2012 Julie Cheney Culberson Educational Fund recipient Lyra Pierroti’s Rock Exam photos

Lyra Pierroti, the 2012 Julie Cheney Culberson Educational Fund recipient, sent us photos from her Rock Exam.

2013 Jim Ratz Scholarship recipient Jediah Porter reflects on his final ski exam

It’s done. Since 2007 I have been pursuing AMGA dreams. The American Mountain Guides Association trains and certifies guides. Just a couple weeks ago I successfully completed the final Ski Exam. In doing so, and having already passed similar exams on Rock and Alpine terrain, I have earned full “internationally-recognized” certification. The International Federation of […]

2012 Jim Ratz Memorial Scholarship recipient Eric Whewell sent us these photos

Eric Whewell, recipient of the 2012 Jim Ratz Memorial Scholarship, sent us these photos from his ski exam.

Paul Koubek on receiving the 2012 Walker Family Foundation Scholarship

In 2012, I was the fortunate recipient of the Walker Family Foundation Scholarship, which made it possible for me to attend the AMGA Rock Guide Course and Aspirant Exam in Red Rocks, Nevada that took place October 2-11, 2012. As a working guide with over 15 years of work experience leading groups in the outdoors […]

On Becoming a Better Guide: 5 reasons to take an AMGA Alpine Course

By Emilie Drinkwater, the 2012 Patagonia Woman’s Scholarship recipient Two winters ago I found myself slightly off-route and desperately run-out on a rime covered rock face not far below the summit of New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington.  I glanced down at my two clients, huddled together while wind and icy sleet pellets blasted them from above. […]

Mountain Hardwear Scholarship recipient Christopher Marshall on the AMGA Ski Guide Course

The 2012 AMGA Ski Guide Course started off with a bang, and by bang, I mean a healthy Cascadian dose of rain, freezing rain, graupel, and fog. Two half-days of technique clinics on the ski area mixed well with an introduction and information sharing of down guiding considerations and techniques. Unfavorable weather conditions and complex […]

Spoiler Alert: I passed my AMGA Rock Guide Aspirant Exam

By Cliff Agocs, the 2012 Marmot Scholarship recipient The pressure was on after receiving the Marmot scholarship. It wasn’t about my money anymore. Now it was about my reputation. If I fail, I reasoned, they’ll never give me another scholarship. I practiced rock-rescue all winter long. My climbing partners grew suspicious every time I suggested […]

Mammut 2012 Scholarship Recipient Ian Havlick on taking the Advanced Alpine Guide Course

Ian Havlick was the 2013 Mammut Scholarship recipient. Here is the account from his Rock Instructor Course.  In late April 2013, I made the drive from Crested Butte, Colo., in south Central Colorado, to central Oregon and Smith Rock State Park, where the American Mountain Guides Association hosted the entry-level course for the rock and […]

2012 GORE-TEX Scholarship recipient Jesse Williams

I would like to thank Gore-Tex for their support of American mountain guides. I was the fortunate recipient of the 2012 AMGA GORE-TEX® scholarship, which I applied toward the Ski Mountaineering Exam in Roger’s Pass, British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies, Alberta. With a unique blend of Alps-scale terrain, huts and helicopter access, combined with a […]

Rossi/Doucette Send 2 Years Running

On April 20, Silas Rossi and Peter Doucette climbed Twisted Stair (V WI6 R/X M6+, 2,300′), a new route on Mt. Johnson (8,460′). This article was originally published in Issue #1 of the GUIDE Bulletin, August 2013. Of the route, Rossi says: “On a route where you’re doing a first ascent like that, it’s always […]