Mountain-Guides What is an IFMGA?

email info@mountain-guides.net    tel +33 (0)6 08 25 33 53

What is an IFMGA Guide?

IFMGA stands for the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations and is the umbrella organisation for individual country mountain guide organisations whose members have shown that their training and assessment programmes are of a sufficiently high standard. It is the highest professional award in the world for mountaineering and skiing activities. The British Mountain Guides (BMG) have been members of the IFMGA since the 1970’s. All IFMGA guides are rigorously trained and assessed over a period of years in rock climbing, ice and winter climbing, alpine climbing and skiing and ski touring techniques. Mountain Guides director Richard Mansfield is the elected Training Officer of the British Mountain Guides responsible to the Association for the organisation and delivery of its training and assessment scheme. Whereas in Britain anyone can guide people in the hills regardless of qualification, only IFMGA guides are legally allowed to work in the high mountains and on glaciers in most Alpine countries. Always make sure your 'Guide' has the correct qualification for the activity you are engaging in. Illegal guiding is taken very seriously and can result in a prison sentence for the illegal guide, it would also mean the end of your holiday. In the event of an accident your insurance may well be invalidated. Without the assurance of the IFMGA qualification you will have no idea of the level of competence or skills of the person looking after you.

For more information on the IFMGA please go to www.ifmga.info

For more information on the BMG and its training and assessment scheme please go to www.bmg.org.uk.