Professionally Guided Adventures
My name is Ben Markhart, I am an IFMGA Mountain Guide Based in Boulder Colorado. I’ve worked has an outdoor educator since 2008 and have been guiding in the mountains professionally since 2013. I have experience guiding climbing and skiing all the world.
If you’re interested in getting out and exploring the mountains don’t hesitate to ask. I have dozens to hundreds of days in the field in the Alaska and Chugach mountain ranges, costal British Columbia, the Pacific North West, the central rockies, including the Tetons, Wasatch and all over Colorado in addition to the French Alps.
In addition to many geographic locations I have guided all of the mountain disciplines in a dedicated capacity. From multi-pitch rock and ice climbing, to winter alpine climbs in large glacier routes to my personal favorite backcountry skiing.
BHM Mountain Guiding LLC is a a Colorado based bonded and insured business with permitted access through the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Park Service and other local land managers.
Why Hire a IFMGA Guide?
In the United States there is no regulation of the mountain guiding industry. While plumbers and electricians need a license taking someone climbing or skiing in places that can be extremely dangerous do not. This has lead to a challenging environment for the customer where there is no protection from those who have savvy misleading advertising. In many areas there are even companies deliberately employee under qualified and inexperienced guides because they can pay them less.
The closest thing we have in the United States to licensing is the American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA) certification. They provide certification in three disciplines: Rock, Alpine and Ski. While there are many levels of quality even within certified guides this is a minimum standard I advice in who you trust your safety with.
I am one of less than 200 Americans who are fully certified Mountain Guides. These guides are known as being part of the IFMGA or the association of international guides and the only ones who are allowed to work in countries that do have licensing requirements for guides such as France, Switzerland or Italy.