Finding Work As A Hiking / Backcountry Guide

You love the outdoors, and you’ve wondered how you can turn your passion into a career as a hiking guide: we can help! A career guiding tourists or other outdoor enthusiasts can be very rewarding: you will have all the pleasures of the trails and hills, as well as the fulfillment of showing others the best routes and views. There are many things you should know about becoming a backcountry hiking guide, and we’ve put them all in a convenient list for you, along with useful links that can really get you started!

Things You Should Know About Becoming A Hiking Guide

• Qualifications: If life outdoors seems more natural and pleasing than the office grind, this career could suit you very well. It’s important to consider your aptitude out-of-doors: are you blessed with the basic survival skills and sense of direction you’ll need every day? If you are, then you must become qualified. The best way to get started is to consider the things an employer, such as a resort of private outdoor experience provider, will be looking for. The first is first aid, CPR, and other such qualifications. You won’t be guiding tourists unless you can handle anything that might arise in the backcountry to your employer’s satisfaction. Get these qualifications through the Red Cross or another trusted source.
• Experience: Once you’ve embarked on crucial safety training, you must think about what else you can offer to a prospective employer. You’ll need to demonstrate real familiarity with the backcountry area you are interested in. If you can show people that you are aware of all trails and features of an area, and what is safe and dangerous, you will be able to assure them you can guide people effectively.
• Volunteer To Get Started: In any career, it can be hard to get your foot in the door. You can develop excellent experience that leads to a paying job by volunteering in your area, with respected organization like New Mexico’s Friends of The Sandia Mountain, who assist in keeping the trails clean and safe. Look around your area and see what programs are out there: it’s a really good way to start your guiding career. It has other benefits, too: you’ll find a lot of like-minded people who enjoy exactly the same things you do: you may make lifelong friendships. www.sandiahiking.com
• Find Employers: There are so many ski resorts that offer guided tours of the surrounding backcountry, summer and winter! They are your best bet for employment that is secure. Also, consider organizations like Outward Bound, who also need staff regularly. Once you’re fully qualified with safety certification and work experience, you’ll be ready to show other people everything you’ve learned about the outdoor experience! www.outwardbound.org
• Keep Learning: If you continue to upgrade your education and experience, you can develop your skills to their greatest potential. Someday, you may be in a position to run your own business, hiring other guides under you own direction.