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25/09/05: Passed ACMG Assistant Rock Guide Exam
After
living in the mountains for 13 years and watching all my friends go
through the rigorous process of becoming a mountain guide, I finally
decided to give it a go and become a guide. As a father now supporting
a family, guiding is an obvious career move, plus, it is something I
always wanted to do but was way to busy climbing and going on expeditions.
I spent my summer taking an Advanced Wilderness First Aid course (10
days), the guide training course (8 days), the exam (8 days) and climbing
as many classic moderates as possible. For me, it was like a stroll
down memory lane since I had done many of these routes when I first
moved to the Rockies. It was fun to re-climb routes like Grillmair Chimney
and the Northeast Buttress of Ha Ling. 13 years ago these were both
all-day scare-fests which now have become enjoyable half-day romps.
I ended up slogging up to Yamnuska, a cliff I purposefully avoided the
past few years as I searched for more solid stone, almost 20 times this
summer in addition to many days spent on the other big limestone faces
of the Bow Valley. My training prepared me well for the exam which I
passed with a strong recommendation to continue into the Alpine program
this winter and next summer. I am excited about my future profession
which will keep me in the hills as well as food on the family table.
copyright 2004: SeanIsaac.com