Our Fantastic World: Mountain Guides
It is difficult to say when the profession of mountain guide was born...we certainly know when each of us was born!
Officially, the birth of the Alpine Guide profession is made to coincide with the first ascent of Mont Blanc by Jacques Balmat and Michel Paccard in 1786. The following year, returning to the summit of Mont Blanc to accompany the scientist Horace Bénédict de Saussure, Balmat inaugurated the season of guided ascents.
- 1821 - Although they had been operating for decades, the first official mountain guides became associated in Chamonix.
- 1850 - Courmayeur's mountain guides also joined forces and founded the 'Society of Courmayeur Guides'.
- 1888 - The 'Consortium of Alpine Guides of the Western Alps' is founded.
- 1895 - Similar consortia are established in the Central and Eastern Alps.
- 1930 - The Consorzio Nazionale Guide alpine e Portatori (National Consortium of Mountain Guides and Porters) is founded.A1978 - The Consortium becomes the 'Associazione Guide alpine Italiane' (AGAI).
- 1986 - Mountain guides present a bill to be recognised as professionals.
- 1989 - Framework Law No. 6 comes into force, framing the Alpine Guide profession.
- 1997 - The first National College of Italian Mountain Guides is established.
- 2000 – The first embryo of the ProrockOutdorr Mountain Guide Office is born!
The dates of birth, first ascents and clients may change, but the experience, knowledge, climbing techniques and safety precautions for progression do not. They belong to the professional heritage of all mountain guides, regardless of the mountains to which they belong.
We would like to thank Carlo Gabasio, the trainees and the Instructor Mountain Guides of the Interegional Pole for the filming.
