Annual Meeting | Schedule

Check In Opens

4:30pm – 6:00pm

** The first 20 to register online will receive a FREE Patagonia tote bag. **

Opening Program and Workshop

6:00pm – 7:30pm

Opening Comments and Welcome

by Alex Kosseff, AMGA Executive Director

The North Face Opening Workshop

Driving Better Guiding and Instructing by Interrupting Unconscious Bias

With the generous support of The North Face we are proud to have nationally recognized workplace inclusivity expert Kathleen Nalty lead us in an interactive workshop on unconscious bias.

Despite our best intentions as guides and instructors, research shows we all have it – unconscious, unintentional bias. Unconscious attitudes and beliefs are shaped by all kinds of influences – some of which we wouldn’t agree with or accept on a conscious level. Yet, these thoughts can make their way into our decision-making and can have a profound impact – not only in the field as a guide or instructor but with respect to interactions with clients and colleagues. The key is to learn how to recognize our own unconscious biases and practical ways to interrupt them.

In this interactive workshop, attendees will learn about how unconscious biases are formed, different types of cognitive biases, how these cognitive biases could be undermining interactions with others as well as AMGA’s diversity efforts, and how to interrupt unconscious bias. At the end of the workshop, attendees will create personal action lists for interrupting bias and fostering greater diversity and inclusion in the AMGA.

Evening Activities

7:45pm AMGA Gathering at Bout Time

Join the AMGA for some drinks “first round on us” at a local bar near the Petzl Facility: Bout Time Pub:  3318 Decker Lake Dr, West Valley City, UT 84119

Check In Open

7:00am – 9:00am

Outdoor Technical Clinics | 9:00am-3:00pm

Common Problems Encountered in the Single Pitch Environment

Longtime SPI Provider will look outside of the normal SPI curriculum and provide additional tools to solve everyday guide challenges in the single pitch environment.

Prerequisites
Required: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or higher

SPI Master Class: Beyond the Curriculum, Within the Scope

SPI students demonstrate minimum proficiency standards on their assessment. But, as any seasoned Single Pitch Instructor will attest, those skills are just the tip of the iceberg. The SPI Master Class will explore skills that are well within an SPI scope of practice, but rarely included in a typical SPI course curriculum.

Prerequisites
Required: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or higher

Short-roping

Short roping is part science and part art -fusing it all together to create flow is more difficult than first meets the eye. Learn from an AMGA Instructor Team member what it takes!

Prerequisites
Required: Apprentice Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide (via ASC), or higher

Transitions for Short-roping to Fifth-class, and to Rappel

Apply new and masterful ways to transition from short-roping to 5th class climbing and how to reverse it all after tagging the summit.

Prerequisites
Required: Apprentice Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide (via ASC), or higher

Transitions from Caterpillar to Parallel and Back

To be efficient and provide a great client experience guides need to master anchor transitions. From outside/inside/under to where to re-stack the ropes this clinic will improve your transitions.

Prerequisites
Required: Apprentice Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide (via ASC), or higher

The Art of Bailing – Learning to Improvise

Sometimes you don’t make it to the top.. learn different ways to bail with efficiency and good technique.

Prerequisites
Required: Apprentice Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide (via ASC), or higher

Indoor Technical Clinics – Morning | 8:00am-11:30pm

Rock Rescue Drill

An introduction or review of the updated AMGA Rock Rescue Drill with applied practice.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or Higher

Raising Systems

Learning how to raise with multiple types of tools and techniques will make you a better guide. From basic crux assistance to full on hauling this clinic will “up” your game.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Completion of SPI Course, Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or higher

Perfecting Knot Passes

How many ways can you pass a knot? Come to this clinic and find out.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Alpine Transitions

Work on simple alpine transitions with a single rope that will include ascent and descent options focusing on guide security and minimal gear.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Technical Testing with Petzl

The Materials Testing / Technical Testing clinics generally focus part of the time on how testing helps answer critical questions that will bring a piece of equipment to market. Petzl has a tensile testing machine (used measure breaking strength with a consistent method) and a drop tower (designed to measure dynamic forces in a system upon falling or impact.) During each clinic, we examine what kind of questions are worth asking with each system, and we get to edge outside of “normal” a little bit to see what happens when equipment is subjected to forces or applications outside of what the manufacturers intended. Participants are encourage to submit applications or products they would like to test, as well as bringing old or used equipment they would like to test.

Improvised Rope Ascent and Descent

Dropped your device? Short on gear? Learning how to construct ascending and descending techniques for fixed or rappel ropes is a skill all climbers should know.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Classroom Clinics | 8:30am-11:30am

Analog Mapping & Navigation | Don’t Rely on the Blue Dot!

A traditional navigation clinic, focusing on paper map, compass, and altimeter use. We will cover map reading, grid systems, declination, measuring and plotting bearings in the field and on the map, tour planning and white out navigation. We will spend 2 hours in the classroom and then do an orienteering course/scavenger hunt around the Petzl campus.

Classroom Clinics | 8:30am-9:50am

Leave No Trace and Guiding

As guides we have the opportunity to educate our clients on more than just the technical aspects of the mountains.  Join this clinic to learn the basics of environmental stewardship in the guiding context.  Guides participating in this clinic will receive a Leave No Trace Awareness Certificate.

Petzl Clinic | The Life of a Product – Pierre Plaze

Petzl France’s Product Line Manager, Pierre Plaze will talk from conceptualization to the end market

Accreditation meeting

(Closed meeting)

Classroom Clinics | 10:10am-11:30am

Engaging in local and national climbing advocacy, education, and stewardship

Join Julia Geisler, Executive Director of the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance, and Matt Wade, AMGA Advocacy Director, for a discussion about protecting both local and national climbing access specific to the guiding community.

Hot Topics in Insurance for Mountain Guides

Hot Topics in Insurance for Mountain Guides: Current Issues, Including Contracted Guides, Foreign Trips, B.C. Permits, Special Language for Certificates, Professional Liability Exposure, Insurance Market Trends and more. Question & Answer Session.

Ski Guide’s Meetings and Run Lists

Peter Leh will run you through AMGA common practices for am and pm meetings and how and when to open ski terrain.

Classroom Clinics | 12:30pm-3:30pm

Analog Mapping & Navigation | Don’t Rely on the Blue Dot!

A traditional navigation clinic, focusing on paper map, compass, and altimeter use. We will cover map reading, grid systems, declination, measuring and plotting bearings in the field and on the map, tour planning and white out navigation. We will spend 2 hours in the classroom and then do an orienteering course/scavenger hunt around the Petzl campus.

Classroom Clinics | 12:30pm-1:50pm

Leave No Trace and Guiding

As guides we have the opportunity to educate our clients on more than just the technical aspects of the mountains.  Join this clinic to learn the basics of environmental stewardship in the guiding context.  Guides participating in this clinic will receive a Leave No Trace Awareness Certificate.

Petzl Clinic | The Life of a Product – Pierre Plaze

Petzl France’s Product Line Manager, Pierre Plaze will talk from conceptualization to the end market

Accreditation meeting

(Closed Meeting)

Indoor Technical Clinics Afternoon | 12:30pm-4:00pm

Rock Rescue Drill

An introduction or review of the updated AMGA Rock Rescue Drill with applied practice.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or Higher

Weighted Transitions

Learning how to go in and out, working with munter-mules, and passing knots on a loaded rope are mandatory guide skills. Learn the critical steps in this clinic.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Improvised Rope Ascent and Descent

Dropped your device? Short on gear? Learning how to construct ascending and descending techniques for fixed or rappel ropes is a skill all climbers should know.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Lowering Applications

When, why and how do we lower people? This clinic will hit all the considerations for this critical skill.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Crevasse Rescue

Although rarely used, crevasse rescue is an important rescue skill for guides and one that should be practiced often and with purpose.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Work at Height Solutions with Petzl

Many climbing guides/instructors may also find ‘off-season’ work at height opportunities- outside or in a climbing gym. This session is a practical orientation to the regulations governing work at height and applicable standards, followed by the practical application of conventional industry/work/rescue fall protection systems, as well as systems being implemented in gym ‘work at height’ programs.

Classroom Clinics | 2:10pm-3:30pm

Ski Guide’s Meetings and Run Lists

Peter Leh will run you through AMGA common practices for am and pm meetings and how and when to open ski terrain.

Engaging in local and national climbing advocacy, education, and stewardship

Join Julia Geisler, Executive Director of the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance, and Matt Wade, AMGA Advocacy Director, for a discussion about protecting both local and national climbing access specific to the guiding community.

Hot Topics in Insurance for Mountain Guides

Hot Topics in Insurance for Mountain Guides: Current Issues, Including Contracted Guides, Foreign Trips, B.C. Permits, Special Language for Certificates, Professional Liability Exposure, Insurance Market Trends and more. Question & Answer Session.

Registration Open

7:30am – 9:00am

Check in for Annual Meeting – pick up your name tag and a copy of your clinics.

Outdoor Technical Clinics | 9:00am-3:00pm

Common Problems Encountered in the Single Pitch Environment

Longtime SPI Provider will look outside of the normal SPI curriculum and provide additional tools to solve everyday guide challenges in the single pitch environment.

Prerequisites
Required: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or higher

SPI Master Class: Beyond the Curriculum, Within the Scope

SPI students demonstrate minimum proficiency standards on their assessment. But, as any seasoned Single Pitch Instructor will attest, those skills are just the tip of the iceberg. The SPI Master Class will explore skills that are well within an SPI scope of practice, but rarely included in a typical SPI course curriculum.

Prerequisites
Required: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or higher

Short-roping

Short roping is part science and part art -fusing it all together to create flow is more difficult than first meets the eye. Learn from an AMGA Instructor Team member what it takes!

Prerequisites
Required: Apprentice Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide (via ASC), or higher

Transitions for Short-roping to Fifth-class, and to Rappel

Apply new and masterful ways to transition from short-roping to 5th class climbing and how to reverse it all after tagging the summit.

Prerequisites
Required: Apprentice Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide (via ASC), or higher

Transitions from Caterpillar to Parallel and Back

To be efficient and provide a great client experience guides need to master anchor transitions. From outside/inside/under to where to re-stack the ropes this clinic will improve your transitions.

Prerequisites
Required: Apprentice Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide (via ASC), or higher

The Art of Bailing – Learning to Improvise

Sometimes you don’t make it to the top.. learn different ways to bail with efficiency and good technique.

Prerequisites
Required: Apprentice Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide (via ASC), or higher

Indoor Technical Clinics – Full Day | 8:00am-3:00pm

Rock Warrior’s Way Workshop with Arno Ilgner

Understanding the climbing metaphor to bridge clients’ experiences to life lessons. There are many ways to understand the climbing metaphor for teaching life lessons. Some ways are limiting that hinder clients’ experiences, diminish learning, and don’t bridge well to life. Other ways are more helpful, align with the learning process, and bridge well to life. We’ll do climbing movement exercises to understand the climbing metaphor, our motivation, and how to draw out the most important learning lessons that can be bridged to other life experiences. Additional Cost: Day pass, plus tax: $23.51

Indoor Technical Clinics – Morning | 8:00am-11:30pm

Rock Rescue Drill

An introduction or review of the updated AMGA Rock Rescue Drill with applied practice.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or Higher

Leader Rescue

Many guides have learned how to rescue the follower but what happens when your leader needs rescuing?

Prerequisites
Suggested: Completion of SPI Course, Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or higher

Perfecting Knot Passes

How many ways can you pass a knot? Come to this clinic and find out.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Alpine Transitions

Work on simple alpine transitions with a single rope that will include ascent and descent options focusing on guide security and minimal gear.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Crevasse Rescue

Although rarely used, crevasse rescue is an important rescue skill for guides and one that should be practiced often and with purpose.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Technical Testing with Petzl

The Materials Testing / Technical Testing clinics generally focus part of the time on how testing helps answer critical questions that will bring a piece of equipment to market. Petzl has a tensile testing machine (used measure breaking strength with a consistent method) and a drop tower (designed to measure dynamic forces in a system upon falling or impact.) During each clinic, we examine what kind of questions are worth asking with each system, and we get to edge outside of “normal” a little bit to see what happens when equipment is subjected to forces or applications outside of what the manufacturers intended. Participants are encourage to submit applications or products they would like to test, as well as bringing old or used equipment they would like to test.

Classroom Clinics | 8:30am-11:30am

Stuart Smith CAA InfoEx

Want to increase structure of your avalanche risk decisions and record keeping? Keen to understand the distribution of avalanche problems beyond your personal observations and recordings? For decades, InfoEx has been the backbone of professional information exchange and avalanche risk management in Canada. Now, the Canadian Avalanche Association has expanded InfoEx to offer an international service. Join the CAA’s InfoEx Manager Stuart Smith for a demo of InfoEx functionality and a Q&A session.

Classroom Clinics | 8:30am-9:50am

Update on AMGA Advocacy Work and Future Direction

Learn what the AMGA Advocacy Program has been doing to improve access opportunities for guides and what it will be working on in the future. This clinic will also include a Q&A for advocacy-related questions and a listening session for members to offer suggestions. With : Matt Wade, AMGA Advocacy and Policy Director

Behind the Scenes Guiding: Being versed in technology, people and sales

The Fourth Discipline is the “business of being a guide” We will discuss what makes a guide truly successful as a guide working independently or for a guide service. Topics will include; using technology, generating return clients and developing the communication skills to interact effectively with clients, co-workers and management.

 Never lose a client again – 57 hours

Get into the mindset of the driving force of your business: your clients. Understanding clients and their behavior is essential to your guiding career whether you’re just starting out or if you work for an established guiding service. Learn about what gets your clients excited and what makes them book a trip with you. Guides with over 200 booked days a year will be here to tell you their secret tips and tricks. Plus we’ll show you what our research on client behavior says about booking do’s and don’t’s.

Classroom Clinics | 10:10am-11:30am

Ask the ED

Sit down with the AMGA’s Executive Director, Alex Kosseff for an open question and answer session

Facilitating a Guide Service

Come join Colorado Mountain School owner, Russell Hunter, for a collaborative session on running a guide service. Russell will facilitate a discussion on creating mission and values, processes and systems, finding and keeping guides and financials of a guide service. This sharing of knowledge and experiences will benefit current owners of guide services and anyone considering starting or taking over an existing guide service.

The Permitting Process and Strategies for Approaching Land Managers

Do you want to get access to guide in your area, but are unsure of how to approach your local land managers? Come learn some effective strategies and more about the permitting process from the AMGA Advocacy Team. With Matt Wade – AMGA Advocacy Director and Geoff Unger – Certified Guides Cooperative Operations Manager.

Classroom Clinics | 12:30pm-3:30pm

Modern Guide Navigation

Map and compass is still the critical skill set but why not use some of your technology to improve your tour planning skills?

Classroom Clinics | 12:30pm-1:50pm

Update on AMGA Advocacy Work and Future Direction

Learn what the AMGA Advocacy Program has been doing to improve access opportunities for guides and what it will be working on in the future. This clinic will also include a Q&A for advocacy-related questions and a listening session for members to offer suggestions. With : Matt Wade, AMGA Advocacy and Policy Director

Behind the Scenes Guiding: Being versed in technology, people and sales

The Fourth Discipline is the “business of being a guide” We will discuss what makes a guide truly successful as a guide working independently or for a guide service. Topics will include; using technology, generating return clients and developing the communication skills to interact effectively with clients, co-workers and management.

 Never lose a client again – 57 hours

Get into the mindset of the driving force of your business: your clients. Understanding clients and their behavior is essential to your guiding career whether you’re just starting out or if you work for an established guiding service. Learn about what gets your clients excited and what makes them book a trip with you. Guides with over 200 booked days a year will be here to tell you their secret tips and tricks. Plus we’ll show you what our research on client behavior says about booking do’s and don’t’s.

Indoor Technical Clinics Afternoon | 12:30pm-4:00pm

Rock Rescue Drill

An introduction or review of the updated AMGA Rock Rescue Drill with applied practice.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or Higher

Leader Rescue

Many guides have learned how to rescue the follower but what happens when your leader needs rescuing?

Prerequisites
Suggested: Completion of SPI Course, Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or higher

Fixed Point Belays

Learn how to construct anchors that will work well with fixed point belays and multiple ways to belay off of them.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Lowering Applications

When, why and how do we lower people? This clinic will hit all the considerations for this critical skill.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Crevasse Rescue

Although rarely used, crevasse rescue is an important rescue skill for guides and one that should be practiced often and with purpose.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Work at Height Solutions with Petzl

Many climbing guides/instructors may also find ‘off-season’ work at height opportunities- outside or in a climbing gym. This session is a practical orientation to the regulations governing work at height and applicable standards, followed by the practical application of conventional industry/work/rescue fall protection systems, as well as systems being implemented in gym ‘work at height’ programs.

Classroom Clinics | 2:10pm-3:30pm

Ask the ED

Sit down with the AMGA’s Executive Director, Alex Kosseff for an open question and answer session

Facilitating a Guide Service

Come join Colorado Mountain School owner, Russell Hunter, for a collaborative session on running a guide service. Russell will facilitate a discussion on creating mission and values, processes and systems, finding and keeping guides and financials of a guide service. This sharing of knowledge and experiences will benefit current owners of guide services and anyone considering starting or taking over an existing guide service.

The Permitting Process and Strategies for Approaching Land Managers

Do you want to get access to guide in your area, but are unsure of how to approach your local land managers? Come learn some effective strategies and more about the permitting process from the AMGA Advocacy Team. With Matt Wade – AMGA Advocacy Director and Geoff Unger – Certified Guides Cooperative Operations Manager

Evening Activities

4:30-6pm

6:30pm

Roundtable Discussion

Registration Open

7:30am – 9:00am

Check in for Annual Meeting – pick up your name tag and a copy of your clinics.

Outdoor Technical Clinics | 9:00am-3:00pm

Common Problems Encountered in the Single Pitch Environment

Longtime SPI Provider will look outside of the normal SPI curriculum and provide additional tools to solve everyday guide challenges in the single pitch environment.

Prerequisites
Required: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or higher

SPI Master Class: Beyond the Curriculum, Within the Scope

SPI students demonstrate minimum proficiency standards on their assessment. But, as any seasoned Single Pitch Instructor will attest, those skills are just the tip of the iceberg. The SPI Master Class will explore skills that are well within an SPI scope of practice, but rarely included in a typical SPI course curriculum.

Prerequisites
Required: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or higher

Short-roping

Short roping is part science and part art -fusing it all together to create flow is more difficult than first meets the eye. Learn from an AMGA Instructor Team member what it takes!

Prerequisites
Required: Apprentice Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide (via ASC), or higher

Transitions for Short-roping to Fifth-class, and to Rappel

Apply new and masterful ways to transition from short-roping to 5th class climbing and how to reverse it all after tagging the summit.

Prerequisites
Required: Apprentice Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide (via ASC), or higher

Transitions from Caterpillar to Parallel and Back

To be efficient and provide a great client experience guides need to master anchor transitions. From outside/inside/under to where to re-stack the ropes this clinic will improve your transitions.

Prerequisites
Required: Apprentice Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide (via ASC), or higher

The Art of Bailing – Learning to Improvise

Sometimes you don’t make it to the top.. learn different ways to bail with efficiency and good technique.

Prerequisites
Required: Apprentice Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide (via ASC), or higher

Indoor Technical Clinics – Morning | 8:00am-11:30pm

Rock Rescue Drill

An introduction or review of the updated AMGA Rock Rescue Drill with applied practice.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or Higher

Leader Rescue

Many guides have learned how to rescue the follower but what happens when your leader needs rescuing?

Prerequisites
Suggested: Completion of SPI Course, Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or higher

Raising Systems

Learning how to raise with multiple types of tools and techniques will make you a better guide. From basic crux assistance to full on hauling this clinic will “up” your game.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Completion of SPI Course, Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or higher

Fixed Point Belays

Learn how to construct anchors that will work well with fixed point belays and multiple ways to belay off of them.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Crevasse Rescue

Although rarely used, crevasse rescue is an important rescue skill for guides and one that should be practiced often and with purpose.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Weighted Transitions

Learning how to go in and out, working with munter-mules, and passing knots on a loaded rope are mandatory guide skills. Learn the critical steps in this clinic.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Classroom Clinics | 8:30am-11:30am

Indie Guide Round Table: Secrets to being your own Boss

This round table will be an open discussion of techniques for independent guides who are trying to navigate the guide work culture. Some key objectives will be: What are the main difficulties facing independent guides in the US? How do we balance company work with independent work? What should we charge and what is reasonable amount to make? What knowledge can we share for acquiring permits, insurance, business infrastructure and marketing?

Classroom Clinics | 8:30am-9:50am

Ski Guide’s Meetings and Run Lists

Joey Thompson will run you through AMGA common practices for am and pm meetings and how and when to open ski terrain.

Hot Topics in Insurance for Mountain Guides

Hot Topics in Insurance for Mountain Guides: Current Issues, Including Contracted Guides, Foreign Trips, B.C. Permits, Special Language for Certificates, Professional Liability Exposure, Insurance Market Trends and more. Question & Answer Session.

Guiding and Finance

AMGA Instructor Team Member, Sarah Carpenter, helps you find the balance between guiding and finance.

Classroom Clinics | 10:10am-11:30am

Improvised Ski Repair

This clinic will cover all the cool techniques for field repair of broken bindings, skis and boots.

Opportunities and Challenges of working for a guide service

Many guides will choose to work for a guide service during their careers. Come join career guide became guide service owner, Russell Hunter to learn about what makes working for a guide service great and not so great. This clinic will help guides become better employees and understand what guide services look for in their guides.

Jupiter, Shipwrecks and the French Revolution

This workshop is intended for anyone who teaches backcountry navigation or is actively pursuing the Forth Discipline. Do you know why there are 360 degrees in a circle? Why the Prime Meridian runs through Greenwich, England? The origins of the metric system? If not, get with the program! Wow even your most sophisticated clients when you casually bring up the Longitude Act of 1714, the significance of the number 60, or why the measurement of speed at sea is measured in knots. Boring navigation classes will be a thing of the past.

Classroom Clinics | 12:30pm-3:30pm

Analog Mapping & Navigation | Don’t Rely on the Blue Dot!

A traditional navigation clinic, focusing on paper map, compass, and altimeter use. We will cover map reading, grid systems, declination, measuring and plotting bearings in the field and on the map, tour planning and white out navigation. We will spend 2 hours in the classroom and then do an orienteering course/scavenger hunt around the Petzl campus.

Classroom Clinics | 12:30pm-1:50pm

Ski Guide’s Meetings and Run Lists

Joey Thompson will run you through AMGA common practices for am and pm meetings and how and when to open ski terrain.

What Insurance Companies Look for in Risk Management

What Insurance Companies Look for in Risk Management: Operations Plans, Certifications, Waivers/Assumption of Risk, Minors, Automobiles, Snowmobiles, Contracts With Business Partners, and more. Question & Answer Session.

Guiding and Finance

AMGA Instructor Team Member, Sarah Carpenter, helps you find the balance between guiding and finance.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Working Group

Join the Inclusion and Diversity Committee for a working group session. The session will include discussion of objectives the committee has achieved thus far as well as future plans. This will be followed by participants dividing into working groups to begin addressing member-based initiatives for the following year.

Indoor Technical Clinics Afternoon | 12:30pm-4:00pm

Rock Rescue Drill

An introduction or review of the updated AMGA Rock Rescue Drill with applied practice.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock Guide, or Higher

Alpine Transitions

Work on simple alpine transitions with a single rope that will include ascent and descent options focusing on guide security and minimal gear.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Improvised Rope Ascent and Descent

Dropped your device? Short on gear? Learning how to construct ascending and descending techniques for fixed or rappel ropes is a skill all climbers should know.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Lowering Applications

When, why and how do we lower people? This clinic will hit all the considerations for this critical skill.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Crevasse Rescue

Although rarely used, crevasse rescue is an important rescue skill for guides and one that should be practiced often and with purpose.

Prerequisites
Suggested: Certified SPI, Apprentice Rock, Apprentice Alpine (via ASC), Apprentice Ski Guide, or higher

Classroom Clinics | 2:10pm-3:30pm

Improvised Ski Repair

This clinic will cover all the cool techniques for field repair of broken bindings, skis and boots.

Opportunities and Challenges of working for a guide service

Many guides will choose to work for a guide service during their careers. Come join career guide became guide service owner, Russell Hunter to learn about what makes working for a guide service great and not so great. This clinic will help guides become better employees and understand what guide services look for in their guides.

Ted Teegarden and Derek DeBruin will provide ideas to help fill the mentorship gap – helping aspiring guides go from first course to final exam. Using the successful New England model established through AMGA Northeast Guides Mentorship Gatherings, we will offer suggestions for managing the logistics of these opportunities and offer insight into the challenges and successes encountered along the way.

Board of Directors Orientation

This session covers the roles, responsibilities, and opportunities involved in being on AMGA’s Board of Directors. It is intended for new Board members, current Board members, and those interested in running for the Board in the future.

Evening Activities

5:00pm-6:00pm

Raffle

5:00pm-7:00pm

Partner Booths

6:00pm-7:00pm

Dinner

7:15pm-8:15pm

Award Ceremony

IFMGA Graduation ceremony emceed by Monte Montepare

8:30pm

Party

Board Meeting

8:00am

Open to the Public

TBD

Closed to the Public

Pre- and Post-Conference Sessions

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Re-Cert

Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Cost: $250
Location: PTI

This course is targeted towards working mountain guides and will address and focus on issues, skills and problems that mountain guides will come across while working in mountain environments. This is a 2-day course with 8 hours of online content to be completed before the course. The online content is self paced and will be available 30 days prior to start of course.

This course will be held immediately after the AMGA annual meeting and is open to all mountain guides from any organization interested in education by and for mountain guides. This course will be taught by medical professionals with clinical emergency medicine experience and skills. Instructors bring a diverse background in emergency medicine and pre-hospital care.

WFR cards from other organizations such as WMI, WMA etc are honored and will be accepted as previous certification for recertification purposes. CPR certification will be offered. Contact Alan Oram [email protected] for additional questions.