American Mountain Guides Association

American Mountain Guides Association
Technical Director
Job Description

The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) is looking for an individual who is self-directed, highly organized, motivated, personable, and is active and familiar with all facets of the mountain guiding profession to serve as the Technical Director (TD) of the organization. The TD’s main responsibilities are to serve as the critical link between the technical and administrative branches of the AMGA and assist with the development and execution of the vision and strategic plan for all AMGA programs (Guide, Climbing Instructor and Accreditation). The TD should have a working knowledge of the practices, needs and standards of the American guiding and climbing instructor community, and understand how those needs and standards relate to the AMGA, International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA) and The International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) training and certification standards. We are looking for someone who is an effective and persuasive leader that possesses excellent communication skills and has the ability to direct the AMGA’s Technical Branch.

The TD oversees all technical aspects of the AMGA and is the AMGA technical representative to the IFMGA and UIAA. He or she must be intimately familiar with all disciplines (alpine, rock, and ski) and should have a successful track record working with the AMGA Instructor Team, Technical Committee and AMGA Administration. The TD must have a complete understanding of the AMGA Accreditation program, and both the Mountain Guide and Climbing Instructor career tracks, including the course framework, curriculum and effective teaching methodology that supports all AMGA disciplines.

The TD is a hired position and is expected to serve as a professional member of the AMGA Board of Directors. The TD reports directly to the AMGA Executive Director (ED) and is evaluated by the ED on an annual basis, receiving both a written and oral evaluation. The position is a remote position and entails travel to AMGA programs, events, the AMGA National Office, IFMGA meetings and AMGA Board of Director meetings.

Qualifications:

• Must be an IFMGA Guide
• Should have 15 years guiding experience
• Should have 3 years as a member of the AMGA Instructor Team
• Is currently actively guiding within two of the three core disciplines –alpine, rock, and ski
• Strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills both written and verbal
• Strong administrative skills and experience
• Good management and people skills
• Ability to work as a team member
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, and e-mail software (other word and spread sheet applications acceptable)
• Dedication to the value of AMGA education, training and credentials
• Ability to be objective and impartial and make decisions that are for the overall benefit of the AMGA and the guiding profession as a whole
• Ability to make decisions in a timely manner, follow through on projects, hold him or herself accountable
• Ability to delegate tasks and hold others accountable for their actions

Responsibilities:

Management of Technical Branch (Instructor Team, Discipline Coordinators and Technical Committee)

• Provide vision and leadership for the AMGA Technical Branch
• Determine prerequisites for, recruit, interview and select Discipline Coordinators and Technical Committee members that have the right technical and personal abilities to help further the AMGA’s mission
• Develop job description and qualifications for Instructor Team members
• Work with Program Director to recruit, interview and select Instructor Team members
• Ensure that all Instructor Team members, Discipline Coordinators and Technical Committee members receive an orientation to the AMGA and that appropriate training is provided
• Observe AMGA programs to identify strengths and weakness and ensure adequate training needs are addressed annually
• Plan and prepare annual Instructor Team training
• Manage, direct and hold accountable the AMGA Discipline Coordinators and Technical Committee
• Work with the Program Director to implement a performance management process for all Instructor Team members and Discipline Coordinators, which includes monitoring the performance on an on-going basis and conducting an annual performance review
• Coach and mentor Instructor Team and Discipline Coordinators as appropriate to improve performance
• Work with the Program Director to improve substandard performance by the Instructor Team and Discipline Coordinators when necessary, using appropriate corrective action
• Release Instructor Team members, Discipline Coordinators and Technical Committee members when necessary using appropriate and legally defensible procedures
• Work with the Program Director and Discipline Coordinators to effectively staff AMGA programs and finalize course schedules
• Approve additional schedule and venue additions
• Chair the Technical Committee. Obtain advice and support of Technical Committee as necessary to complete the above responsibilities
• Send out official notifications to entire AMGA staff when decisions are ratified by the Technical Committee
• Make a standing appointment of an alternate to act on appeals in the event that the Technical Director served as an examiner on the exam in question
• Establish a positive, healthy and safe work environment in accordance with all appropriate legislation and regulations

Program Development

• Must prepare and submit a draft five-year strategic plan for program development by June 2012 Board Meeting
• Uphold AMGA’s Mission and Vision
• Develop and implement all of the AMGA’s education and certification programs
• Develop training and certification programs that are responsive to the needs of the American guiding and climbing instructor profession
• Develop materials as necessary for the Training and Certification programs for maintenance, continuity and development
• Develop prerequisites for program participants
• Monitor program effectiveness and implementation
• Target new program venues and direct Program Director to apply for and secure permits
• Develop a systematic approach to communicating with Instructor Team members, Technical Committee members and Administrative Staff of organization
• Manage all program-related appeals process. Grant appeals, appoint committee members and oversee appeals process
• Respond to relevant member concerns in a timely and professional manner
• Track and record incidences and accidents on AMGA programs

International Relations

• Uphold the standards established by the IFMGA in the certifications required for IFMGA Mountain Guide status.
• Uphold the standards established by the UIAA to maintain UIAA endorsement of AMGA Climbing Instructor programs
• Facilitate Instructor exchanges with other IFMGA countries
• Maintain positive relationship between U.S, IFMGA and IFMGA Member Countries
• Maintain positive relationships between U.S, American Alpine Club and UIAA representatives
• Represent the AMGA at the meetings of the IFMGA Technical Commission
• Respond to requests from the IFMGA Technical Commission

Financial Planning and Management

• Work with Executive Director to prepare a comprehensive budget for the technical branch of the AMGA (including instructor wages and stipends, instructor team training requirements)
• Work with Executive Director to secure adequate funding for the training needs of the AMGA Instructor Team
• Participate in fundraising activities as appropriate

General

• Serve as the liaison between the administrative and technical branches of the AMGA
• Act jointly with and work toward the same end as the Program Director, Climbing Instructor Program Director and Accreditation Director
• Sit on the AMGA Board of Directors throughout tenure as Technical Director
• Submit weekly progress updates to Executive Director
• Submit monthly staff report to Executive Director
• Submit standardized board reports three-times per year and as requested
• Engage in monthly call with Executive Director and Program Director
• Participate in quarterly calls with the Program Director and Discipline Coordinators
• The TD is an educator who fosters the spirit and ethic of education in the Instructor Team, the membership, and organization
• Contribute to and approve final content for quarterly Instructor Team updates
• Contribute to Mountain Bulletin 4-times per year and other AMGA publications as requested
• Respond to and participate in discussions related to technical questions

Personal Characteristics:

• Adaptability: Demonstrate a willingness to be flexible, versatile and/or tolerant in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency
• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and business practices, and ensure that own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the AMGA
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the AMGA
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques
• Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the AMGA and to create new opportunities
• Focus on Membership Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of internal and external members to meet or exceed their expectations within the AMGA parameters
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance AMGA effectiveness
• Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the AMGA
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the AMGA
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, and monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the AMGA forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem
• Think Strategically: Assesses options and actions based on trends and conditions in the environment, and the vision and values of the AMGA

The Technical Director position is a part-time salaried position. The position will require 800 hours of work annually, 75% (600 hours, 12 hours/week) of which will be devoted to administrative work and the remaining 25% (200 hours) devoted to program observation. Starting salary will range from $20,000-$22,500 commensurate with experience. In addition the AMGA will reimburse all necessary, customary and usual expenses incurred while traveling for and on behalf of the AMGA pursuant to Executive Director’s direction. Health and dental insurance not included with part-time positions. For more information please visit www.amga.com.

Please submit cover letter, resume and three references to Betsy Winter at betsy@amga.com by 5 p.m MST Friday, July 22, 2011.

Boulder, Colorado—June 27, 2011—American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) today announced that Rob Hess would be stepping down as AMGA Technical Director (TD), a position he has held since 2005.

In that time, Rob was able to follow through on his vision of ensuring the AMGA training and certification programs were high quality and above all fair to the participant, while meeting and or exceeding the standards expected of an International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA) country. Rob successfully restructured the programs all while minimizing the impact on the members.

The TD oversees all technical aspects of the AMGA and is the AMGA technical representative to the IFMGA. The TD must be intimately familiar with all disciplines (alpine, rock, and ski mountaineering), and have a successful track record working with the AMGA Instructor Team, Technical Committee and AMGA Administration. The TD must have a complete understanding of both the AMGA Mountain Guide and Climbing Instructor career tracks and of the programs, curriculum and effective teaching methodology that support all AMGA disciplines.

“Rob Hess joined the AMGA as Technical Director during a critical time. The AMGA was undergoing major infrastructural challenges and Rob worked diligently to define our training and educational priorities and expand collaboration among the AMGA’s Technical Branch. Rob has been a tireless advocate committed to the successful integration of the international mountain guiding standard within the context of the American mountain guiding culture and profession. Much gratitude is owed for his successful efforts,” said Betsy Winter, AMGA’s Executive Director.

Rob will remain involved in the organization in an advisory role and of course as a course instructor and examiner in all disciplines. As well, he will continue his work in the ski discipline as to further some programs already on the table.

The AMGA is currently working to hire a replacement and will announce the new Technical Director at the Annual Meeting this fall in New Paltz, New York.

Contact:

Betsy Winter
betsy@amga.com
303.271.0984

About the AMGA

For 30 years the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) has been the premier source for training, services and credentials for professional mountain guides and climbing instructors in the United States. A national non-profit, the AMGA is committed to enhancing the quality of outdoor services provided to the public, while serving as a resource for access and protecting the natural environment. The AMGA is our nation’s exclusive representative to the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA), the international governing body responsible for guiding standards and education around the world.

Thanks to Art Mooney for sending this post our way.

Paul from Drexel University came up to NH to spend a couple of days guiding Terry and I around Whitehorse and Cathedral Ledge. Paul is preparing for the 6 day AMGA Rock Instructor Exam scheduled this September in NH. During the two days I picked the popular moderate routes which gave Paul a tour of both cliffs. Our first day we spent on the South Buttress and Central Slabs of Whitehorse and on day two we climbed on Cathedral Ledge.

Paul preparing the ropes for the descent from the top of Whitehorse. Here Paul used a pre rigged rappel for us.

Paul on the mid cliff anchor station. At this station Paul lowered Terry and set me up via a belayed rappel.

It was getting late and we wanted a few more pitches. Here Paul used a two roped simul belay system for speed.

Terry on the clean but slippery slabs of Whitehorse.

Paul on the 5.8 crack called Bombardment.

Good rope management is key for a smooth running system.

Paul leading Terry and I up Retaliation. This route is difficult so Paul chose to belay us one at a time – called Caterpillar Style.

There have been some excellent conversations going on about the AMGA, the IFMGA, and the CGC – this is going to be a long post, but I wanted to put it out there in FB world: I would like to add to the discussion and (I hope) address several of the issues with the AMGA, the IFMGA, and the CGC.

Photo Credit: Art Mooney

AMGA/IFMGA Guide and AMGA Instructor Pool member shares some insight into a day in the Rock Guide Course:
http://mooneymountainguides.blogspot.com/2011/04/days-on-rock-guide-course.html

To: AMGA IFMGA Guides
From: Margaret Wheeler

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all well, and having a good winter season. I have an update with
regards to the changes happening in France, and I have some important questions
that I hope you can help me with.

The Update:

1. The French translation of the AMGA Curriculum/Description of Programs is
complete, and this should be available from the office in the next week.

2. I met with representatives from ENSA and the SNGM in Chamonix on the 18th
of March, and we discussed many subjects with regards to foreign guides working
in France. One of the most time-sensitive issues that came up is the part of the
Equivalence/Carte Prof process called ‘Recyclage’. Please see the letter from
Laurence Raybois on the blog site http://blog.amga.com/?page_id=67 for
background information about this class.

There is currently a discussion about how to meet the increased need for Recyclage
courses (this has emerged as an important – and difficult to schedule – aspect of
the process). These courses are needed by many foreign guides as well as French
guides, and the French have been adding courses to accommodate the increased
demand (they have already gone from 3 to 8 courses in 2011). If you have already
submitted your Equivalence application, you may already be struggling to get into
a recyclage course…and if you are in the process of building your Equivalence
application, you can expect that this course will be part of the process required to
obtain your Carte Professionale.

The representatives from ENSA and the SNGM have been very helpful in providing
information and support as many foreign guides work through the evolution of this
process. For this issue, they have asked us for a count of how many US guides will
be applying for Equivalence this year, and how many will need to take a Recyclage
course as part of that process. Please see the questions below, and respond as soon
as possible.

One of the other topics we discussed was the issue of foreign guides being proficient
in French. The language requirement is explained on the blog (updated March 3rd);
as this process evolves it has become clear that some level of proficiency in French will
be very helpful for all foreign guides. If you are planning to apply for your
Equivalence/Carte Prof, I recommend that you take some steps to learn the basics of the
language that you need for guiding.

As you may have noticed, the situation is in continuing evolution, and I appreciate
all of your patience with the continuing changes. As confusing as the process may
seem, I hope you can all understand that the flux is occurring in France with regards
to all foreign guides, and that this evolution is the source of all of these changes.
The goal is to get all of this sorted out before the busy summer guiding season in
France…and if you have any questions about work for the April touring season,
please get in touch with me at marg@proguiding.com.

The Questions:

Please respond with your answers to marg@proguiding.com as soon as possible -
I will be giving my summary to ENSA on Thursday the 24th, so I need to hear back
from everyone by Wednesday, March 23rd.

1. Have you already submitted an application for Equivalence?

a. If so, on what date?

b. What communication have you received from the French since you
applied? Please summarize any further requirements you have
received.

2. Are you planning on submitting an application for your Equivalence?

a. If so, on what date will you send your application?

3. Have you applied to take the ‘Recyclage’ in France during the Spring 2011?

a. Have you been accepted or are you pending acceptance into a
Recyclage? If so, for what dates?

b. Do you have work booked in France for summer 2011? If so, roughly
how many days do you have booked?

Thank you all for your participation! I will tabulate the info in anonymous format
in a spreadsheet (ie no names, just numbers for each response), and we will utilize
these numbers to work with ENSA and the SNGM to help get US guides on solid
ground for the summer work season.

You can expect more information in the coming weeks – updates will be posted on the blog site.

All the best,

Margaret

Arc’teryx – Jed Porter
Backcountry Access – Patrick Ormond
Black Diamond – Ben Gardner
Chad VanderHam Niice Fund – Silas Rossi
First Ascent – Gary Falk
GORE-TEX® – Joey Thompson
Jim Ratz Memorial – Peter Doucette
Jeep – Tracy Martin
Julie Cheney Culberson Educational Fund – Sheldon Kerr
Mammut – Kel Rossiter
Marmot – Liz Smart
Mike Hattrup – Don Carpenter
Mountain Hardwear – Andrew Councell
Outdoor Research – Tim Brown
Osprey – Don Roth
Patagonia – Lindsay Fixmer
Doug Parker & Roger Baxter-Jones Memorial – Jesse Williams
Petzl – Ryan Stefiuk
The North Face – Mike Soucy
Walker Family Foundation – Jayson Simons-Jones

Equivalence and Carte Professionnelle
Compiled by Geoff Unger with assistance from Margaret Wheeler, Miles Smart, and Laurence Raybois

Background Information:  There have been some new developments for foreign guides working in France that have come to light this year, and as a result of these changes the guides at the SNGM (the french guiding association) have asked the AMGA to communicate information to US guides about what is needed to work in France.  According to the French law, if a foreign guide is working in France, he or she must apply for the following:

1.  Recognition of their guide’s diploma (Equivalence)

2.  A guiding license in France (Carte Professionnelle)

These laws apply to guides from any country, working with clients from any country.  For reference, note that these laws and processes have been evolving over a period of years, but their implementation and enforcement has come into focus in the past year (2010 – 2011).

Disclaimer: Please note that this summary has been built as a result the experience of guides who have gone through the Equivalence process.  What you are required to submit may vary or evolve!

Equivalence and Carte Prof:  Context and Information

The first step in the process is to gain your Equivalence.  This is where the French government recognizes the guide diploma that you have obtained in your home country. Items 1-9 are required for your Equivalence application.  Items 10 – 12 are related to your Carte Prof (see below), but should be submitted with your Equivalence Application.  The second step in the process is to apply for your Carte Professionnelle.  Further details for this process (including the application form) will follow in updated versions of this document.

Included here is the content of a letter from Laurence Raybois, a consultant who has been assisting US guides in navigating the paperwork and structural landscape of living and/or working in France.   She sheds more light on the both aspects of the process, and offers insight into the situation.

Hello everyone,

In the last couple of weeks, it has come to my attention that the guides wanting to work in France are now being asked for more documents than had been previously needed, when applying for their equivalence to the French Ministère des Sports.

When the first such case was brought to my attention, I dismissed it as a mistake, particularly since, just a few days earlier, I had been on the phone with the administration in charge of processing all requests, on behalf of one particular guide going through the process, and was told nothing that would indicate that things had changed.  After I started hearing about other such situations, I decided to get to the bottom of it. I had a preliminary conversation with Marc Vernier a week ago, and a longer conversation with Céline Fiore last Friday.  Both of them, and a few other people, make up the staff of the Pole national des métiers de l’encadrement du ski et de l’alpinisme.  The office is where the process starts for all the equivalence requests.  Here is what I learnt:

There are actually three parts to this issue.  I will describe each part first, then explain how they intertwine and result in the above situation. Back a little while ago, the Syndicat National des Guides de Montagne, seeing that a lot of foreign guides were now coming to work in France, lobbied the Ministère des sports in Paris and obtained that all incoming foreign guides be subjected to a 1-2 day sort of continuing education session meant to acquaint them with the specificity of the profession in France.  The French government refers to it as “recyclage.” This is just now starting to be implemented.

Independently from this, it was brought to the attention of the French government that very few of the foreign guides were getting their carte professionnelle.  In order to make it happen for everyone, it was decided that foreign guides had to show (and therefore be in possession of) their carte professionnelle at the recyclage.

The above would have been fine, and very easily done, if it were not for the fact that, independently from all of this, the administration delivering the

Carte professionnelle had decided to require that foreign guides first go through the recyclage process as a condition to obtaining their carte professionnelle.

So, in summary, the incoming foreign guides are now finding themselves in a situation where one needs A in order to get B, but also needs B in order to get A.  While this sounds incredible, it is not that uncommon in France.  I have recently run into such a situation regarding car registration.  You need a valid Carte grise in order to get your contrôle technique validated, but you need to have your contrôle technique validated in order to renew your Carte grise.  If you have an expired Carte grise, then you are out of luck, and it usually takes a sympathetic government worker to unofficially waive one of these requirements for the situation to be resolved.

When the Pole national de l’encadrement des métiers du ski et de l’alpinisme became aware of this situation, they decided to get involved, in order to keep the above scenario from happening, possibly to be helpful, but also to avoid needing to undo the mess, one case at a time, after the fact.  They inserted themselves in the carte professionnelle process, creating a temporary carte professionnelle status for each incoming foreign guide seeking an equivalence, and at the same time as the equivalence.  CélineFiore explained to me that they don’t go all the way through in processing the carte professionnelle, but go far enough that it gives guides the opportunity to go through the recyclage.  Once the guide has gone through the recyclage, the carte professionnelle’s process can then be finalized.  So, for the past few weeks, each time they received a new equivalence request from an American guide, they promptly wrote back, asking for more documents that were meant to process the carte professionnelle, and not the equivalence.  However, they offered no explanation, leading many of you to believe that your request had been denied, or your equivalence file was incomplete.  Céline Fiore assures me that nothing has changed in regards to the equivalence.

The three documents needed for the carte professionnelle are (1) a document stating that you have no criminal background, (2) a statement from your physician that you are physically able to practice your profession, and (3) proof that you have very basic French skills, as needed to handle emergency situations (there is a twist to that requirement, so please read further).

Document (1) can be obtained very easily from the State Patrol in your state. Those of you who are going through a visa/Carte de séjour process will need it for that as well, or possibly already have it. I made the point to Marc Vernier that that was a state, and not a nationwide document, and he said that they would accept it.  Document (2) can be done by your US physician, if that’s what works for you, and I was told that it would be accepted.  Just for your information, this is a very common request in France, so physicians are used to writing these without even looking at you, and for the modest sum of just over 20 euros.  Document (3) is something I first discussed with Marc Vernier a week ago.  He said that any document from a school would do, or, if preferred, one could stop by his office to just talk…so that he could make that assessment himself.  Yet when I talked to Céline Fiore a few days later, she specifically said that I should convey to all the guides not to worry about the language requirement, and simply provide the first two documents.  She took me by surprise, and I asked again at the end of the conversation.  She repeated her initial statement.   It does not mean that the legal requirement goes away, but, rather, that it is acceptable to submit an application without the third document.

I hope that you will find this helpful.  By all means, please let me know if your experience appears to contradict any of it.  Céline Fiore asked for my contact information so that she would pass along to me any changes in French legislation that might impact out-of-EU mountain guides, and I certainly will pass this on to you.  I asked if she knew of any forthcoming changes, and she said she did not. The SNGM was successful in bringing about such a change, and I hope that they will leave it at that.

Very best to all of you!

Equivalence Application

The following is a list of documents to include in your Equivalence Application.  Please see “Contacts and Resources” below for translation resources and other sources of assistance to navigate this process.

1. Completed and Signed ‘Dossier Demande D’Equivalence’ (In French) – see Reference Document 1 for the blank form.

2. Letter of Motivation – In French – Hand written and signed

3. Photocopy of Passport

4. Copy of your UIAGM guide card

5a. Copies of all your Certificates from the AMGA and AIARE Level III Certificate

5b. Translations of those into French by a certified translator.

6a. Letter from Executive Director of the AMGA attesting to your certifications

6b. Translation of that letter

7a. Letter from an employer attesting to your character and qualifications

7b. Translation of that letter

8a. Guiding Resume

8b. Translation of your guiding resume

9a. Copy of the AMGA curriculum (including prerequisites)

9b. Translation of the curriculum*

10a. Copy of your criminal record

10b. Translation of that by a certified translator

(You may also want to submit a photocopy of your drivers license from your state of residence)

11a. Medical Certificate stating that you are fit to carry out the guiding profession.

11b. Translation of that document by a certified translator.

12. One of three documents attesting to competency in the French Language (Document in French)**

a. Copy of a certificate from an assured French language program

b. Copy of a certificate justifying your level of French by a specialized organization.

c. Copy of a document attesting to professional experience acquired in France

Note: It is a good idea to have competency in French to work as a guide in France, however, the French may be a bit more flexible on this requirement.  Submitting an attestation to your competency in French will only aid your application.

*The 2011 AMGA curriculum and program description is being translated into French and should be available in electronic format in early March 2011.  Please contact the AMGA office after March 7 for information.

**Please see reference to this in Laurence’s letter, above.

Where to send your documents:

Attn: Céline Fiore
Direction Départementale de la Jeunesse et des Sports
11 Avenue Paul Verlaine
BP 2428
38034 GRENOBLE CEDEX 2

Téléphone : 04.57.38.65.38
Télécopie : 04.76.40.82.14
Messagerie : dd038@jeunesse-sports.gouv.fr

Contacts and Resources

1.  Consulting for Living/Working in France

Laurence Raybois Consulting
poliana@yourfrenchhome.com
(425) 246-9649

http://www.yourfrenchhome.co

2.  Certified Translator (this means that the content of the translation is researched and verified).

Francoise Cottet
francoise.cottet@gmail.com

Reference Documents:

1. Dossier Demande D’Equivalence
2. Contact Information for the Direction Departementale

Is Guiding Appropriate in National Parks?

The National Park Service has released an updated draft of its wilderness management policies. The update covers a wide range of climbing management topics including provisions specific to commercial services. Iconic climbing areas in the U.S.-including Yosemite, Zion, Black Canyon, and Rocky Mountain national parks-will be governed by this new policy. The AMGA is soliciting input from members to inform our policy position on this critically important issue. Click here to learn more about section 7.3 Commercial Services.

http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=34639

The public comment period ends March 10. Contact Leigh Goldberg in the AMGA office with your input.

Commercial Guiding in Arches National Park – Comments Due March 13

Arches National Park is developing a Climbing and Canyoneering Management Plan, which will have implications for commercial guiding in both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. The park just released four proposed alternatives, some of which include new opportunities for commercial guiding. If you have any input on guiding in Arches or Canyonlands, please contact the AMGA office or email Leigh Goldberg at access.director@amga.com. Click here to read more about Arches’ public comment process.

http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=31985

Climbing Allocations on Denali

Denali National Park and Preserve is preparing an Environmental Assessment regarding the allocation of climbing permits between commercial guided climbing operators and independent climbers on Mount McKinley. The AMGA has submitted initial scoping comments for round one. If you would like to receive a copy or provide input to the AMGA for the public comment period, please send an email to access.director@amga.com or call the AMGA Office. The final round of comments will occur in the spring of 2011 following release of the environmental assessment.

Here is information and the schedule for the 2011 Climbing Instructor Program Provider Pool trainings.These trainings are for highly experienced guides and climbing instructors who would like to become AMGA licensed providers for the Single Pitch Instructor or Climbing Wall Instructor programs or both.To determine if you meet the prerequisites to join the Provider Pool and to get an overview of the process involved, go to the following links:

For the SPI Programs go to – www.amga.com/programs/SPIprovider_requirements.php

For the CWI Program go to – http://www.amga.com/programs/CWIprovider_training.php

SPI Provider Pool Training locations, dates, and cost are:

• Joshua Tree National Park, CA          March 12-13                  $300 (Full)
• Boulder, CO                                            May 25-26                     $300
• New Paltz, NY                                        October 24-25              $300

Adam Fox will be the Trainer for the March and October trainings; John Bicknell will be the Trainer for the May training.

A note to current SPI Providers:

Attending Day 2 of any of these trainings will meet the requirement for maintaining SPI Provider status.There will be a limited number of spaces available that will be filled on a first come basis.Another option for renewing is, on October 23, a one-day SPI Program Provider Refresher will be held in New Paltz, New York in conjunction with the AMGA Annual Meeting.Contact me if you would like to attend any of these trainings. The cost for the one day refresher or for attending day 2 of a Provider Training is $75.

CWI Provider Pool Training locations, dates, cost and trainers are:

• Baylor University, TX           May 5-6                         $300    Kelli McMahan
• Boulder, CO                            May 10-11                      $300    John Bicknell
• Boston, MA                            October 3-4                    $300    Joe Lentini
• San Antonio, TX                    November 6-7               $300    TBD

The Boulder training will precede the Climbing Wall Association Annual Conference; the Boston training will precede the Wilderness Risk Management Conference; the San Antonio training will follow the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education.The San Antonio dates are subject to change based on the AORE schedule.

These CWI trainings are aimed toward individuals who manage indoor climbing walls and climbing structures, have significant indoor climbing and teaching experience, and who have an interest in offering this AMGA certification program to their clients, staff or students.

Both the AMGA Climbing Wall Instructor Program and the AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Program have been recognized and endorsed as meeting the “training standards” of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA.)

Interested parties should contact Ed Crothers, AMGA Climbing Instructor Program Director, by email at: ed@amga.com or by phone at: 303-271-0984.