Skip links

+34 974 35 55 78

info@aegm.org

Av. Juan XXIII 5, Jaca, España

M-T: 17:00h - 20:30h

Facebook-square Instagram Youtube
Find a Guide
Asociación Española de Guías de Montaña (AEGM)

The guides

Spanish Mountain Guides Association

What is a Guide?

A guide is a professional who leads one or more people in a mountain activity. A guide also develops teaching and training tasks and manages the risk of the outdoor activities. A guide contributes to the safety of the group members and the risk management in an outdoor activity.

The guidance profession goes back to the beginning of outdoor sports history. The first mountain guides appeared at the same time as the first outdoor sports, starting with the ascent to Mont Blanc in 1786 by Doctor Balmat. In this first ascent he was assisted by the local guide Paccard. Or in the first ascent to the “Naranjo de Bulnes” (Picu Urriellu), in which Marquis Pedro Pidal was helped by his local guide Gregorio Pérez “El Cainejo”, in 1904.

The qualifications of all our guide members are guaranteed by the AEGM, the UIAGM (or IFMGA – International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations) and the UIMLA (Union of International Mountain Leader Associations), associations which the AEGM is part of and that ensure the quality of formation courses and the professionalism of the guide members.

All the guide members of AEGM have an official qualification which certifies for the guiding tasks in the outdoors.

In Spain, the professionalization of guides has happened in the last decades, following the path started by several alpine countries and ruled by two government regulations: Royal Decree 318/2000 and Order ECI/858/2005.

Professional areas

In the AEGM there are five professional areas:

AEGM has five professional areas that match the official degrees defined by our government (Royal Decree 318/2000, 3 of March) and by the international platforms. Each area requires different skills or competences in the outdoors.

All AEGM members have a professional carnet which identifies them as AEGM members, indicating the certified professional areas.

This qualification is equivalent to a senior sports technician in high mountain terrain from the educational system and it includes these areas of competence:

  • Lead individual clients or groups in high mountain ascents, alpine ascents, or mountain skiing activities, through all kinds of terrains and in every season.
  • Plan and direct athletes and teams coaching.
  • Guarantee safety measures for the technicians who rely upon them.
  • Basic teaching and training of this discipline for athletes and teams.

This figure is linked to the same tasks as the Mountain Guide but with less areas of competence in the development and difficulty of the activity.

Lead individual clients or groups in high mountain ascents or alpine ascents within the difficulty range set and according to the competences acquired.

  • Easy itineraries in any altitude.

  • Moderate itineraries up to 4.300 m altitude.

  • Difficult and very difficult itineraries up to 3.500 m altitude.

  • Difficult and very difficult winter itineraries up to 3.500 m altitude.

  • Rock climbing itineraries graded 5+/A1.

Lead individual clients or groups in mountain skiing ascents along itineraries up to 3.500 m. altitude, with a maximum of two days duration and sleeping at a maximum altitude of 3.500 m.

Basic teaching and training of this discipline for athletes and teams.

This qualification is equivalent to a sports technician in mid – mountain terrain from the educational system and it includes these areas of competence:

  • Lead individual clients or groups in mid – mountain terrain. Glaciers and terrain that require the skills and gear needed in alpine, climbing, skiing or canyoning activities, are specifically excluded.
  • Lead individual clients or groups with snowshoes along Nordic snowy terrain.
  • Basic teaching and training of this discipline for athletes and teams.

This qualification is equivalent to a sports technician in canyoning from the educational system and it includes these areas of competence:

  • Lead individual clients or groups in mountain terrain and in the descent of vertical and aquatic canyons and ravines.
  • Organise and programme canyoning activities.
  • Basic teaching and training of this discipline for athletes and teams.

This figure is equivalent to a sports technician in rock climbing from the educational system and it includes these areas of competence:

  • Climbing itineraries of any difficulty, single pitch bolted climbing routes.
  • Bolted multi-pitch climbing routes, maximum grade 7.
  • Multi-pitch routes, grade 6b and a2.
  • Basic teaching and training of this discipline for athletes and teams.

This figure is equivalent to a sports technician in rock climbing from the educational system and it includes these areas of competence and work field:

  • Plan and direct training of athletes and climbing teams in the long run and in pursuit of high competition.
  • Collaborate in the design, planning and technical direction of climbing competitions.
  • Guide other climbers in top-level rock climbs.
  • Programme and coordinate other technicians, ensuring the safety of the technicians that rely on them.

This figure is equivalent to a sports technician in mountain skiing from the educational system and it includes these competences and work field:

  • Guide clients through mountain ski terrain.
  • Training planning oriented to athletes who do mountain skiing.

Guide credentials

Guides have a credential which certifies the professional area in which they are qualified. All credentials must be stamped in the current year.

CURRENT AEGM CREDENTIAL

Valid through the year (2021)

NEW UIAGM (IFMGA) CREDENTIAL

This credential certifies those Mountain Guides/ Senior Sports Technicians in High Mountain Terrain, who belong to the UIAGM (IFMGA).

AEGM CREDENTIAL

This credential certifies AEGM members and indicates the professional area in which they are qualified.

UIMLA CREDENTIAL

This credential certifies those Mountain Leaders/ Sports Technicians in Mid – Mountain Terrain, who belong to the UIMLA.

Advantages of being an AEGM partner

To be part of the group of guides of mountain more important at national level that counts on representation in all the communities. The AEGM offers significant discounts on RC and accident insurance, as well as on mountain shelters and sports facilities.

Belonging to the AEGM allows access to international accreditations and training and retraining programs.