The AMGA’s new “two week” rule is more stressful than the exam itself… The new rule is designed to give both the candidates and examiners some time to appropriately process feedback and reflect on the learning experience. In past courses and exams, candidates were immediately informed of their final score- resulting in either gleeful satisfaction or (I can only imagine) regret and disbelief!

Although I am generally in favor of the idea behind the new rule, the suspense of waiting for the final word is less than fun. So, despite receiving some great feedback during the course: the more time that goes by, the less positive my memories become.

Speaking of courses and exams- check out this link to a post that I wrote over on the Osprey Packs blog of my experiences in Chamonix.

For now, I am back in Crested Butte obsessively checking my email and my.amga.com for the exam results and getting things sorted for the winter season. There are a ton of great offerings both here in CB and abroad, so check back for website updates often.

MB

Yesterday marked the end of the seemingly endless 12 days of the American Mountain Guides Association’s Advanced Alpine Guides Course and Aspirant Exam. After the kilometers of shortroping, shortpitching, and everything in between- I am now certified as an IFMGA Aspirant Guide.

Those of you who are familiar with this process will note that this was my last course in the program and now only have two final exams remaining until I can truly call myself a bonafide internationally certified mountain guide. Yes, all very interesting. Also of note, I was “put through the ringer” during this exam as the examiner wanted to make sure that I was thoroughly examined before being granted my aspirant status as I would be representing the AMGA on the equivalent of the “world’s stage” here in Chamonix.

Weather during the course ran the full spectrum- bluebird days as pictured here to full on “Alpine” conditions climbing in our warmest layers and everything in between. Inconveniently, I managed to develop a rather serious illness during the course that we were calling “avian swine-flu” which made this already very demanding program that much more challenging. Even with all the poor weather we often mused over croissants about the fact that we were far from suffering and happy to not be holed up in a leaky lightweight tent in the North Cascades (the site of many saturated AAGC’s).

I’d recommend a visit to Chamonix for anyone pursuing guiding as a career as the terrain here is absolutely second to none! Throughout the course our skills (and sometimes lack thereof) were spotlighted in this complex terrain. The perfect place to refine skills without the hindrance of long approaches.
Thank you to my colleagues on the course, Jesse Williams, Kip Davis, and instructor/examiner Michael Silitch for a great time in the mountains. And a huge Thank You to Osprey Packs for the scholarship that enabled me to participate in this course!

-mb