Let’s Be Guided: International Mountain Guides Summit and Guides Association Birthday Bash

Published by Mountainblog on 11/07/2016.

From 6-10 December 2016, mountain guides from all over the world will meet in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France to kick off the new season with an international mountain guides summit called Let’s Be Guided.

2016 marks the 70th anniversary of the French mountain guides association (SNGM) and to celebrate this historic milestone, the SNGM along with the UIAGM/IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations), are rolling out the red carpet for this week-long celebration of mountain guides, mountain guiding, mountain skiing, mountaineering, and of course, mountain ‘guidees’ (aka clients).

Over five hundred professional mountain guides from around the world will meet at the General Assembly to discuss current issues facing their profession, plan projects together and participate in professional training.

Let’s Be Guided week also has loads of great parties and events that are open to everyone. Many mountain guides are quite good musicians, and there are others that are as well known for the bold moves they throw down on the dance floor as the ones they use to pull through cruxes on the mountain. From Monday through Saturday, evenings are filled with music and parties that are open to everyone including The Opening Night Soirée, Guides By Night, Prom Time and The Altitude Party.

For those who would like to gain a more aesthetic view of the profession, Let’s Be Guided week features a Mountain Guides Film Festival that will show the best in mountain guide-related films.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a guides’ summit without time spent on the mountain and Grands Montets ski station will be open for those hoping to score some early season turns. Mountain guide ski races – both uphill and downhill – will result in bragging rights for the year to come and will clearly be a big highlight of Let’s Be Guided week.

The Mountain Guide Trade Show will host over seventy mountain sports brands showcasing their most cutting-edge products. On the last day of Let’s Be Guided week, the trade show will open its doors to give the public a sneak peak at the innovative gear they soon won’t know how they lived without.