Why
should I go with North Cascades Mountain Guides?
Wouldn't
it be cheaper to take a group course than to hire
a private guide?
How
should I prepare for my course?
What if I can't make the trip
- can I get a refund?
What
if the weather is bad during my trip?
How
do I know which climb is right for me?
What
equipment is available from NCMG for my use?
Am
I expected to bring my own food?
Where
will I meet my guide?
Are
there other places you are permitted to guide besides
the North Cascades?
Is
it appropriate to tip my guide?
How
do I get
started in booking a trip?
Why
Should I go with North Cascades Mountain Guides?
At
NCMG we strive to provide a different kind of guiding
experience. Most of our guides have experienced the
guiding world through one of the country's larger
guide services and want to offer something different.
Our mission is to provide high quality, low ratio
guiding. Thus, rather than offering a variety of large
group skills courses, we have chosen to work with
our guests to custom tailor each program to meet their
climbing or skiing goals. While we do offer a small
number of scheduled courses each season, even these
have significantly lower client to guide ratios than
most other companies. To read more about the benefits
of low ratio guiding, click HERE.
Wouldn't
it be cheaper to take a group course than hiring a
private guide?
On
the surface, it may seem like it, though in reality,
you will get much more out of a shorter trip with
a private guide than a longer course with many other
students. Many companies offer low priced 6 and 12
day climbing courses in which there will often be
10 students and 2 guides. While you will learn many
vital skills during this time, the course will only
progress at the rate of the slowest student. With
a private guide, once you have mastered a skill you
are able to move on and thus cover much more in a
shorter amount of time. The lower ratio will also
allow you to tackle more technical climbing objectives
that would not be safe or timely with 4 or 5 climbers
to each guide.
How
should I prepare for my course?
The
more specifically you train for your course the more
you will get out of it. We commonly hear guests state
that they wish they could have started their trip
in the shape they finished it in. The exact type of
trip you are planning will help dictate your training,
but in general, the more specifically you train for
the activity, the more benefit you will feel when
you are out there on the trip. To read an in-depth
essay about training for climbing written by ex-World
Cup Nordic skier and NCMG guide, Scott Johnston, click
HERE.
What
if I can't make the trip - can I get a refund?
We
understand that sometimes
unavoidable circumstances can interfere with the best
laid plans. We have tried to create a cancellation
policy that strives to be fair to all parties. With
enough notice, a trip can be canceled and a full refund
minus a small administrative fee can be received.
As the course start date draws closer, it becomes
more difficult to find other work for the guide who
has committed to the trip, and thus there is the loss
of some of the course fees. In some circumstances
a raincheck may be offered. If this is declined, there
will be a $50 handling charge to cover credit card
processing fee and administrative fees. The rest of
the cancellation policy is as follows:
SCHEDULED
PROGRAMS: more than 90 days prior = Full refund; 90-60
days prior = 50% refund; less than 60 days = no refund
PRIVATE
PROGRAMS: 30+ days = Full Refund, 14+ days = 50% Refund,
under 14 days = 0 Refund
Many
people choose to purchase trip insurance from one
of the many companies offering this service on the
internet. It is usually between $7-12 per day of your
trip and can cover all of your expenses such as plane
tickets, lodging, guiding fees, etc., in the event
that you have to cancel a trip at the last minute
or even during the program. NCMG highly recommends
this for all international trips. One of the most
reputable companies offering this service is Travelex
though many more can be found with a web search.
What
if the weather is bad during my trip?
Being
located on the Eastern slope of the North Cascades,
we typically have much better weather than on the
west side of the mountains (Mazama receives 12"
of annual rainfall compared to Seattle's 40"!).
That said, we cannot control the weather and there
are times when the weather will not allow for a safe
experience in the mountains. Typically we will first
try and choose an objective that will allow us the
best chances of good weather and safe climbing conditions.
Sometimes even this is not possible and we will try
and reschedule the trip. In the end the guide will
make the decision as to whether or not it is feasible
to go out given the weather. With proper equipment
we have found that it is rarely as bad as you
think it will be.
How
do I know which climb is right for me?
NCMG
has detailed descriptions of our climbing programs
as well as a list of classic
climbs on our website to help you get started
in putting together a program. In addition, our office
staff are also climbers and can help you create a
trip that is right for you. Next we try and put you
in touch with your guide as soon as possible, so you
can ask specific questions and help create your ideal
mountain experience. A word of caution however ~ many
of our guides are busy guiding and will not be available
to return a phone call or e-mail as quickly as you
may like. When trying to reach your guide, please
be patient and know that they will contact you as
soon as they are back from the field.
What
equipment is available from NCMG for my use?
NCMG
provides all of the technical equipment for use on
our trips. Our guests are welcome to use our harnesses,
helmets, carabiners, and belay devices free of charge.
Your guide will provide all of the necessary ropes
and hardware for your climb. We have a limited number
of rock climbing shoes for rent at the cost of $5
per day.
On
certain overnight trips, you might be able to team
up with your guide to share a tent and/or stove to
keep pack weight down. This will depend on the trip
and number of people. Please consult directly with
your guide on this.
Am
I expected to bring my own food?
On
most of our trips, guests are required to provide
their own food. For day trips, this is typically just
snack food for the day (of which the Mazama store
has a great selection!). On overnight trips we can
provide food for a per day rate to be determined before
your trip. If you need some help in planning your
food for the mountains, read our essay on Food
planning written by NCMG guide Michelle Smallman,
veteran of more than 15 month-long backcountry expeditions.
Where
will I meet my guide?
For
most trips this will be the NCMG office in Mazama.
Unless otherwise arranged with your guide, rock climbing
in the valley will meet at 8:00am, and climbs in the
mountains will meet at 7:00am. Ski trips will also
meet at 7:00 am. For directions to Mazama and the
NCMG office, click HERE.
For
some trips in North Cascades National Park (NCNP)
in which the guests are traveling from Western Washington,
your guide may choose to meet you at the NCNP ranger
station in Marblemount. This will save those traveling
from the West side several hours of driving, but may
not be possible in all circumstances.
Are
there other places you are permitted to guide besides
the North Cascades?
NCMG
does occasionally hold permits to guide in other parts
of the country such as the Sierra Nevada, Alaska range
and Red Rocks. We will try and make folks aware of
these opportunities by sending out e-mail newsletters
and listing these trips in the "What's New"
section of our home page. Several of our Internationally
certified guides also offer trips to the European
Alps, Canada and other areas where permits are not
required, but certification is. To see our latest
selection of expeditions, click HERE.
Many
of our guides also have relationships with other permit
holders throughout the country. If there is an area
you would like to climb in with your favorite NCMG
guide, contact them directly and see if they may be
able to arrange a trip there for you with them as
a guide. If this is not possible, we are always happy
to recommend a guide or guide service in the area
you are interested in.
Is
it appropriate to tip my guide?
While this is largely a personal decision, many guests
do offer a gratuity to their guide for a job well
done. Keep in mind that it is your guide's job, first
and foremost, to provide for your well-being and bring
you back safely. On some trips, this is no small task.
On average, many clients tip between $30 - 50/ day
when they feel the guide has provided them with a
safe and enjoyable experience.
How
do I get
started in booking a trip?
The
easiest way is to pick up the phone and call the NCMG
office. E-mail is also a great way to get started,
by letting us know what your interests are and the
best time to reach you by phone to discuss the details
of your trip. We look forward to hearing from you!
