|
Rock
Guide |
Do you aspire to be a
rock guide? We've designed two 10 day training
curriculums
(Rock
Guides Course
and Advanced
Rock Guides Course).
Either course can be scheduled at your convenience. These
courses take place in the field with much structured
practice. You'll use the skills you learn to guide the
course instructor and possibly one other participant. Routes
are chosen so that the skills you practiced will be required
to solve the guiding challenges you encounter. A course
textbook is included and contains day by day curriculum,
essays about guiding, technical diagrams, and space for
taking notes.
These courses are identical to courses offered by the AMGA. Alan was one of the originators of the Rock Guide Education and Certificaton Program for the AMGA. He helped design and implement their rock guides and advanced rock guides courses as well as their rock exams. He has been training guides and examining for the AMGA for 12 years now.
CMG courses are run at a lower ratio than AMGA courses, 2:1 rather than 3:1. You'll spend much more time out front (half the time instead of one third of the time) as the guide and come away with a better grasp on the material as well. Ratios in the Guides Courses are a maximum of 2:1. This ensures the highest quality experience for the students, more time in the role of guide, and greater personal attention.
Prerequsites for both courses are the ability to lead 5.10 trad at the time of the course. Typically we won't be climbing anything this hard but a higher standard of leading makes it more likely that whatever climb we pick the student will be able to safely and competently lead it in a timely fashion. Contact us for an equipment list.
If you elect not to work with us, then I strongly encourage you to take courses from an individual that has years of experience teaching these courses. Quality instruction is most important when it comes time to take your exam so be sure you've been prepared by someone that knows the process and the standard at which you'll be examined. Ask how many of their students have passed their subsequent exam. Don't be fooled by a lower price. Remember you get what you pay for and during your exam you don't want to find out you bought a lemon.
The Rock Guides
Course
This course was designed for well rounded climbers that
desire specific training in rock guiding for a cragging
environment. Additionally, it can offer skilled instructors
extra training or review to increase their comfort level.
This is also a good course for beginning alpine rock guides.
It is intended for guides, not climbers, so a high degree of
familiarity with climbing techniques is assumed.
This course is
identical in content to courses offered by the
AMGA.
The RGC addresses the skills and techniques used to guide and instruct on routes up to and including Grade III in length. The course introduces and addresses tools to effectively manage multiple clients at the belays, manage 3rd and 4th class terrain, and transitioning from 5th class climbing to semi-technical terrain or technical descents, and self rescue skills. Emphasis is on enhancing client rewards while effectively and appropriately managing risk. The approaches and descents will be straightforward.
We'll be climbing routes 3 to 7 pitches in length, where you'll be expected to place your own protection and anchors. The routes may be crack, face, or slab up to 5.9 in difficulty.
This course can be scheduled at your convenience or attend one of our scheduled courses.
Tuition: One student - $2875, 2 or more students - $2375 each
*tuition includes all AMGA fees
The highlights of the Rock Guides Course curriculum are as follows:
- Knots used in Guiding
- Protection
- Building Guiding Anchors
- Guide Belay Methods
- Station Management
- Rope Management
- Guides Rack
- Lowering as a Guiding Tool
- Rappelling
- Short Pitching
- Transitions
- Improvised Rescue: belay escapes, raising, knot pass
The Advanced Rock
Guides Course
For guides already working in
the industry, this course presents the skills necessary to
be very efficient on long routes with multiple clients.
Additionally, this course is great preparation for the AMGA
Rock Guide exam. This
course is identical in content to courses offered by the
AMGA.
The ARGC picks up where the RGC leaves off. It hones and develops these skills to a higher degree. Emphasis is on skills necessary to move quickly and efficiently while still providing appropriate client security. Multiple client techniques are covered in depth. Plaquette devices will be introduced for belaying multiple clients simultaneously. Complex approaches and descents will be the norm.
These courses can be scheduled at your convenience.
Price: One student - $2200, 2 or more students - $1800 each
The highlights of the Advanced Rock Guides Course curriculum are as follows:
- Advanced Knots for Guiding
- Multiple Client Guiding
- Adv. Belay Methods: plaquettes/multiple clients
- Rope Mangagement: two ropes at same time
- Advanced Transitions: going up
- Multiple Client Lowering
- Simul-Rappelling
- Short Roping & transitions to technical descents
