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Icelandic Mountain Guides staff training.

From the companies foundation in 1994 the aim has always been to be the industry leader in staff training, quality and safety. Through the years the staff training needs have grown with the company and in the spring of 2009 IMG took up a comprehensive system for the training of glacier- and mountain guides based on a similar system used in New Zealand. A full qualification through that system takes a minimum of two years and includes hands on training and examination in guiding, avalanche forecasting and first aid for 27 days.

In addition to this smaller training schemes are in use for those guides that drive super jeeps on glacier with IMG or Iceland Rover guests as well as courses aimed at raising the technical standards of the state qualified Trekking Guides employed by IMG.

In addition to having a IMG specific system the company encourages it guides to further their education in first aid and other relevant fields by sponsoring them to high level courses in those fields.

Below you will find a description on the individual courses and exams in the IMG training system. All courses are open to non-IMG guides given that they have the right qualifications as stated in prerequisites for each course.

Hard Ice Guide beginner course

This course introduces guiding on glaciers for new guides. The course is a full 4 days and takes place on one of the glaciers in the Vatnajökull National Park (Skaftafell).

Level I Hard Ice Guide exam

The exam covers 3 ½ days and covers all areas of Hard Ice Guiding. The main topics are Ice-Climbing, route selection, client care, rescue scenarios and group management. The examination also takes in covers the guides knowledge of the area and ability to educate and entertain guests. The examination takes place on a glacier in the Vatnajökull National Park (Skaftafell).

Level II Hard Ice Guide exam

The Level II exam covers 3 ½ days and covers all areas of Hard Ice Guiding. The main topics are the same as on the Level I Hard Ice Guide Exam but with considerably harder demands on ability. The examination takes place on a glacier in the Vatnajökull National Park (Skaftafell).

Mountain Skills Course

This 8 day course is aimed at training climbers and mountaineers to use their skills in a professional context while guiding mountaineering and climbing trips.

IMG Mountain Guide Exam

The IMG Mountain Guide Exam takes 8 days. During that time the students are evaluated on all fields of mountain guiding, from personal climbing ability, to short-roping and knowledge of nature and weather. A strong emphasis is on good rope work, efficient work methods, risk evaluation and mitigation.

Summit Guide Course

The Summit Guide Course is designed for those guides with in IMG that aim to guide groups on snow covered glaciers. An example would be tours on Hvannadalshnukur, Iceland’s highest summit.

Crevasse rescue for Super-Jeep Guides

IMG has developed this course in co-operations with guides from Iceland Rovers. The aim of the course is to teach super-jeep drivers and guides affective skills for crevasse rescue – where the car can be used as an anchor. The two day courses teaches rope handling indoors before heading out for a crevasse rescue training in real conditions.

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Visit our tour office:

Bankastræti 2

110 Reykjavík, Iceland

Email us:

mountainguides@mountainguides.is

Call or fax:

Tel: +354 587 9999

Fax:+354 587 9996