What is a mountain guide?
L’Union Internationale des Associations de Guides de Montagne / International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations
The IFMGA/UIAGM was founded in 1965 by guides from the 4 alpine countries – France, Italy, Switzerland, and Austria. The organization’s main role is to be the umbrella for all recognized mountain guide associations.
Today, the UIAGM/IFMGA has 22 member countries, and there are about 6000 guides educated through their respective national guide association, sticking to the UIAGM guidelines for training and certification. A list of countries and more about the goals for the UIAGM/IFMGA can be seen here – About UIAGM/IFMGA
What is a Professional Mountain Guide?
A professional mountain guide holds the UIAGM/IFMGA certification. Before becoming a mountain guide, the person had done a huge amount of climbing and skiing for many years, and before entering education, reached a very high technical level. Choosing the profession is often a desire to stay in the environment and to be able to share their experience and skills with others.
Security is a very important aspect. The guide is educated and trained to navigate the mountain environment and is familiar with their various problems and possibilities. The mountain environment is inherently risky, and the mountain guide is trained to minimize these to an acceptable level.
Taking care of clients, achieving goals, helping, advising, coaching, etc, is part of the job as a mountain guide. A mountain guide will create many connections with a large variety of people, and the guided days and courses he/she transmits will, without a doubt, greatly impact the participant’s life.
Mountain guides work in all mountain ranges across the world. Often guiding groups but also taking care of security and risk management during media shoots. Mountain guides are also used with scientific groups venturing out on the ice and in the mountains in faraway regions.
To read more about what a mountain guide is on the IFMGA website – Click here
To read more about the training and assessment of guides – Click here
