Any Private Mount Hood Guides out there????

[stegman]

Greetings,

 

New member here.... Searched the threads up and down and didn't find what I was looking for sooooooooo...

 

I'll have 4-8 friends (most likely 4) 2 of us are experienced. We'd like to climb Mt Hood in May. Our friends will be trained in the basics by the time they get to Mt Hood. We'd like support, a guide who could provide ropes, harnesses (we'll rent them), etc...

 

Any takers? We could use a service but the price is high in the current economy and I know many guides I have climbed with in the past have moonlighted. Has anyone else tried tried/done this?

[Cobra_Commander]

You're looking for a free guided trip up Mt Hood?

[treknclime]

Rarely will guides with any reputation moonlight anymore. They are easily recognizable by their gear and how they conduct themselves on the mountain with their clients. There is a lot at risk for a guide of any reputation who ventures into an area where they don’t have a permit. Whatever authentic guiding experience a self-proclaimed guide may have can be measured commensurate at a rate equal to whatever they may charge. Like the saying goes, ya often get what ya pay for.

 

While you may not want to pay for a qualified/permitted guide, you know more or less what you’re getting ahead of time, and since you’re all newer climbers, you’ll learn a ton of valuable skills and helpful information. Check out http://www.timberlinemtguides.com/ for more information.

 

Good luck and have fun…Hood is a great experience!

 

[ivan]

are any of your friends chicks, and if so, are they hawt?

[stegman]

I should have explained better. We were hoping to find a younger guide.... doesn't have to be world class that will assist us on the climb. In return, we will pay him. From what I deciphered on the guide sites, it looked like the cost would be 600 or so per climber. Sorry but that is not in the budget. We are fairly flexible and open to different ideas.

[summerprophet]

Stegman,

Doubtful you will find any form of professional guide willing to head up Hood and bypass the permitting system, guiding really isn't that lucritive, and moonlighting would put a quick end to a career.

 

Rather than pursuing a professional guide, ask around about retired guides or experienced climbers willing to fill in the roll. Again, you have no proof of experience, or the service quality that professionals would offer.

 

That being said, $2400 sounds high, especially if you are claiming the skills and equipment required.

 

All that being said, I haven't been a guide in 11 years..... things may have changed.

[billbob]

I had the distinct honor to escort a climber down from the 9,600' level a couple summers ago. He and another climber hired an "unofficial" guide. The person I brought down had been left on a ridge at 4am, in nasty weather, because he couldn't deal with the white-out and winds,and he was supposed to wait 4 hours there until the remaining climber and guide got back. In 25 degree whiteout with 35 mph winds. The poor fellow was suffering more than I could take at that point. Lucky for him that I was willing to bring him down safely. And this was in June.

Inexperienced climbers need professional, licensed guiding to increase chances of both a successful summit and more importantly, for survival. Do not underestimate the severity of conditions (often) found on Hood in May.