Thursday, January 31, 2013
In 1961, Peter Fuhrmann, a German climber working in
Banff, arranged to take his professional mountain guide’s
exam with Walter Perren, the Swiss mountain guide heading
Parks Canada’s public safety program.
At the appointed rendez-vous, Fuhrmann learned Perren
was conducting a rescue. Driving to Castle Mountain, he
scrambled to where he could see Perren climbing solo up
south-facing cliffs.
“He yelled down, ‘come up, give me a hand and bring
my pack,’” Fuhrmann, now 80, recalled. “So I put his
pack on top of my pack and then I climbed up the right
hand ridge of Eisenhower Tower.”
Reaching the summit, he found Perren with three
climbers who, although uninjured, lacked the skills to descend.
Perren suggested that Fuhrmann descend with one of the climbers
as an examination exercise. That task completed, the following
day Fuhrmann climbed Mount Victoria, backdrop to Lake
Louise, with Perren, who declared him certified.
Today, candidates hoping to earn professional certification
follow a more structured and rigorous program through the
Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). Extensive
outdoor experience is required to gain acceptance; on average
the multiple exams take seven years to complete. This year, now
850 members strong, the association formed by Fuhrmann and
eight other guides in 1963 celebrates its 50
th anniversary.
Among those founding members was
Hans Gmoser who had established
himself as western Canada’s preeminent guide since
emigrating from Austria in 1951. Like Perren, who certified
him in 1956, Gmoser advocated for a Canadian association.
The group—the majority Europeans
— elected Fuhrmann as the
ACMG’s first president. Those already holding licences were
grandfathered in.
In Europe’s alpine nations, the guiding profession is long-established
and highly respected. Historically, people feared the alpine
as home to evil dragons, but by the first ascent of the Alps’
highest, Mont Blanc, in 1786, attitudes began changing. Rail
travel brought tourists eager to view peaks, glaciers and wildflower
meadows. Among them, wealthy Brits and Americans hired
locals to lead them safely to claim virgin summits. Chamonix,
France claims guiding’s oldest professional association, established
in 1821.
In Canada, the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway
(CP) in 1885 lured mountaineers west. In 1897, friends of Phillip
Stanley Abbot, who died climbing Mount Lefroy the previous
summer, hired Switzerland’s Peter Sarbach—the first professional
guide to work in Canada. In 1899, CP began employing
Swiss guides to lead its hotel guests to summits in the Rockies
and Selkirks, a program that continued until the early 1950s. Perren
was one of CP’s last guides.
As chair of the ACMG’s technical standards committee, Gmoser
set the qualification bar high. As his helicopter skiing business,
Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) flourished through the
1970s and ’80s, demand for professional guides increased. While
the ACMG certified a growing number of Canadians, dozens of
European guides eagerly worked in the exciting new industry.
Many of them stayed.
In 1973, two of those Swiss guides, Hans Peter Stettler and Rudi
Gertsch (a second-generation guide) attended the annual meeting
of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations
(IFMGA) in Liechtenstein, intent on demonstrating that
Canadian standards matched Europe’s. In 1974, the ACMG became
the IFMGA’s first non-European member.
Since then, the ACMG has steadily evolved, expanding to encompass
mountain, hiking and climbing gym programs. In addition
to safely guiding mountaineers around the world, today’s
ACMG guides work as highway safety technicians, avalanche
experts, coroner’s consultants, army instructors and as riggers for
Hollywood productions. Under the direction of Fuhrmann (who
succeeded Perren) and Jasper’s Willi Pfisterer, they also developed
Parks Canada’s world-class public safety program.
“Standards are usually minimums, and in Canada we had the
chance to set higher standards from the beginning,” said Gertsch,
whose own son, Jeff, is an ACMG ski guide. “We can be proud.
Canadian guides are leaders, some of the best in the world.”
While climbing for a living might appear glamorous, mountaineering
days can easily last upwards of 12 hours demanding that
guides evaluate rockfall and avalanche hazards at every step;
glacier traverses involve consecutive nights in tents eating dehydrated
dinners. Seasonal employment means irregular schedules
and incomes. Injuries are costly; physiotherapy visits essential.
Still, for those who pass the gruelling and expensive examination
process, few imagine doing anything else.
A Calgary native, Jen Olson earned her ACMG mountain guide
certification in 2008, one of eight women in Canada with that
qualification. She’s guided clients in Italy’s Dolomites and Argentinean
Patagonia as well as her backyard Rockies and Selkirks.
Internationally recognized certification allows her to explore
new wilderness areas while providing her clients an adventure
far beyond what they could manage on their own.
“I like teaching, I like to travel and I like introducing people to
a lifestyle I value,” Olson said. “To travel as a guide really makes
a difference.”
Even at 70, when Ferdl Taxbock is not hiking, backcountry skiing
or rock climbing recreationally, he guides part-time. Every
summer he runs the Alpine Club of Canada’s 55 Plus Summer
Trekking and Climbing Camp out of Stanley Mitchell Hut in
Yoho National Park.
“I still really enjoy guiding,” said Taxbock, who emigrated from
Austria in 1967. “It’s fun to be with other people who also love
the mountains and to help them enjoy the scenery or to help
them move on exposed rock safely.
“And,” he added, “It gets me out too!”
From traversing the Wapta Icefields to backpacking in Jasper to
climbing in Mongolia, ACMG guides are trained and eager to
make your adventure dreams reality.
~By Lynn Martel
Photos:
Top photo from the 1967 ACMG guides course includes, back row, from left, Don Vockeroth, Ottmar Setzer, Bob Geber, John Gow, Charlie Locke and Bernie Royle. Seated in the front row, from left, are Leo Grillmair, Lloyd Gallagher, Hans Gmoser, Peter Fuhrmann and Hans Schwartz. Credit: Chic Scott collection.
Bottom photo: ACMG Hiking and Ski Guide, Félix Camiré (front left) leads two Alpine Club of Canada amateur trip leaders on a backcountry ski touring skills course in the popular Rogers Pass area of BC’s Glacier National Park. Photo by Lynn Martel.
Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Every year, thousands of families travel to the mountain parks
for adventure and relaxation. And for many, no family member
is left behind – whether it is the dog, cat, snake or ferret. Pet
friendly accommodation is becoming more popular as people
venture away from home with their beloved family pet. And accommodators
are increasingly welcoming furry family members
with open arms.
“Pets are part of the family, and just like bringing kids, we wants
guests to bring their pets,” says Cole Millen, operations director
at Delta Kananaskis. “There is a shift for hotels to go pet friendly,
and people expect it.”
Approximately 50 per cent of hotels in the mountain parks are
pet friendly. In the Kananaskis/Canmore/Banff/Lake Louise area,
expedia.ca lists 34 of 82 accommodators as pet friendly, and in
Yoho National Park, 11 of 25 have pet friendly rooms.
Millen says that although they have had cats, snakes and ferrets
as guests at the hotel, dogs are the most common pet companion.
On long weekends in particular, at least 10% of guests have a dog
staying with them at the hotel.
Many hotels offer a welcome package when dogs are booked in
advance. At the Delta, canine guests are greeted with an amenities
package including a dog bowl, treats, toy and dog bed. And
for guests worried about leaving the furkid unattended in a hotel
room, the front desk staff will dogsit, including regular walks, for
up to three hours. The program, which started in June 2012, donates
all proceeds to the Bow Valley SPCA, and in a five month
period, has generated more than $370.
Although being pet friendly is not a new approach for the Delta,
other accommodators in the mountain parks are adapting to the
demand for pet friendly accommodation and have only recently
welcomed pets.
Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff, Alberta has been pet friendly
for less than a year and has already doubled the number of pet
rooms they make available to guests.
“There is a segment of the market that wants to bring pets,” says
Martin Parkes, assistant lodge manager. “I was shocked how
quickly (the pet friendly concept) took off.”
Like many other hotels that offer pet amenities, Buffalo Mountain
Lodge is also initiating a dog-friendly welcome package, including
locally sourced elk dog treats from the same farm as the
meat they serve in the on-site restaurant.
Both Millen and Parkes support the pet friendly approach, but
they also say it’s important for pet owners to be responsible – not
only in the hotel, but outside as well.
“Being in a provincial park is a unique aspect,” says Millen. “It’s
important that pets are on leash. The last thing we would want to
see is a dog running after a squirrel or deer.”
Parkes agrees that the wildlife component is extremely important for
pet owners to be aware of. With the possibility of a guest opening the
door in the morning to find a deer on the lawn, it’s especially important
for pet owners to be aware that they are in a park with wildlife.
It is also important that pet owners take advantage of the services
and amenities available by booking their pets as a registered guest.
Although hotels charge a pet fee for the necessary cleaning that is
required, it notifies staff that a pet is in the room, and if there are any
issues, they can contact the owner directly.
Not all dogs are perfectly well behaved all the time, but Millen says
that shouldn’t prevent owners from bringing them to a hotel.
Attention advertisers-This story will be published in our 2013 edition of Experience The Mountain Parks.
Reserve your spot now! Call Bob at 1-888-861-2601 or email him at bob@cmipublishing.ca.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” says Millen. “If your dog is a barker, ask for
help, assistance, support and suggestions.”
For the travellers more inclined to camp on their mountain holiday,
most campgrounds in the mountain parks permit pets to stay, but it
is wise to confirm with the campground when booking. Even more
so than hotel accommodation, wildlife awareness is important. Leaving
dog food out in the open, for example, can attract wildlife to the
campsite.
Leaving a beloved pet at home is a tough decision. Doggy daycare is
an option. Friends or family could look after him/her. A house-sitter
can make sure your dog is fed and has water.
Or bring your pet with you. Walk the trails, enjoy the snow or the sunshine,
breathe in the fresh air. With hotels opening their doors to our
furry friends, there is no decision to make. Your furkid will thank you.
[Furkid]
Used to refer to a pet that is treated as though it were someone's child. |
Dog Travel tips
- Bring a leash – dogs need to be leashed in most areas of the mountain parks and in all hotel public areas.
- Register ahead – not only do dogs get a welcome package at many hotels, staff can contact you directly if there are any issues.
- Make them tired – go for a walk, hike, or run before checking into the hotel. A tired dog is a (usually) quiet dog.
- Bring a bag (or ask for one) – clean up after your dog to limit the impact on other guests and local wildlife.
- Book dogsitting – leave your room without worry. If offered, take advantage of the dogsitting offered by some dog-friendly hotels.
|
~By Jen Lowery
Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Tomorrow, Thursday, January 24, 2013 will be held in Calgary at the BMO Centre, Stamped Park the 44th Calgary RV Expo and Sale.
The show goes on from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Thursday, as well as Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Last day is Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink
Monday, January 14, 2013
Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink
Tuesday, January 08, 2013
Summer 2013 will see great additions to our family of publications.
- A new magazine called Experience Kananaskis Country & the Cowboy Trail.
Our goal is to lure visitors to the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies to experience the mountain parks and the rich authentic cowboy culture, while they explore the many unique Alberta communities that serve this region.
The focus of our editorial is shared between the vast areas known as Kananaskis Country and The Cowboy Trail. Readers will appreciate the descriptions of summer trails, the maps, images and campground grids. The information provided on western and ranch activities, communities and culture will make this guide a ‘keeper’. The specific parks, ranches and communities covered from year to year will change, so don’t be surprised if readers collect the issues for future reference.
Readers refer to it regularly. Our guide becomes their travelling companion, so you can be confident that your marketing message will be noticed! This magazine will be read by an estimated 130,000 people – both residents of and visitors to Alberta. Many more will view our digital versions on-line.
- The second publication to come to a rack near you is called Experience Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Our goal is to lure people to Fish Creek – one of the largest urban provincial parks in Canada. Located in south Calgary, Fish Creek serves an estimated population of half a million (and growing). Most residents in the area know that a park is “down there”. Lots of folks who live in the lovely neighbourhoods surrounding the park stroll along the ridge, but few appreciate the rich history of the area and take full advantage of all that Fish Creek Provincial Park has to offer.
The focus of our editorial is on the long list of outdoor activities that families can enjoy “in their own backyard”. We also profile the neighbourhoods that surround it.
You will appreciate the maps, images, and descriptions of the many unique hubs in the park: from Mallard Point to Sikome Lake and from the Bow Valley Ranch to Shannon Terrace.
Readers will refer to it regularly. Our guides become their travelling companion, so you can be confident that your marketing message will be noticed! This magazine will be read by an estimated 65,000 people – both residents of and visitors to south Calgary.
- Our third publication slated to be appearing this 2013 year is our brand new Banff Visitor Map.
The Banff Visitor Map will be modelled after our highly successful Jasper Visitor Map, a guide we have published for the past three years, and a map that was printed by the Jasper Booster for 18 years prior to us taking it over. The Banff Map features highlights of the southern half of Banff National Park, on one side, and highlights of the northern half of Banff National Park on the other side.
Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink
