About James
My guiding apprenticeship began in 1979 working for the Yamnuska Mountain School in the eastern Canadian Rockies near Banff. In 1988 I received my UIAGM/IFMGA qualification as a Mountain Guide. Throughout this period I was very active with my personal climbing - traveling to places like Yosemite, Peru, Pakistan, Nepal and Europe - building my experience base and having many grand adventures. Big wall climbing, waterfall ice, slogging up 8000 meter peaks - I was keen to become a competent generalist in all aspects of climbing! In addition to chasing my climbing dreams, I was also the owner/operator of the Yamnuska Mountain School with a staff of 40 guides working for me. While this gave me lots of management experience, being the "boss" resulted in more time inside than I liked, so in 1989 I sold Yamnuska to follow a career as an independent mountain guide.
My guiding apprenticeship began in 1979 working for the Yamnuska Mountain School in the eastern Canadian Rockies near Banff. In 1988 I received my UIAGM/IFMGA qualification as a Mountain Guide. Throughout this period I was very active with my personal climbing - traveling to places like Yosemite, Peru, Pakistan, Nepal and Europe - building my experience base and having many grand adventures. Big wall climbing, waterfall ice, slogging up 8000 meter peaks - I was keen to become a competent generalist in all aspects of climbing! In addition to chasing my climbing dreams, I was also the owner/operator of the Yamnuska Mountain School with a staff of 40 guides working for me. While this gave me lots of management experience, being the "boss" resulted in more time inside than I liked, so in 1989 I sold Yamnuska to follow a career as an independent mountain guide.
In addition to guiding, the 90's saw me in the role of Technical Director for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG), which is the professional association of mountain guides. Responsibilities in that role included managing the ACMG training and certification program, training new guides and overseeing technical standards. I learned a lot through this experience and I am still active with the ACMG Technical Committee.
Now at the start of my fourth decade of mountain guiding I find myself as keen as ever. Whether I am climbing Mount Athabasca (I estimate about 150 plus ascents...I lost track),ski touring in Iceland, tying in for a new route in the Waddington Range or waiting out a storm in a tent below Mount Kennedy- it is all good! It is great to be out, get to know new people and reconnect with the guests who have come back all these years. It is a big world and a wonderful journey!
,
Now at the start of my fourth decade of mountain guiding I find myself as keen as ever. Whether I am climbing Mount Athabasca (I estimate about 150 plus ascents...I lost track),ski touring in Iceland, tying in for a new route in the Waddington Range or waiting out a storm in a tent below Mount Kennedy- it is all good! It is great to be out, get to know new people and reconnect with the guests who have come back all these years. It is a big world and a wonderful journey!
,
James Blench - Mountain Guide
Mountain Guiding in Canada and Worldwide
Mountain Guiding in Canada and Worldwide
About James
Providing custom mountaineering, skiing and climbing in Canada and worldwide since 1979
My personal adventures have taken me to peaks like Mount Everest (twice), Broad Peak, Ganganpurna, Shivling, Bagarathi and many peaks in Peru . In addition to guided trips in throughout North America, Europe, Peru and Asia, my career path has also involved helicopter skiing for CMH, Cat Skiing, ski touring and avalanche consulting.
Contact:
James Blench
Alpine Services in Canada and Worldwide
e-mail: jbalpine@telusplanet.net
phone: (403) 678-2576
mobile: (403) 678-7822
James Blench
Alpine Services in Canada and Worldwide
e-mail: jbalpine@telusplanet.net
phone: (403) 678-2576
mobile: (403) 678-7822
Member of:
Association of Canadian Mountain Guides
International Federation of Mountain Guides
Canadian Avalanche Association
Association of Canadian Mountain Guides
International Federation of Mountain Guides
Canadian Avalanche Association
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