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u Frequently Asked Questions |
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About me |
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Born in France I spent part of my childhood in Germany and the Republic of Djibouti/Africa. Back in France, I completed degrees in economics and geography. After 1 year in New Caledonia, I settled down in Vienna, Austria. In 2001, an 8 months long adventure took me through parts of southern Asia where we travelled by bicycle: http://patlaff.chez-alice.fr/ (in french and german). After successfully finishing a three-year course, I became a fully certified french trekking guide (AMM). I speak german, french and english fluently and have been living in Austria for 10 years now. |
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If you want to get the most out of hiking in our mountain national parks, consider hiring a professional guide. A certified trekking guide has been granted the authority by his or her government to lead walks in summer and winter on non-glaciated terrain. Certified trekking guides are skilled in both summer and winter travel and have completed courses on avalanche hazard assessment, mountain rescue and first aid, the use of transceivers, weather, flora and fauna, history, physiology of exercise and many other subjects. Before the candidate is given his or her diploma, a thesis of about 100 pages must be submitted to the committee of assessors who then spend nearly an hour 'grilling' the candidate on his or her subject, motivations for becoming a trekking guide and a large array of questions. A certified trekking guide in France for example, has to pass a three day entrance exam which includes a very long walk with up to 1700 meters of vertical ascent followed 15 minutes later by a rigorous and technical course over scree slopes, rocky outcrops, steep grass and some down climbing on sections of rock. |
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The next day is the orienteering exam, but is considered more like a race since candidates have very little time to find 5 hanging blazes using various navigation techniques. The third day involves interviews with the various examiners who are mountain guides, trekking guides and government officials from the various ministries. Once the candidate successfully passes the entrance exam, he or she has three years to complete a series of courses covering the full spectrum of mountain-related topics. At the end of each course, the candidate is given a grade which can eliminate them from the training program, forcing them to re-take the course the following year. During the last year of training, the candidate must work under the supervision of a fully-qualified trekking guide, enabling the mentor to assess the candidate's ability to lead walks safely in the mountains. Once all requirements have been fulfilled, the newly certified European Mountain Leader may begin to work once he or she has purchased full professional liability insurance. A certified trekking guide also has to go to a mandatory refresher course every 6 years, to ensure, update and maintain the quality of the profession. It may seem superfluous, but Europe has a long tradition of mountaineering and hill walking and many of the first guides' offices were set up in the Alps. Leading walking trips is for many a full-time
occupation, and certification has allowed for fewer accidents and a better understanding of the delicate mountain
ecology. In France, trekking guides are certified by the French Ministry of Youth and Sports. See Association National des Accompagnateurs en Montagne, the French Trekking Guide Association: www.lesaem.org (in french only). |
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• What are the trails going to be like in the Alps, how steep are they? Hiking in the Alps is a wonderful experience. The history, food, views and above all, the trail network allow for an incredible experience. The trails are what get you to the most beautiful parts of the mountains. Each area of the Alps will have a dedicated trail crew spending the summer months maintaining and repairing damaged trails. For the most part, trails are in excellent condition. Most days, we spend roughly 8 hours hiking. This of course takes into account stops for lunch, photographs and for taking in the incredible views. You may need to hike uphill for more than 3 hours, or roughly 1000 metres of vertical gain. The same may be expected for the descent. We often exceed 1000 metres on average. The Alps are steep, young mountains and therefore, you will be hiking uphill for several hours at one time. Unless you live in a mountainous area, you will have great difficulty in simulating a hike in the Alps. Trails will be steep at times, and walking poles can help you keeping your balance. Trail surfaces in the Alps change often. After a heavy thunderstorm, trails will be muddy and rock fall may occur. |
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• What is included in the price? My prices typically include all the guide/instructor fees and expenses. Travel, lift passes, local transfers, lunches, personal insurance or equipment hire are not included. |
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• What accommodation do you use? My trips involve nights in middle altitude mountain huts where accommodation is usually in bunkrooms sleeping 4-8 people. |
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As Certified Mountain Leader, I lead myself all trips and courses. For more information on the trekking guide qualification, click here. |
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For trekking trips the groups are usually between 4 and 12 people. |
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• Do itineraries change from the scheduled programme? Yes, sometimes. The itineraries that I provide on the website are sample itineraries and subject to change depending on the weather, snow and underfoot conditions. |
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• Do you offer group discounts? Yes, I am happy to give discounts to groups. Please contact me for further details. |
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• What will the weather be like in the Alps? The weather obviously varies, depending on when your booked trip starts. My trips in the Alps begin in June because prior to that, the trails are covered in snow. Mid June is about as early as you can start hiking. The days will be long with daylight until well past 9 p.m. The temperatures are never that high, with morning temperatures hovering around 8 - 12° C. As the sun heats the atmosphere, daytime temperatures rarely go higher than 25° C and that of course it depends on the altitude at which you are hiking. If we are spending the night in a mountain hut, you can expect early morning frost. Snow is not uncommon in the Alps during the first week of june. July is often stable when it comes to weather patterns. High-pressure systems often ensure that blue skies will prevail but isolated thunderstorms may still occur as cumulous clouds form over the valleys and peaks. July is often the best month to observe the incredible Alpine fauna. There are few issues with bugs except around livestock. Temperatures in July can reach 25 - 30° C especially during the last few summers, which seem to have been hotter than others. August is a real problem month with thunderstorm activity reaching its peak toward the end of the month. Thunderstorms are about the only danger we face as hikers on the trail. There is nothing we can do to avoid them except by leaving early in the morning and getting in as early as possible. The weather in August tends to focus on the thunderstorms, which dictate the pace of the day. Luckily, Europe has some of the best weather forecasting systems in the world and we can trust the reliability of the forecasts. |
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• Is it OK if I've never backpacked before? I do not expect any prior backpacking or even hiking experience, however backpacking can be a physically demanding activity. All of my trips are differentiated by level of difficulty. Regardless of the difficulty of the hike, you can expect to carry between a 25 and 45 pound pack and the need for ankle-high trekking boots or very sturdy hiking shoes. I recommend starting an exercise routine several weeks to several months prior to your trip date. Many of my trips are at middle altitude, demanding at least a modest level of cardiovascular fitness. |
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Your safety is my top priority, followed by fun and comfort. Your hiking tour will be led by a professional guide. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact me for more information. |
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40 liter backpack
In case you have forgotten parts of your compulsory equipment at home,
please be so kind as to let me know about it before starting the tour. Additional equipment for snowshoeing:
Rucksacks, a 40L rucksack would suffice for this tour If needed, special technical equipment will be detailed in the tour description. |
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Equipment for a hut to hut trekking Pack light
and don't take too much (total weight:
7 - 10 kg)! |
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I encourage you to book as early as possible to ensure you get the holiday you would like. To know how to book a place on a trip, please click here. |
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© 2008 | Trekking Austria | Vienna - Austria | Tel.: + 43 681 10 64 08 28 | @:info@trekkingaustria.com |
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