7 Reasons to Hire a Climbing Guide
Petra Cliffs Co-Owner and Guide Andrea Charest (left) and Guide Evan Kirk (right).
Rock climbing has grown drastically in the past couple of years with more and more people discovering the joy, challenge, and reward that it has to offer. With more folks looking to try rock climbing outside for the first time there has been an explosion of online resources; none of which can rival the value of an industry certified and knowledgeable climbing guide. Even experienced climbers can benefit immensely from hiring a climbing guide to help refine their technique, explore a new climbing area, or adapt their skills to different disciplines of climbing. No matter where you are in your climbing journey, read on to lean about how your next outdoor adventure could be elevated by the company of a guide.
7 Reasons to Hire a Climbing Guide
1. Guides have training, experience, & professionalism; they adhere to industry standards & quality
Guides are rigorously trained and certified: look for an AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association) certification. AMGA Certified Guides undergo intense training and examination. Certification by the AMGA indicates that an individual has been assessed to the standard of an internationally recognized, professional body. By hiring a guide you get professionalism, comprehensive knowledge, industry approved best practices, and high quality experiences.
2. Guides give you attention & tailored learning
By hiring a private guide you get a personalized experience and your guides full attention. This means you can ask all the questions you want (there are no silly questions!) and that your guide can adapt instruction to fit your goals, skills, and learning style.
3. Guides provide you with education, confidence, good habits, & tricks of the trade
Hiring a private guide means you are getting the best education from the finest teachers: this means you can build skills and develop good habits with the confidence that you are learning the very best industry standards and recommendations, not to mention tricks of the trade from guides with years of experience.
4. Guides have valuable local knowledge & beta, which means the best use of your time
Guides have immense local knowledge and can be an invaluable resource when it comes to learning about an area or specific objective. They bring the best beta and save time that you might otherwise spend trying to decode the guidebook.
5. Guides are trained for safety & risk management
Safety and risk management is a top priority: AMGA guides are trained to recognize objective hazards, such as avalanche danger, rock fall potential, and bad weather, and they are drilled in self-rescue skills. Hiring a guide means you can rest easy knowing that you are in good hands: guides know how to mitigate risk, evaluate situations that arise, and respond to any incidents that may occur.
6. Guides provide environmental & access awareness
Guides are hyper-aware of best practices to limit impacts on the environment and maintain the natural areas we recreate in for generations to come. Guides are also up-to-date on access considerations: hiring a guide gives you a window into local climbing access and ethics which helps maintain access to climbing areas for all.
7. Guides are awesome people, funny, and have personal stories and learning experiences to share
Guides are a ton of fun! Everything you want from a climbing partner: supportive, enthusiastic, and always cracking jokes. Hiring a guide means you get to spend the day with an awesome person with lots of good stories and personal experiences to share. Ask and you shall receive!
If you’re itching for a climbing adventure after all this reading then you’re in good company! It’s never too late to try something out of your comfort zone, take your skills to the next level, or explore somewhere new. Wherever you’re headed, consider finding a local guide! If you’re in New England look no further:
See you at the crag!
