Mountain Talks #2: Sustainable, low impact guiding

What do we mean by low impact, sustainable guiding? Check the complete webinar here

Do you want to know more about the talks and speakers? Scroll down.

Low impact guiding 
by Carl Lundberg
 
I found myself standing on the glaciers telling my clients how the ever-warmer summers are melting the ice and the thawing permafrost makes the mountains crumble and crash into the valleys. What I did not bring up was that us, standing there witnessing the decay, were a large part of creating the problem - but honestly, I think we all knew. To sustain I went through all possible excuses to justify my business and lifestyle. But the moral dilemma kept increasing and in 2015 the desire to be part of the solution rather than the problem tipped over and I decided to start over with the aim to do my guiding with an as low impact as possible.
 
About the speaker 
 
For large parts I have pursued my mountain guiding in parallel, and in combination, with other careers. I did my mountain guide training in parallel with my Ph.D. as an escape and a backup in the case deskwork became too slow for me (it did). While working as an army officer, military mountain guiding, and instructing were part of my duties. As safety manager for geological and glacial research expeditions I got to combine mountain guiding and research. And as many guides, I too combined guiding and rope access work. At my "career peak" as a guide I was part of running a heliski-operation and trips worldwide. Since 2015 I work locally in Scandinavia, primarily with ski touring.
 

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Outdoor recreation can be a cause, a victim, as well as part of the solution!
by Halvor Dannevig and Carlo Aall
 
Outdoor recreation can be a cause, a victim, as well as part of the solution, to environmental degradation and runaway climate change. We will start this presentation with some uncomfortable truths about the relationships between outdoor recreation, consumerism and energy use based on research done at Western Norway Research Institute, and a few thoughts about transition to sustainability in tourism. We will also present preliminary results from research on how nature based tourism actors, including, ski resorts, guide companies and mountaineers in Norway are affected by climate and environmental changes and how they need to adapt to these changes both to avoid doing additional harm to the environment as well as reducing operational risk.
 
About the speakers
 
Dannevig holds a PhD in adaptation to climate change and is a research director at Western Norway Research Institute. He is also a Norwegian IFMGA guide and combines both professions where he lives in Sogndal close to the highest mountains and largest glaciers in Norway. Halvor is also Vice-president in the Norwegian Guides Association (NORTIND). Aall (PhD) is leading the National research centre on sustainable climate change adaptation (Noradapt) at Western Norway Research Institute and serves as a professor in sustainable development at the Western Norway University of Applied Science.
 

 

The future of the mountain guiding profession 
by Nils Faarlund
 
In this interview Nils presents the development Eco-philosophical thinking (and living), the what, how and why of learning, and how this relates to a reality oriented process within the nordic Friluftsliv traditions. His hope is that the time now has come for the UIAGM to fully integrate the result of our more than fifty years of experience with learning into the future pattern for qualifying mountain guides: To expand 'transparent guiding' into 'dialogue-based guiding' – dialogue with nature, according to eco-philosophy/dialogue with the guests, according to 'tour agreement-based companionship'.
 
About the speaker 
 
MSc biochemistry/microbiology Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH), Trondheim (1961). Research in microbiology at NTH etc. (1962 – 1966). Founder of Norwegian School of Mountaineering in Hemsedal (1967). Took friluftsliv to University level at Norwegian School of Sport Science (1968), MA-level (1975). Founding father of Association of Norwegian Mountain Guides (1978). Leader Norwegian Red Cross Alpine Rescue/ICAR delegate 1974 – 2007. Norwegian Red Cross Reward for accident prevention services (1997), Project leader Mountaineering and leadership courses Norwegian Military Academy (1967 – 2019), Honorary Officer Cadet of the Academy (1999), Honorary member of UIAGM (2000) and International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR) (2011). Knight 1st class of The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for volunteer and professional services for nature and humanity 2008. Norwegian Friluftsliv Award (2009).

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