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Rob Hess

@bergfurerhess

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UIAGM / IFMGA licensed mountain guide, Owner/ Chief guide JHMG, Lead Guide JH Mountain Resort Alpine guides, AMGA instructor and examiner.

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Certified.

Last week, I passed my @amga1979 Rock Guide Exam in Red Rock, NV. Three years after my first course here, and despite some existential crises leading up to it, the exam played out as my smoothest AMGA program to date. Still, we dealt with demoralizing high temperatures and an improvised rescue of another party injured by rockfall.

To my knowledge, I’m the only guide openly “they/them,” medically transitioned, whatnot, etc, to be certified in a discipline. The practical aspects of that are basically being out to all my peers, instructors, and clients; being held to a higher standard of professionalism, and facing more risk in traveling or meeting climbing partners. I’m not sure how much such a “first” matters to anyone else. Sometimes, it feels mundane to me. It’s what I signed up for. Other times, it feels meaningful - in moments that often catch me off guard. I’ve also been reflecting on ways that I seem different (or not) from other mountain guides, aside from the way I look.

A lot of thanks are due, but as a start, shoutout to:
• @scarpana and @bookofsamuel for supporting this exam as my SAMI capstone project
• @valleyshoerepair for the fast, fresh resole
• everyone who climbed with me in preparation for and during my rock programs
…especially multipitch clients; working with you gave a real foundation for the advice I got to “just guide how you would actually guide it.”
• everyone who short-roped with me (truly a thrilling activity)
• and especially @jameswhoclimbsrocks

See ya later, Vegas.

Photo by @ladylockoff from a few years ago on Yin and Yang

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Nice finish to the season @powderbirdheliski

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Recent mixing of powder and corn @powderbirdheliski

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Cold snow stash last week @powderbirdheliski

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Guide recon @powderbirdheliski and the start up to the 24/25 heli-ski season.

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Great weather day activities here at the hotel in Los Molles…

@bergfurerhess and I had a great bonus day waiting for a weather window to fly into @elazufre to start our Powderbird Argentina trip.
Things look good to fly in tomorrow and hopefully ski some fresh snow…

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We recently wrapped up 51 years @powderbirdheliski this year, thanks to everyone for another great season!

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Dinner for thirty at the #yurt by @okanoskitchen as the season starts to wind down @jhmtnguides
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Thanks for a great year so far @mountainhardwear @mammutna and @scarpana
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Looking forward to winter @dpsskis

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So wonderful to start the season with our team @jhmtnguides and to celebrate the past decade with our outgoing leader @jasonjdittmer
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@mountainhardwear @mammutna @scarpana @dpsskis

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A little tribute to my business partner for 25 years and friend for many more: Rob Hess @bergfurerhess
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Technical director and board member at the AMGA for many years, President for a few. Leading the @jhmtnguides field ops forever.
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pic 1: on a day off last week from his work with @amga1979

pics 2-4: some shots from the annual #corbethighcamp set up which he has overseen for at least the last 25 years

video: dinner with his crew at #kellyyurtpark
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@jhmtnguides @okanoskitchen @mountainhardwear @mammutna @#myjhmgstory

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Fantastic week in JH, great snow and peeps! Fun to double guide with Hess-
Snow is stacking @jacksonhole
@dynastarskis

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Just wrapped up the @amga1979 rock exam in Red Rock. It was my first exam in the mountain guide programs and I’m super excited to have passed!

I found the examination process to be a bit stressful, but like the process of climbing a big route, a lot of the stress comes from the what-if’s and not what is actually presented. Thanks to @bergfurerhess and @zenithmtnguides for keeping it fun and creating a safe learning environment! I learned a ton.

📸 @zenithmtnguides

Congrats to my Co-Candidates who crushed it as well!

@sarah.b.jamin @tavrsh @tunarollcole

#amga #redrockcanyon #rockguideexam #rockclimbing #climbing

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