Why Mountain Guide?

“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”

 Ralph Waldo Emerson

I've been mulling over this thought in my head for the last several days, "what is it that makes a mountain guide?  Why do I really want to enter this line of work?"  To me it isn't about virtue, glory, or in some way having to prove myself to the world.  The mountains are a place where egos have face their most serious test; the strong discover they are weak and the weak discover they are strong.  The mountains do not discriminate and they care not for the humans ascending their slopes.  The temperatures may plummet, the winds may howl, rock and ice may crumble upon us.  No matter who we are, rich or poor, white or black, strong or weak, the mountains present all of us with the same elements. Human ingenuity is ultimately no match for the eternal power of the mountains.  So, if mountain guiding isn't about conquering the unconquerable and our relationship with the mountains, themselves, what is it really about? 

I've determined that mountain guiding is really about people.  When I observed my RMI guides on Mt. Rainier, or my NOLS instructors in Alaska I saw some of the most remarkable people I had ever met.  Their physical achievements are not what impressed me the most, rather it was their ability to relate with people, in addition to their confidence, calmness under pressure, and reliability,  every quality I wish to possess.  The best piece of advice I've been given as an aspiring mountain guide is basically this:  "If you don't like people, forget it!  This career isn't for you!"  Clients are investing a lot of time, not to mention a substantial amount of money, because they have determined their goal of climbing a mountain.  Herein lies the real work of the mountain guide, doing all in his power to help the clients achieve there goal of reaching the top, given limits of the conditions and weather.  There is something much more satisfying about helping someone attain the goal than getting their yourself.  I've had a small taste in this rewarding feeling when leading a friend or two up a New Mexico summit or high alpine lake, rewarding them with the experience of beautiful places I often take for granted.