We show you how to stay civil on your next great adventure<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a moment in\u00a0Sherpa<\/a>, the BAFTA-nominated documentary about Everest\u2019s famous guides, when a western tourist asks \u201ccan you not talk to their owners?\u201d in reference to the striking Sherpas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It may have been an innocent plea made in a moment of frustration but in the harsh truth of film, the question exposes an unsettling attitude to the guides that risk their lives to lead others to the summit.<\/p>\n The question frames the relationship as\u00a0owner<\/em> <\/strong>and\u00a0possession<\/em>. It reduces the guide to a position of servitude when, in reality, they are in a position of leadership<\/em>. On the mountain, it is a guide\u2019s responsibility to constantly balance risk with reward, to push as hard as possible without crossing the edge. Theirs is quite possibly the most important job in mountaineering and deserves a commensurate level of respect.<\/p>\n Below, we examine\u00a0correct\u00a0mountain etiquette with the help of Guy Cotter<\/a>, CEO of\u00a0Adventure Consultants<\/a>, the pioneers of guiding on Everest and administrators of the\u00a0Sherpa Future Fund<\/a>.<\/p>\n In 2008, climbers Jimmy Chin, Conrad Anker, and Renan Ozturk attempted a First Ascent of\u00a0Meru Peak\u2019s\u00a0Shark\u2019s Fin. After 20 days in extreme conditions, they\u00a0gave up just 100 meters from the summit.<\/p>\n That moment of surrender \u2013 which must have been gutting<\/em> \u2013 came about\u00a0because these world-class climbers were able to recognise the point of no return and make the right\u00a0decision. Most people don\u2019t have the experience to make a judgement call like this, which is why it\u2019s so important to trust your guide.<\/p>\n Guy tells us: \u201cWith the mountain environment being so dynamic there are regularly times when the plan must change because of any one of several\u00a0factors: weather, conditions, time of day, clients\u2019 fitness or capability and so on. Trust that your guide wants the best outcome for you even though it may not be what you originally signed up for.\u201d<\/p>\n On our\u00a0Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu<\/a>, we learnt of a client who insisted that a guide and his horse ride from the Peruvian mountains to the nearest village to get more coffee.<\/p>\n There can be no such demands at high altitude. You will be without your creature comforts and some of those you\u00a0do<\/em> have, you may lose along the way. Don\u2019t sweat the small stuff. It\u2019s just not worth it.<\/p>\n Naturally, this is a good philosophy for not just mountaineering but all that lies\u00a0beyond. <\/p>\n Guy says: \u201cThe mountains teach us what the real priorities in life are and this is helpful when integrating back into our normal world where we can lose perspective on what is really important.\u201d<\/p>\n Take responsibility for keeping your gear organised and, by extension, keeping yourself and others safe. A guide can only do so much and it helps if group members actively contribute.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are all challenged by different things in the mountains based on our personality type,\u201d says Guy. \u201cSome people find that keeping their equipment together and well organised can be difficult yet they may find they are really good at general mountain movement. For others it is the opposite.\u201d<\/p>\n Guy adds: \u201cI have found that climbing very big mountains is like holding a big mirror up to yourself where you see your weaknesses and your strengths in minute detail. By accepting our strengths and working on our areas of weakness we can become rounded mountaineers and achieve great things. I don\u2019t think you\u00a0need to be exceptional at anything to be a successful high altitude mountaineer, but you\u00a0can\u2019t afford to be useless at anything either.\u201d<\/p>\n Capricious weather blights even the best-laid plans whether it\u2019s a picnic in a London park or a summit bid on Lhotse.<\/p>\n \u201cGuides want to have good weather and conditions in the mountains as much as you do and an experienced guide will know when the stars don\u2019t align,\u201d says Guy. \u201cWe all expect and want things to go according to plan but the reality is that nature is paramount; it doesn\u2019t matter how many people are following your trip and expect you to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFailure due to correct decision-making around the weather and conditions is not actually failure; it is part and parcel of being in the mountains,\u201d says Guy. <\/p>\n He adds: \u201cTo be successful in the mountains you need to be really conservative and really pushy at the same time. By that I mean you have to really want it, but you have to be extremely realistic and if all the contributing factors aren\u2019t right, you should wait until they are.\u201d<\/p>\n We\u2019ve spoken before about the\u00a0awkwardness of tipping and the difficulty of not knowing what is \u2018appropriate\u2019.<\/p>\n Interestingly,\u00a0Adventure Consultants have seen everything from a $20 to $15,000 tip on an Everest climb.<\/p>\n Everest veteran Alan Arnette\u00a0advises: \u201cFive percent of what you paid to the company is a fair tip. It works out best if every member of the team makes the same contribution. Of course if you had an exceptional experience, more may be justified. Five percent for a Rainier trip might be between $50 to $100 where an Everest climb at $50,000 would be $2,500; all reasonable amounts depending on your climb experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Some clients may baulk at the prospect of tipping after paying for a premium expedition, but it\u2019s important to remember that it\u2019s\u00a0premium for a reason.<\/p>\n Guy explains: \u201cI see many operators in places like Nepal fighting for the bottom of the market and they get a lot of clients who are initially overjoyed by the fact they got a trip for half the price but the reality is you get what you pay for and many of these people go home disappointed or unsuccessful and disillusioned.\u201d<\/p>\n Guides clearly care for your wellbeing but they are professionally bound to do what\u2019s best for the group. If you want to backtrack 30 minutes because you dropped something, this will rarely be possible.<\/p>\n Guy advises: \u201cIf you want to go do a trip that focuses on your objectives and timeframes then you can pay the extra to do a private trip by yourself or with a few close friends. If you are in a group, you have to pitch in both physically and emotionally to support the team.\u201d<\/p>\n Learning a bit of the local\u00a0language<\/a> shows that you have taken an interest in the local culture and not just ticking a box on your\u00a0mountaineering calendar<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least learn the names of those around you who are helping you on your journey,\u201d says Guy. \u201cIt\u2019s disappointing to see people point at a staff member they have been on a trip with for a week and say \u2018that one there\u2019 rather than their name.\u201d<\/p>\n Guides and porters will do as much as possible to minimise the group\u2019s footprint, but their time and resources are limited especially at altitude. As such, do take an active role in ensuring the environment is left as clean and undisturbed as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to realise we always leave some trace no matter how diligent we are so we must be especially vigilant with ensuring we minimise our footprint,\u201d says Guy.<\/p>\n Nature is at its most glorious in the mountains. With consideration and effort from all of us, we can help it stay that way.<\/p>\n Adventure Consultants<\/a>\u00a0offer expeditions<\/a>, treks<\/a>, backcountry skiing adventures<\/a> and wilderness journeys to the Himalaya, Antarctica, South America, Greenland, Alaska and the\u00a0Seven Summits, in addition to a world class guiding service and climbing schools in New Zealand and Europe<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n We show you how to stay civil on your next great adventure There\u2019s a moment in\u00a0Sherpa, the BAFTA-nominated documentary about Everest\u2019s famous guides, when a western tourist asks \u201ccan you not talk to their owners?\u201d in reference to the striking Sherpas. It may have been an innocent plea made in a moment of frustration but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7047576,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11760],"tags":[61402,2059,181208,27361,3505,16491,4543],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-7047575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adventure","tag-etiquette","tag-guide","tag-hiking-trekking","tag-how-to","tag-mountain","tag-mountains","tag-treat"],"yoast_head":"\nTrust your guide<\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t sweat the small stuff<\/h2>\n
![\"Mountain](\"https:\/\/www.atlasandboots.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Mountain-etiquette-3-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/a>Be responsible for your own gear<\/h2>\n
Remember that no-one can control nature<\/h2>\n
![\"interesting](\"https:\/\/www.atlasandboots.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Peter-summit-Aconcagua.jpg\")
<\/a>Tip well \u2013 even if YOU\u2019VE paid a premium price<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.atlasandboots.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Mountain-etiquette-4.jpg\")
<\/a>Keep the greater good in mind<\/h2>\n
Learn some of the local language<\/h2>\n
Leave no trace<\/h2>\n
![\"Mountain](\"https:\/\/www.atlasandboots.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Mountain-etiquette-5-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/a>
\nEnjoyed this post? pin it for later\u2026<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.atlasandboots.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mtn-eti-Pinterest-683x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\nLead image: Dreamstime<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"