I have been having a hard time embedding my youtube videos lately- so just click on the link above to see some photos and video of my latest trip to Alaska.
I just finished my final exam with the American Mountain Guides Association. There are three disciplines one has to pass to receive the international certification as a mountain guide: rock, alpine, and ski. The process took me six years and I had been guiding for four before that. After passing coursework, an assistant level exam, and accruing a number of actual guiding days, we are permitted to enroll in the exam. The ski discipline was my last. For eight days (and much longer beforehand) the candidates guide examiners and each other through glaciated, technical ski terrain. Rob Hess and Colin Zacharias, masters of their trade, were our examiners. We had unusually clear and hot weather, forcing us to wake up in the dark (not easy in Alaska in May with 18 hours of light) so that we could finish each day before the sun warmed the snow making it dangerous. We suffered through some ‘firm’ ski conditions but found some beautiful sun softened snow as well. I learned a lot on this exam. I will leave the process of certification sure that I have lots of room to grow as a guide. But also knowing that I have come a long way.
Check out the link to Crested Butte Mountain Guides to see the video that Colin Zacharias made of our exam.
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