American Hiking Guides Association

05/09/2026

A solo hiker’s death in New Hampshire’s White Mountains marks the eighth rescue operation in a single week. State officials are sounding the alarm: your spring trail gear is likely not enough for the summits. Read more at the link in comments.

04/20/2026

Since 2010, we’ve been setting the standards for & guides in the United States. With curriculum and certifications accepted Internationally by the UIMLA, we strive to provide the best training programs for guides operating in the trail discipline. Soon to be mandatory on government lands.

04/19/2026

03/21/2026

People see complex photos like this and think it’s the right way. Just because a photo is colorful and on a reputable source, doesn’t mean that’s it right. This is a completely improper way to pack a backpack on any type of terrain. Hire a CERTIFIED guide and learn the proper way before you cause permanent injuries to your body or trip participants.

03/02/2026

As a client of a guide, you should always ask the guide service for proof of insurance and permits. Anyone gaining revenue off of land is 99.9% of the time required to hold a permit with the land manager. Doesn’t matter if it’s Federal property, state, county, municipal or private. There’s always a permit process which verifies the guide, or guide service, holds the proper insurance for what they’re doing. If a guide can’t provide you proof of insurance and a permit you immediately, they most likely don’t have it. You can also call up the park or location you’re going to so you can verify if they hold a permit.

02/26/2026

As guides, choosing your traction tool for winter environments for clients can be tricky. Ice cleats, micro-spikes, and crampons are basic choices. The old saying is crampons are for ice on rock and micro-spikes are for ice on dirt. Snowshoes are great for powder snow. What we follow, are bring them all because you’re most likely going to use them all. Crampons spikes can pe*****te ice covered dirt and shear the ice off. Same thing goes for a mountaineering axe. But what if the ice is thicker than 2 inches? Is the ice and dirt multi or single layered? Is it cemented soil?

Which brings us to travel tools…do we use axes or trekking poles? Think of trekking poles as stability and not anchors. Mountaineering axes are for snow, not ice covered dirt.

As guides, we learn from seasoned guides who follow International, historic standards and best practices. We also always have to be forensically defensible for legal purposes. Educate yourself from professionals, not weekend warriors or “guides” who have no formal guiding education.

02/22/2026

TOMORROW EVENING AT 7PM EST! Don't miss out on this highly informative winter preparedness virtual session! This session will be conducted by our President Joey Vulpis who is a subject matter expert in remote rescue operations including cold/arctic environments with over 2 decades as a Mountain Guide & Mountain Rescue Technician. Join us!

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85631247769?pwd=KG7SVfCh3VCdYlEbetvY9qwXkbefCP.1

WINTER HIKING SAFETY WEBINAR! We’re doing a free winter hiking & backpacking safety virtual session on Monday, February 23 at 7pm Eastern time. This will be instructed by full time hiking/backpacking guides with decades of real world experience guiding people in various environments around the world.

Email us at [email protected] to register and receive a zoom link!
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02/22/2026

Joey Vulpis

02/22/2026

Christy DeMarco - Board Member
Christy earned her bachelor’s in Environmental Science with a concentration in fish and wildlife management and currently works with her County Government as an Environmental Specialist, CCMP (Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program) Monitor & Sampler, and HazMat Emergency Responder. Prior to that, she worked in Wildlife Rehabilitation for over 10 years. Additionally, she has worked as a Mountain Guide for about 8 years; particularly focused on rock climbing & canyon environments, as well as instruction in the technical & safety aspects of outdoor activities. When not working in nature, she enjoys her personal time in nature. Rock climbing, canyoning, hiking, wildlife watching, and overall exploring, are among what she loves most outdoors. Her time is also shared with her beloved children, fiancé, fur babies, and houseplants.