Amos_May 2013 enews
American Mountain Guides Association
2013 May eNewsletter 
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In This Issue
Unreasonable Adventures Free Offer
AMGA Scholarships
Outreach and Advocacy
NEW SPI Discipline Coordinator
Climbing Instructor Program Update
AMGA Happenings
Greetings from the front range of the Rockies!
AMGA LOGO '09Spring has arrived to the front range in CO.  We welcome the participants of this year's Boulder Rock Instructor Course and Alpine Guide Course.  Should be great weather for them.  Hope you all are getting out and sending your favorite climbs or enjoying some fabulous corn snow! 

Cheers, the staff of the AMGA




This eNews contains news announcements from the AMGA staff, member insights, job postings, and more!

Unreasonable Adventures Offers FREE Use of Their Custom Reservations System
New, FREE Online Reservation Systems for Mountain Guides

Boulder, CO based Unreasonable Adventures has developed a simple-to-use reservation system that gives guiding operations the ability to sell customized itineraries directly through their own websites.

It's an industry first, and as company founded by climbers, Unreasonable reached out to us at the AMGA about giving our members FREE use of the service. You can test out their software for 30 days free and if it's something that works for your business, use the discount code AMGA100 to take 100% off the sticker price of $80/mo from then on.

For more information, check out the Unreasonable Adventures Website.
2013 AMGA Scholarship Recipients
The AMGA would like to thank all of the members who applied for a scholarship this year.  We value all applicants and know how much time and effort goes into the application process.  We had 317 initial responses, which boiled down to 161 complete and eligible applications.  This made for a difficult and involved decision making process, as there are only 14 full tuition and 8 partial tuition scholarships available for 2013.  These are made possible by corporate partner contributions from leading outdoor industry companies, as well as private foundations and donations. 

This was also made possible by this year's AMGA Scholarship Committee, comprised of board members and  experienced volunteers.  If you have any questions about scholarships with the AMGA, please feel free to contact AMGA Membership Director, Caroline McNally, via phone (303.271.0984 x2#) or email.

Click here for a full list of scholarship recipients.

CONGRATS TO ALL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS!!!

 

AMGA Outreach and Advocacy Department
By Scott Massey, AMGA Outreach and Advocacy Director
 

IFMGA symposium

There are a few items of interest in the advocacy world this month. After the IFMGA Meeting in Whistler, guide trainers from 12 countries will travel to Alaska to participate in the 2013 IFMGA Denali Symposium. The purpose of the symposium is to further develop the IFMGA's High Altitude and Expedition Guiding Manual. Once published, this will be an extensive resource for the IFMGA countries...   

 

House Subcommittee Hearing
The House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee held a Subcommittee for Public Lands and Environmental Regulation oversight hearing this past Tuesday on outfitter guide issues. The hearing examined a range of issues relating to permitting and management of guides on National Park Service, US Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management lands. For specific information, or to watch the archived hearing, click
here...

 

Snow-cat Ski Guiding Opportunities 

I can't speak for the terrain, since I pulled this from the Mountain West News, but new permit opportunities are worth mentioning... 
 

Click here to continue reading on three above mentioned subjects...  

New SPI Discipline Coordinator - Ron Funderburke!

By Ed Crothers, CIP Director

   

***New Single Pitch Instructor Discipline Coordinator***

 

I am pleased to announce that Ron Funderburke has been hired as the new SPI DC. Rather than me spray about him, I will let Ron speak for himself:

 

Ron FunderburkeWith utmost excitement, I am pleased to accept the post as Discipline Coordinator for the AMGA SPI Program. The program has enjoyed some unprecedented successes since it's inception in 2008, and that is a credit to the excellent students, instructors, providers, and trainers. My fervent hope is that everyone out there is still as invested as I am. The front lines of American climbing instruction have always been the single pitch crags, and single pitch instruction is the face of our guides association. That was true in 2003, when I took the AMGA Top Rope Site Manager Course from Adam Fox and Jim Taylor. It was true in 2008, when SPI was born, and it is true today as SPI providers around the country offer education and credentials to new instructors every week of the year. Deploying providers and trainers, standardizing curriculum and certification standards, updating textbooks and manuals, collaborating with our Technical Committee, and a thousand other tasks and inquiries and contributions in between, have been the labor of the SPI Discipline Coordinator. I learned a lot from watching Adam Fox bend his back to the common task. I hope I can use his example, and the inspiration that emanates from all those associated with the SPI program, to work tirelessly, collaborate, and affirm a strong standard. With a new manual brewing, new providers training, old providers refreshing, and hundreds of new single pitch instructors per year, I'm gonna' hit the ground running, and I couldn't be any more psyched.

 

-- Ron Funderburke, SPI Discipline Coordinator and AMGA Certified Rock Guide   

AMGA Climbing Instructor Program - Report

By Ed Crothers, CIP Director

 

Trainings

For qualified people interested in being able to offer either AMGA SPI or CWI programs, here are the dates for upcoming Provider trainings:

  • SPI: October 21-22, 2013. The training is being held in conjunction with the annual meeting in Boulder, Colorado.
  • CWI: November 10-11, 2013. This training is being held in conjunction with the AORE Conference in College Park, Maryland.

For current SPI Providers who need to meet continuing education requirements, a 1-day refresher will be held October 23 in Boulder, Colorado.  For more information about these trainings, contact Ed Crothers, AMGA Climbing Instructor Program Director via  email or phone: 303-271-0984  x4#.

 

YTD Report

To the new members, welcome to the AMGA. To those who passed an assessment, nicely done!  First quarter of 2013 is in the books.  

 

Please click here for a comprehensive report from the Climbing Instructor Program. 

 

  

AMGA Happenings
  • June 2013 Board of Directors Meeting to take place on Friday, June 7 in Boulder, CO.  This meeting is open to the public.  Please contact the AMGA office at 303.271.0984 ext. 2# with any questions.
  • The industry wide survey that was administered last month brought in huge results.  We wanted to offer our gratitude to all who were involved.  You helped in the collection of valuable data that can be used by guides and outdoor industry affiliates alike.  You've also all helped the AMGA learn where areas of growth are needed.  The findings are still in the process of being analyzed by a third party, and we are hoping to have this information available to the public by late summer. 
AMGA Scholarship Sponsors

Double Diamond 
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Diamond

bd   brooks-range   EB
 
Marmot logo          Petzl Logo            TNF


Benefactor

Arcteryx logoMammut LogoMillet logo   mhdwrlogo 2012pat
            
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Job Opportunities in the Guiding Industry
Please email Caroline McNally, Membership Director, if you are an AMGA Accredited Company, AMGA Certified Guide, or AMGA Corporate Parnter, and would like to submit a job posting.
HELP WANTED
In an attempt to better serve our membership, we will be offering space in the monthly e-Newsletter to share job opportunities. Please see listings below.

Aspen Expeditions
Position: Qualified rock and mountain guide
Contact: Dirk Bockelmann, General Manager // email //  970-925-7625
Website: aspenexpeditions.com

Job description:
Aspen Expeditions, the largest most reputable technical mountain guide service in the region, is looking for a qualified rock and mountain guide for the 2013 summer season.  Ideally this person is experienced and proficient in both rock and mountain/alpine (short-roping) technical guiding.  Preferred resumes will have both AMGA Rock and Alpine certifications.  The minimum credentials will include an AMGA, SPI (Single Pitch Instructor certification) and WFR (Wilderness First Responder).  The majority of client days will entail rock days on Independence Pass and guiding our local technical 14'ers, such as Maroon Bells, Pyramid Peak and Capitol Peak.  We would consider year-round employment with the right experience level and certifications.  Winter client days include lift-accessed backcountry skiing from all four of our ski mountains, backcountry touring/skiing, ski-mountaineering, hut trips, ice climbing and AIARE Level I and II avalanche courses.  International expeditions are also a possibility. 




APEX Mountain School
Guide Tryouts
Apply by May 28, 2013 at apexmountainschool.com

See the flyer here.




REI Outdoor School Instructor (Denver/Boulder)

Position: Part Time employment for year round guiding 
Contact: Paul Haraf  //  email  //  215.300.7750

Qualifications
  • Minimum AMGA SPI certified with experience teaching lead climbing, anchor building, rock rescue, etc..
  • AIARE Level 1 certified or higher a plus
  • Experience teaching a minimum of  3  additional competencies: land navigation, GPS, SUP, snowshoeing, basic mountaineering, AIARE  Level 1 instructor, survival skills, mountain biking, yoga, personal trainer, trail running or photography.
  • Experience in guiding in the Boulder Denver Area
  • 3 plus years of paid guiding experience
  • Current WFR or higher and current CPR
  • Valid driver's license with no negative incidents which includes medical screen and the ability to pass drug screen
The perks:

At REI, we understand that benefits matter - we have a competitive offering which includes:
  • Comprehensive health and well-being programs
  • A competitive bonus/incentive program
  • Generous gear and merchandise discount
  • Professional growth and development opportunities 
AND
A work environment where RESPECT, INTEGRITY, and BALANCE are just a few of our fundamental values!  For more information and to submit a resume contact Paul Haraf at [email protected] or by cell at 215-300-7750.

 

 

 

 

Colorado Mountain Club (Boulder Group) 

Position: Director of Rock Leading School 

Contact: Martina Sorek  //  email 

 

The Boulder Group of the Colorado Mountain Club is seeking a qualified volunteer to be our Director of Rock Leading School (RLS) for the summer 2013 season and beyond. A full description of the course can be viewed at our website, www.cmcboulder.org/bms/rls.html. The course consists of one evening lecture and three field trips, around early June. The Director has the responsibility of reviewing the curriculum and helping to organize the instructors, lecturers and assistants for the course. The RLS Director may be one of the lecturers and may fill in at the field trips as needed. As such, the Director needs to be an experienced rock climber and conversant with the latest climbing equipment and leading techniques. The Director reports to the BMS (Boulder Mountain Schools) Committee. The past RLS Director for the past several years, Clint Locks, was also an AMGA guide, and the CMC would be grateful if we are so lucky as to have another AMGA volunteer help us in this position. Although unpaid, the position offers excellent networking opportunities, as the CMC is the oldest and most established local hiking and climbing organization in the state (see cmc.org). The CMC is prepared to offer a one year free membership if the volunteer is not already a CMC member. If interested, please contact Martina Sorek via email, the current BMS Co-Chair.


 

Jackson Hole Mountain Guides Expands Guest Guide Opportunities  

CONTACT:  Rob Hess, Chief Guide  //  email 

 

In early September, 2011, I notified AMGA certified rock guides of the opportunity to guest guide under JHMG's permits in Moab/Indian Creek, the Red Rock, Cody and Boulder, Colorado. I am pleased to announce a further expansion of our guest guide program to include the world class City of Rocks outside of Almo, Idaho.

 

 

 

This opportunity is available only to AMGA certified guides and IFMGA-level guides. Guides wishing to climb under JHMG's guest guide program should submit a letter of interest along with a climbing resume, copy of current first aid and CPR cards, and a copy of the guide's AMGA certification card to Rob Hess at the email address shown above.

 

 

 

An Idaho guide's license is required and JHMG is now in position to expedite the process of acquiring a license for AMGA certified guides through Idaho Outfitter and Guides Association. Guides whose applications have been approved will receive a written acknowledgement and additional information about the program

   

 

 

 

Exum Mountain Guides - Guest Guide Opportunities  

The AMGA is excited to announce that we will be working with Exum Mountain Guides this summer to offer you the opportunity to work as a guest guide in Grand Teton National Park!

 

The Tetons provide some of the most accessible and diverse climbing in the North America. One of its premier climbs is, naturally, the Grand Teton (13,770 ft), a remarkable ascent via many outstanding routes that all providing an exhilarating day in the mountains. While the Grand Teton is the most famous peak in the region, the range also offers dozens of other climbs that are both famous and challenging, all in a beautiful and dramatic landscape. 

 

The AMGA is proud to work with Exum Mountain Guides in this capacity, and Exum is proud to offer AMGA guides this opportunity. To apply to be a guest guide at Exum you must be an AMGA Certified Alpine Guide.  Click Here to find out how to apply. 

AMGA Merchandise
We have new AMGA full-length, orange, UV Buffs available for purchase! ($20 each)
You can call the office (303-271-0984, ext. 2) or e-mail [email protected], to order one. We also have t-shirts and sweatshirts available.
  Penny in buff
gore ad sept 2012

 
Happy guiding!
 
The Staff of the American Mountain Guides Association