Besides Colorado being a top destination for value this last summer and this fall, I noticed many of my fellow Coloradoans taking vacations to Alaska. What? Why? With all the beauty and mountains we have along the Pikes Peak Front Range? Then, it made me think of what it takes to be a top adventure guide in Alaska compared to Colorado. Turns out, I would put our guides up against ANY adventure guides in Alaska.
Here’s my top five skills an Adventure Guide must have:
- State requirements: Our guides have to meet and exceed Colorado State AND the U.S. Forest Service driver requirements because our Jeeps and Adventure Vehicles can carry up to 14 guests into extreme environments. A guide has to have the skills to take such a unique vehicle into the backcountry, leaving the safety worries to us. That’s a lot of training and responsibility!
- AOW requires historical, geological, and flora & fauna knowledge: Our guides’ tour length can run 2 to 10 hours, so we require them to not only provide safety but be entertaining as well. We want you to connect to the landscape. History is educational, but “time-travel” is really where the dull leaves the pavement behind. When you have a historical question, our guides will have the answer. We’ve got the local geology covered, too. The diversity of rock formations will make any rock hound ecstatic!
- Flexibility: Flexibility is a skill that our guides have mastered after their thorough training. AOW has been in business for over 50 years. There hasn’t been an event that we have not encountered; we can handle AND deliver on schedule. Weather changes from minute to minute on a tour, and your comfort is at the front of our guides’ minds the entire time.
- First Aid knowledge: Our guides are all certified and will provide immediate attention if the need arises. Altitude in the Pikes Peak Area is one of the biggest challenges for guests coming from lower elevations. Our guides must know the signs of altitude sickness and how to treat it promptly so you can enjoy the tour.
Leading outdoor expeditions in Colorado is about much more than knowing the trails—it requires a unique blend of technical expertise, regional knowledge, and people skills.
At its core, guiding is a hospitality job in a rugged setting. Our guides lead diverse groups of varying fitness levels, ages, and backgrounds so you have an immersive, memorable experience.
Ready to take on another of Life’s adventures?
Sassafras/Tammila K. Wright
