How to Be a Mountain Climber Guide

It seems like such a romantic notion; become a mountain guide and get paid to take clients up the world's major summits and peaks. Erase that romantic notion from your mind and get ready to settle into years of hard work, training, apprenticeships and high risk because mountain guiding is one of the hardest, yet most rewarding careers to choose. Mountain guiding is typically done by getting needed certifications and accreditations, maintaining the credentials and apprenticing with an outfitter or experienced guide.

Instructions

    • 1

      Take wilderness medical courses that specialize in altitude and cold weather climates. For entry-level certifications look at Wilderness First Responder (known as the "Woofer" in the industry) classes. As you gain experience and take on more hard-core work by getting your WEMT -- Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician -- certification.

    • 2

      Enroll in a mountain guide program and training curriculum. Decide if you wish to specialize in the United States, Canada or International. For U.S. guiding, get your American Mountain Guide Association rating. Use the Canadian certification to supplement and open up the possibility of Canadian peaks. Enroll in the International Federation of Mountain Guides programs -- the most comprehensive and intense certification in the mountain guiding world -- for opportunities for European and Asian peaks.

    • 3

      Get hired on as an assistant, apprentice or "sherpa" guide. This is not glamorous. You are expected to haul the heavy gear, set ropes and boot tracks, cook, clean, and be the camp gopher. Prepare to work harder than you thought for your first two to three seasons, for very little financial reward.

    • 4

      Maintain the certifications and keep them current as they expire or the curricula change. This is a key component to guiding. Stay current and relevant. In many ways, the mountain guiding world is much like Hollywood; you are only as good as your last job.

    • 5

      Move up the guiding "food chain". After 2 or 3 years of apprenticing, request minor peaks as lead guide. Begin to build your reputation in the guiding world. Keep the ego in check and work hard.