mountain guide, hiking guide

Mid-mountain guide
mountain guide, hiking guide
The mid-mountain guide supervises hikers on routes that can be done on foot or on snowshoes. He shares with his customers his knowledge of the mountain environment in its natural, cultural and human dimensions. It plays an essential economic and ecological role in safeguarding the territories it reveals.

Professional life
After another journey
This activity currently has 3,500 professionals in practice, including a growing proportion of women (16%). Candidates are on average 24 years old at the time of the selection test for entry into training. They have often previously worked in another profession and, for more than half of them, higher education.
Solid project and diversification
Once the guide diploma has been obtained, having a solid professional project and being perseverant is essential. Many people extend their skills by following additional training: mountain biking, canyoning, “tree climbing”, disabled sports, etc. Some organize “photo hikes”, Nordic walking, walks with donkeys or llamas, outings nighttime with stargazing... The same principle for everyone: be on the lookout for new trends and customer tastes!
A reconversion to prepare
From their training, mid-mountain guides are prepared for the idea of future retraining, partial or total. Some then devote themselves entirely to their other non-sporting profession.
Beginner's salary
1680 euros gross per month. The profession has few employees. For self-employed workers, fees are free and fixed for each service depending on the activity, the size, the level of difficulty, the number of participants, etc. A self-employed person can charge between 170 to 270 euros for a day.
Working conditions
Choosing a way of life
85% of mid-mountain guides live all year round in a small town within a mountain range whose characteristics and inhabitants they are perfectly familiar with. They carry out their activity in all weathers, mainly during weekends and school holidays, particularly in summer. They can offer walks lasting a few hours, day walks or long hikes over several days with nights in a refuge or bivouac sometimes, or even several weeks during treks in France (in the Monts d'Auvergne, for example) or abroad
Mostly independent
80% of professionals are independent. They often come together in associations, among themselves or with other sports instructors, to diversify their tourist offering. Only 15% are employees of accommodation structures or tourism networks. The activity being seasonal, considering an activity in another field is often necessary: slope and ski lift services, agriculture, livestock, forestry, construction, wood, hotels, etc.
Varied audiences
The mid-mountain guide supervises individuals (individuals or families), classes on school outings or discovery classes, groups on organized stays (works council, seniors club, specialized establishment), etc.
SKILLS
Responsible sportsman
In high season, the guide is outside every day in all weathers. He must be in excellent physical condition and demonstrate resistance. A great connoisseur of the mountains, he guarantees the safety of his clients. It's up to him to find out about the weather conditions from weather professionals before embarking on an outing. Sense of responsibility, composure and responsiveness to unforeseen events are among his qualities.
Facilitator and teacher
Equipped with a developed interpersonal skills and a good dose of pedagogy, this guide knows how to interest his audience. He demonstrates leadership qualities, to ensure the cohesion of his group and provide them with a pleasant time. It is also up to him to reassure hikers in difficulty on a passage (due to dizziness, for example) or panicking in the face of danger (storm, subsidence, falling rocks, etc.). If he works independently, the guide must also promote his skills and experience. For example, by creating leaflets on its services and prices, which will then be placed in strategic locations in the resort (retailers, tourist office, hotels, etc.). Or by contacting the various economic and political actors to obtain premises, a subsidy...
Nature of the work
Supervise, teach
The mid-mountain guide supervises hikes on trails passable on foot or on snowshoes. It offers outings taking into account the physical abilities and expectations of the participants as well as the weather conditions. He can also teach the practice of this activity.
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