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Why Hire a Guide?Copyright © 2007-2009 Travel Alberta, All Rights ReservedWritten by: Travel Alberta Like hiring a guide to trek the Inca Trail in Peru, or signing up for a guided safari in Africa, it pays to have a trained local point you in the right direction, keep you out of harm's way, and show you the area's secret treasures. After all, if you're traveling all the way to South America, the Dark Continent or north to the Canadian Rockies, you're likely seeking a one-of-a-kind experience. That's what Sue and Bob McVey were looking for when they vacationed in Banff National Park last summer. The active couple and their two teenage sons, visiting from Chicago, wanted to maximize their time outdoors during the five-day trip. They rented canoes, went golfing and hired a hiking guide for a day. "That was the highlight of the trip," says Sue. "He took us to places we never would have gotten on our own... We felt that a private guide would be able to tailor our day to what we wanted to do." Not only did the guide take them on a hiking trail where they saw mountain goats and a black bear (Sue shot some video footage), the whole family learned a great deal about the Rocky Mountains. History Lessons A century ago the expanse of the Canadian Rockies, wedged vertically between British Columbia and Alberta, was one unexplored mountain wilderness teeming with alps rivaling Europe's. Its uncharted terrain was a magnet for both well-heeled tourists and adventurers searching for first ascents. Because the tourists were often daredevils themselves - but lacked the knowledge and skills to traverse glaciers or ascend granite peaks - trained alpine guides were imported from Switzerland to lead fledgling mountaineers safely through the backcountry. Today's guides are merely picking up where the tradition left off - showing visitors from around the world the mountains they call a backyard. That's what Matthias Ahrens does every day during the summer when he leads tourists on alpine hikes, rock climbing excursions and mountaineering trips. The German native is a certified mountain guide with five years of training and nearly two decades of hiking and climbing experience in the Rocky Mountains. He's also the in-house mountain guide at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Nestled in the heart of Banff National Park, the luxurious hotel operates a Mountain Heritage Program, as do sister Fairmont properties, the Banff Springs Hotel and Jasper Park Lodge. "I take people beyond the established trails. I call it, quite often, 'off the beaten path'," Ahrens says. "All of us (guides), we have our secret spots where we like to take guests, where no one else goes." Certified Guides It might be to the foot of a little-known waterfall or to a stellar viewpoint that shows the breathtaking glacier-carved sweep of the Bow Valley. Joining a regularly scheduled hike through a hotel is a good way to hit the high country, but hiring a private guide, as the McVeys did, is perhaps a more rewarding way to explore Jasper and Banff national parks. It's possible to hire a private guide directly from the ACMG (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides) or through an independent tour company. White Mountain Adventures is one such outfit. In addition to offering guided group day hikes and overnight backpacking trips, the company hires out private guides for half-day or full-day excursions. "For the individual who hires a private guide, quite often they are people... who have a greater interest in nature than the average person," explains Gord Stermann, the company's owner. Since his mountain guides all possess their professional interpreter certification through the Mountain Parks Heritage Interpretation Association, as well as their day hiking guide certification through the ACMG, they make ideal hosts for tourists keen on learning about the area's natural history. Trip Planning is a Snap Private guides are also employed by folks timid about venturing into grizzly bear country. Beyond knowledge and safety, Stermann says mountain guides are in demand because they make trip planning easy for those with limited time. Guides book the campsites, bring the map, buy the food and know the route - all a traveler has to do is show up. Plus, tourists just might make a friend out of the deal, he says. "They're meeting a local person, they're interacting with someone who knows the area...making a friend from another culture." And in the process they'll create memories that last a lifetime. About The Author:
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