Mountaineers Forums

I've been posting and getting replys under my "gaining experience" title but wanted to make sure I reach a wide audience if many aren't following it. Is there a college degree with what ever major that seems to be better suited for one who wants to become a mountain guide? I would think geology or biology would be good but really don't know as we are just beginning to research many things regarding mountaineering. I realize a degree wouldn't be an absolute but a degree to either enhance one's income as a guide or an area of research (or something) that would help generate income might be really useful. Again, I'm asking such questions so that we can avoid the "if only I'd known" moments that will surely happen anyway!  Cheers & Thanks, Kenn

i think some colleges offer degrees in recreational tourism or some such thing. i met a guide who had a degree in forestry and in the off-season worked for the national forest service and/or park service.  suggest just calling a guide service and interviewing a guide.

slightly off-topic, but i'd encourage you to pursue academic excellence first and foremost for several reasons:

1. it gives you options for the rest of your life. if you break your back in a fall, having a professional career will enable you to continue bringing in an income.

2. expanding on #1 - experience in medicine can be extremely valuable and are scarce in the backcountry.  ed viesturs was a veterinarian.  greg mortensen (author of 3 cups of tea) was a paramedic.  that knowledge can mean the difference between life and death for yourself and your clients. if you watch the 'everest' series on discovery - the base camp doctor (monica piris) is an MD who moonlights in ERs to fund her worldwide climbing adventures.  sweet gig.

3. many guides live a nomadic lifestyle and eat bread sandwiches. because of the inherent risk you won't be able to afford healthc  are or life insurance.  the guide service likely won't provide it. getting married and having kids? - you'll likely leave them with nothing.  need a root canal - there goes 2 months income.  suggest reading ed viestur's autobiography.  ask yourself if you're ready for years of hard living in pursuit of a dream.

4. excuse the language - but there's the "pornstar analogy", which i'm lifting from a letter published in a recent edition of 'rock & ice' asking the same question about becoming a guide. essentially - turning your passion into your occupation can eliminate the enjoyment.  the editors strongly suggested keeping mountaineering a passion.  it can still be a significant part of your life.

My $.02.

Your two cents is appreciated! I'm actually asking the question on behalf of my 19 year old son and for the very reasons you state am trying to gather info. I also realize that I may need to underwrite much of what he does, certainly as he is just beginning. It has been an interesting, if not fun, experience...maybe not "pornstar" fun but it works for me! Cheers & Thanks, Kenn

Canada has a highly developed college level degree programs -

http://www.physedandrec.ualberta.ca/degree_undergrad.cfm

 

Western Washington University has Outdoor Recreation- I met some of their students on Everett Mountaineer Avalanche FT.

 

California had Recreation Programs at UC Santa Barbara, also CA Poly Tech

You might have him contact some of the local guide services such as AAI, Bellingham

 

Good suggestions!...another related question, is there an occupation (excepting the independently wealthy) that lends itself to mountaineering on a fairly regular basis ( let's say "fairly regular" being defined as 4 months a year) ?