What Constitutes a Mountain Guide?

A Mountain Guide is someone with the IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides Association) carnet, the highest qualification in the world for leading people in the mountains, whether skiing, climbing or mountaineering. A BMG (British Mountain Guide) holds the IFMGA carnet, which is the only UK qualification valid abroad for climbing and skiing off-piste on glacial terrain.

Mountain Guides have a passion for the mountains. Wherever they live and work, they will have a mass of experience, from rock climbing to Scottish winter, mountaineering and skiing all over the Alps, and experience of difficult climbs and remote mountains in other ranges around the world.

A Mountain Guide's mountaineering background is consolidated with a rigorous training and assessment course lasting up to 5 years, with an apprenticeship period working alongside experienced Mountain Guides for 2 years before being finally certified to lead people in the mountains. Regular professional development training keeps Mountain Guides up-to-date with the latest techniques and standards. In short, Mountain Guides are international mountain experts.

 > Grande Motte <