THE VALUE OF HIRING A GUIDE (from http://www.amga.com)
When one decides to take an adventure into the mountains…the question naturally arises...to hire or not to hire a guide?

Here at the AMGA we value the significance of this question. It is the basis for our organization. We are dedicated to protecting the public interest in mountain travel. It is our responsibility to train, asses and certify the individuals and /or services who want to make a profession out of mountain guiding and earn an AMGA certification or accreditation.

Hiring an AMGA Certified Guide or Accredited Guide Service is the best way to introduce yourself to the sports of climbing or skiing, increase your technical skills, proper use of equipment, and expose yourself to the many genres of climbing. The unique characteristics of a trained guide will enhance your climbing experience; personality, people skills, technical skills, ability to teach and coach, safety awareness, sound judgment, mountain sense, rescue skills, and credentials.

As in any country, anyone can claim to be a mountain guide, but there exists recognized organizations that certify individuals in the disciplines of climbing and skiing. In the United States, this such organization is the American Mountain Guides Association. The AMGA certifies individuals in the following areas: Single Pitch Instructor, Top Rope Site Manager, Rock Instructor, Rock Guide, Alpine Guide, Ski Guide, and Ski Mountaineering Guide. The standards of the AMGA are recognized in the global guiding organization, Union de Internationale des Associations de Guide de Montagne (UIAGM) or also known as the International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGA).

AMGA Certified Guides or Accredited Guide Services provide high quality adventures through challenging terrain. Whether it is mountaineering, rock climbing or skiing the primary goal is to maximize client rewards while minimizing risks. Certification and accreditation provides a consistent and meaningful standard by which to judge the reliability and professionalism of a climbing guide or guide service. It informs the general public and land managers that guides who are certified have received formal training appropriate to the terrain they guide.

Top Ten Reasons to Hire a Certified Guide or Accredited Guide Service

• AMGA certified guides have received the highest international standard of training and certification for professional mountain guides.

• AMGA certified guides and accredited guide services are dedicated to excellence in their profession.

• Most certified guides are career guides who work 300 plus days a year, nationally and internationally, in an array of disciplines. Mountain guiding is their lifelong profession.

• AMGA guides represent the highest echelon of US guides.

• Professionalism is unrivaled. AMGA guides are familiar with a wide array of techniques and are some of the most experienced guides in the industry.

• AMGA guides have a diversity of experience and have incredible backgrounds of personal climbing endeavors.

• AMGA guides are trained to put in plenty of prep work before going for the main attraction and continually have an updated knowledge of climbing areas.

• AMGA guides have a keen awareness of minimal impact climbing techniques

• You are in the best possible hands. AMGA certified guides know that getting up is not as important as going down and they know the right things to say to inspire confidence in and get the best performance out of their partners. AMGA guides always put their partners' needs ahead of their own.

• They are the best at what they do.