evacuation techniques, and technical and non-technical rescue.
"Pirate guiding" (guiding without permits and insurance) is a common practice that can get a guide into serious trouble. It steals clients away from other guides who work legally. Don't do it.
Guide positions are highly prized and there's a lot of competition, and outfitters do not pay well because of it. A large percentage of a guide's income comes from tips.
Pleasant, knowledgeable, and friendly guides get good tips and repeat customers. A smart guide avoids working for an outfitter that does not actively promote tipping with clients.

Instructing

Guides are also instructors, but instructors are not necessarily guides. In fact, it takes comparably little experience to become an entry-level instructor. The country's commercial climbing walls and gyms are teaming with belay slaves that call themselves instructors. It's easy to get started as a an instructor by working a wall or gym, or by hooking up with youth programs recreation programs. The goal should be to graduate to teaching genuine climbing courses with reputable outfitters.

Training or certification programs for instructors are available from a number of providers, including the Professional Climbing Instructors Association and the AMGA.

Starting a Guide Service

Starting a guide service is a hard row to hoe. Besides finding an office and getting business licenses, the process includes complicated and lengthy permit applications, an excruciating search for affordable insurance, gear purchases, expenditures for promotion, the search for a qualified staff, and the issue of paying for the scrutiny of accreditation.

The Influence of Guides and Instructors

Because of the respect they command, guides and instructors have a tremendous influence on the current ethics and standards of their sports. Clients will often copy and espouse the attitude and demeanor of their guide or instructor. Guides who trash the backcountry or use unsafe practices do damage that snowballs in its effect. It's a serious responsibility.

Guiding Opens Doors

A well-established guide is often sought for other work. Most truly expert guides eventually will be involved in other forms of pro sports work, particularly specialty crewing and expert witnessing. Those who work their trade in the right way can see the world and ply their sport on someone else's dime.

The copyright of the article Going Pro with Adventure Sports - Guiding in Rock Climbing is owned by David Black. Permission to republish Going Pro with Adventure Sports - Guiding in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.