Jason, I have watched a few of your videos about transitioning into guiding. It was the inspirational push I needed. Because of your videos I have complete the SPI course, and this past weekend passed my SPI assessment. I intend to continue on the AMGA track farther. I just wanted to Thank you for making videos and sharing them. I am sure it is a lot of work, thank you!
awesome! congrats on completing your SPI. What part of the country will you plan to guide? Appreciate the compliment, it is a lot of work for sure, but these types of comments are good motivation for me. I also made a video on the Rock Guide Course which is your next stop. If you haven't watched it, worth checking out.
@@summitseekersexperienceI am from the north east and plan on working out of the Gunks and Adirondacks at first but will probably relocate down the road. I have not watched the videos on the rock guide course yet, but I certainly will. Thanks again, 👍
When did Jason S. start climbing? Im 31 and i want to be multi pitch certified as well. However im not single pitch yet. Just trying to gauge things. Thanks.
I started rock climbing at 30 (had been mountain climbing already). I got SPI certified around 38 or so but had been guiding backpacking for a few years by then which transferred a lot of the client management skills. Short answer for you: You have plenty of time to pursue your dreams... but you need to take the first step.
Great Video. For the SPI, I know some of the requirements are 12 months prior climbing experience, and some trad leading experience. Are there any other requirements for the SPI? And do you have any tips for completing the SPI? Thank you.
You can check the AMGA website, I believe there are a minimal number of trad climbs required although I think they can be easy ones (5.6 level). As far as tips, I'd recommend having a plan for how you will utilize your guide skills. I see a lot of people go through these programs with no plans to actually work as a guide and with this stuff, if you don't use it you lose it. I would not recommend going through these programs (even SPI) just to "gain the knowledge". You can just take a self rescue course or something like that and learn just as much without the stress. Lastly, make sure you are dialed in for your exam, there is not much room for failure.
@@summitseekersexperience Okay, I’ll take a look. As of right now, I would like to take the SPI to become a guide while doing some other work on the side. Thank you for the help.
Do you have advice on how to afford AMGA courses? Are there scholarships or sponsorships available? Are there any Ph.D. programs that lead to this certification? I was looking for graduate programs in mountaineering, but didn't find any. What would I do if I want to get into this at a professional, academic level and become an instructor? Is the closest thing a Ph.D. in geology? Is there any scientific research involving mountaineering which is part of a Ph.D. program? How can I combine my desire for scientific research with my desire for being out in the field in the mountains? I have so many questions!! I recently graduated with my bachelor's in biology and am interested in working in the field, but I'm not really interested in studying marine ecosystems and my true desires are in the mountains. I'm interested in teaching and research, but I want it to be in the mountains. Is this a thing of the past when mountains were unexplored? How can I make this into my professional career? I appreciate any information, thank you so much!
Brah, a lot of questions. At the end of the day, if you want to make guiding a career, you don't need (or want) to go the academic route, that would be basically useless. You want to pursue one of the AMGA guide tracks that gets you in the environment you want to be in. Through the AMGA guide tracks, you can become an instructor of other guides once you achieve a certain certification and do all the pre-reqs (shadowing, etc.). Now if you want to study geology, then by all means, become a geologist. But having a geology degree (or outdoor education degree) will not get you anywhere closer to becoming a guide than just having no degree and pursuing the guide tracks that are appropriate. In regards to research, there's not much application in the guiding world. Perhaps you could pursue working for one of the companies that makes products like Petzl or Black Diamond. There you can do research on athlete's and guide's needs and situations and develop products. These jobs are few and far between, but like anything in life, if you pursue it tenaciously you will be victorious.
Jason, I have watched a few of your videos about transitioning into guiding. It was the inspirational push I needed. Because of your videos I have complete the SPI course, and this past weekend passed my SPI assessment. I intend to continue on the AMGA track farther. I just wanted to Thank you for making videos and sharing them. I am sure it is a lot of work, thank you!
awesome! congrats on completing your SPI. What part of the country will you plan to guide? Appreciate the compliment, it is a lot of work for sure, but these types of comments are good motivation for me. I also made a video on the Rock Guide Course which is your next stop. If you haven't watched it, worth checking out.
@@summitseekersexperienceI am from the north east and plan on working out of the Gunks and Adirondacks at first but will probably relocate down the road. I have not watched the videos on the rock guide course yet, but I certainly will. Thanks again, 👍
Thank you so much I really appreciate your honesty. This was really helpful
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for this info!
When did Jason S. start climbing? Im 31 and i want to be multi pitch certified as well. However im not single pitch yet. Just trying to gauge things. Thanks.
I started rock climbing at 30 (had been mountain climbing already). I got SPI certified around 38 or so but had been guiding backpacking for a few years by then which transferred a lot of the client management skills. Short answer for you: You have plenty of time to pursue your dreams... but you need to take the first step.
@@summitseekersexperience definitely already in pursuit. Just got cpr, first-aid, AED certified but that’s exactly what i wanted to hear, thank you.
Great Video. For the SPI, I know some of the requirements are 12 months prior climbing experience, and some trad leading experience. Are there any other requirements for the SPI? And do you have any tips for completing the SPI? Thank you.
You can check the AMGA website, I believe there are a minimal number of trad climbs required although I think they can be easy ones (5.6 level). As far as tips, I'd recommend having a plan for how you will utilize your guide skills. I see a lot of people go through these programs with no plans to actually work as a guide and with this stuff, if you don't use it you lose it. I would not recommend going through these programs (even SPI) just to "gain the knowledge". You can just take a self rescue course or something like that and learn just as much without the stress. Lastly, make sure you are dialed in for your exam, there is not much room for failure.
@@summitseekersexperience Okay, I’ll take a look. As of right now, I would like to take the SPI to become a guide while doing some other work on the side. Thank you for the help.
Do you have advice on how to afford AMGA courses? Are there scholarships or sponsorships available? Are there any Ph.D. programs that lead to this certification? I was looking for graduate programs in mountaineering, but didn't find any. What would I do if I want to get into this at a professional, academic level and become an instructor? Is the closest thing a Ph.D. in geology? Is there any scientific research involving mountaineering which is part of a Ph.D. program? How can I combine my desire for scientific research with my desire for being out in the field in the mountains? I have so many questions!! I recently graduated with my bachelor's in biology and am interested in working in the field, but I'm not really interested in studying marine ecosystems and my true desires are in the mountains. I'm interested in teaching and research, but I want it to be in the mountains. Is this a thing of the past when mountains were unexplored? How can I make this into my professional career? I appreciate any information, thank you so much!
Brah, a lot of questions. At the end of the day, if you want to make guiding a career, you don't need (or want) to go the academic route, that would be basically useless. You want to pursue one of the AMGA guide tracks that gets you in the environment you want to be in. Through the AMGA guide tracks, you can become an instructor of other guides once you achieve a certain certification and do all the pre-reqs (shadowing, etc.). Now if you want to study geology, then by all means, become a geologist. But having a geology degree (or outdoor education degree) will not get you anywhere closer to becoming a guide than just having no degree and pursuing the guide tracks that are appropriate. In regards to research, there's not much application in the guiding world. Perhaps you could pursue working for one of the companies that makes products like Petzl or Black Diamond. There you can do research on athlete's and guide's needs and situations and develop products. These jobs are few and far between, but like anything in life, if you pursue it tenaciously you will be victorious.
using a big belt buckle is aid