Gabe Coler – 2016 Mountain Hardwear Scholarship Recipient
This Ski Guide Exam was my last step in the process of becoming an AMGA Certified Mountain Guide. This was a process that started twelve years ago in a cold New Hampshire November when I took my Rock Instructor Course with Marc Chauvin. Back then I was rock guiding during the summer at Smith Rock, coaching xc skiing during winters in New England, and pretty much spending all of my resources to be climbing! Now I’m a husband, father, and new homeowner. Guiding has evolved into a full time career for me here in Central Oregon. Twelve years ago I didn’t even know how to alpine ski, and now I have skis on my feet almost every day during the winter. My abilities as a guide have grown extensively due to my local mentors like Jim Ablao, Jonas Tarlan and Pete Keane; I’ve also improved my technical skills and learned so much about the scope of guiding through all of the great instructors and examiners I’ve had in the AMGA.
While the rock and alpine disciplines came easily to me, I’ve had to work pretty hard to become a Ski Guide. By work, I mean spend a lot of time skiing… not so bad! I always loved skiing, but I grew up with skinny skis on my feet, so it’s been a long transition to alpine boards. Now I spend many more days ski guiding than alpine guiding. That said, I have a two year old son named Soren. While I ski a ton for work, all of my free time involves skate skiing with him towed behind me, a couple of runs on the free lift with him and then rushing home for nap time. I definitely went into the exam feeling prepared but still stressed.
Our examiners Amos and Farmer did an awesome job of assigning us really fun tours that were realistic guiding objectives for the conditions. That made everything easier and less stressful. We got to do tours that were tours I really wanted to do, so I could feel like I was just going to work in an amazing venue.
My first tour was up the Illecillewaet glacier and down the Ravens. I’d been up the glacier a few times during my training days to ski the Seven Steps of Paradise and Forever Young. Of course I got assigned the descent. But I was psyched! As I remember, we had considerable avalanche hazard in alpine terrain, but the aspect of our decent seemed to avoid the current problems. There were definitely unforeseen challenges like significant terrain features that were hidden on our Canadian maps, and the skiing wasn’t blower powder, but I felt like I provided us with a smooth, quality run!
Our next tour was the Tupper traverse, and although the skiing quality was pretty varied it was a great tour in the mountains and one I’d wanted to do for the last year.
I learned a lot during my ski exam. I got great feedback from my examiners, but even more than that it was valuable to spend so much time in a new venue with such a critical eye on my own decision making and guiding! I came away more humble about the preparation I needed to do for onsight guiding in bigger terrain, but also confident in my abilities, and with a much clearer understanding of what I am capable of guiding onsight. I feel much more prepared to guide in new ranges, although I’m sure I’ll continue to learn and refine my judgment when it comes to planning tours to new areas.
Thank you very much to Mountain Hardware for the scholarship. Along with less time for personal powder skiing and travel, having a family also means more monetary constraints, and I am appreciative of Mountain Hardware for helping me to pay for this exam and achieve my full certification!
