Alaska Guide Training

Recently, a discussion took place that I was not part of immediately, and it was addressed accordingly, as I will share with you here. A potentially harmful, completely asinine ( ok, ok, "in my opinion") statement was directed towards Alaska Guide Trainees, NOT being any sort of a Leader, in anything, until they have years of experience, AFTER receiving their State of Alaska Big Game Hunting Guide License.

On their own, for the first time. Pioneer Outfitters Alaska Guide Trainees, given serious responsibility, left instructions and expectations, discovered there were still many hard lessons to learn. "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

Strange topic for Monday Motivation, you say? I say, it has to be discussed, " Let's talk failure." First though, let us be clear. Failure is the lack of success, a fracturing or giving way under stress, a state of inability to perform a normal function or an abrupt cessation of normal functioning.

A Professional Guides Values are the values we hope to observe in the field during the hands-on portion of Guide Training at Pioneer Outfitters. The highs and lows of the reality of a Professional Alaska Big Game Guide are very quick and clearly illuminate the future of all Professional Guides and Outfitters of Alaska.

As the tensions rises, the grip I have on my calm and vision is firm. Not too tight, that way always lays mistakes. Not loose, that way lays disaster. We discuss Leadership ( daily) and all it entails, beginning always with the fact that it begins within.

Practice what you teach, "Walk the Talk" and all those other jive-talk sayings that we live our lives by. Recently, on our aborted-filming-start-adventure, we got together with a super close family friend and shanghaied her into accompanying us to "town" ( that would be Anchorage, for those of you who are sadly, not, Alaskans).

These posts are for you. Monday Motivation is the way that I do what I can, to help you stay YOUR path. To do what I can to assure you, that you truly are, fighting the good fight. It is all about you. It is ALL about you, except, really, it's not.

I don't know about you, but to me, Professionalism isn't about shaking your fist at the Gods, stomping your feet, yelling or whining about how unfair life is. Professionalism isn't tested when you are surrounded by rainbows and unicorns. Today's Tuesday Thought is considering whether the focus should be on SNAFU or Professionalism.

Over the last few years, Pioneer Outfitters Survival & Guide Training has become known and grown with the highly selective approval of the state of Alaska. As we have grown, the age of the Trainees granted entrance to our hands-on program has dropped dramatically.

Alaska Professional Guide Ethics and Authenticity, they go together, not like bread and butter but more, like yeast and bread. Without authenticity, an Alaska Professional Guide's ethics would come into question. Guide Ethics and Authenticity As one of only two Alaska Guide Training programs recognized and approved by the state of Alaska, leadership is the highest priority, everyday.

Are you risking it all? Your dream, your goal, that shiny spot that you are aiming for. What are you willing to give to reach it? What are you risking? If you are not risking it all, you are in danger of never reaching it. Risking It All.

One of the most difficult, growing pains that I have witnessed is learning how to deal with oneself. Isn't that where people skills and self control begin to develop? As the lead trainer for Pioneer Outfitters Survival & Guide Training, my specific focus is directed at helping these men and women become more than guides.

A conversation I had online recently keeps circling around in my mind. "Fake it 'till you make it." This may strike some people as deceptive or underhanded. Becoming an Alaska Professional Guide is an enormous responsibility. A few of the strengths and characteristics required of a guide to be able to excel as a Professional Guide are confidence, self-motivation, readiness and observation.

I know I still owe a post to Carola Fitzhugh for her questions on Face Book a few days ago! I wrote it, and promptly lost the whole dang thing. My brain is bruised from the loss... I'll get back to it, I promise! This post is for Paul Preston and his wife, Allison, to [...]

What is it like to be a Guide? I became a professional Alaska Big Game Guide in 1995. It was, and still is, the most exciting, profound and rewarding feeling that I can imagine. There is nothing that can possibly compare to being part of making someone's dream come true, on horseback, in one of [...]

Keeping Up With the Boys is an ongoing series of updates on how the Pioneer Outfitters Alaska Guide Trainees are doing with their training and how they are solving problems, handling difficult situations and coping with all that living in the remote bush brings to the surface.

" HELLO THE HOUSE!" ( Proper greeting when approaching a cabin in the wilderness... this helps especially during the winter's dark, to ensure you are not mistaken for a critter!) It is Sunday and we are going to talk a little bit about Alaskan Leadership.

A young Trainee plops his butt down with a sigh, looks at me and asks, "What do I pack to head to camp?" Huh. Why didn't I think of that?! So, I sent him off with ideas of how to sort his gear and a promise I would have a list for him by the [...]

Waking to snow! September in Alaska equals a really good chance for snow. Aren't we lucky? ( Yes, that was sarcasm.) The bottom line for Professional Guides is what we are talking about this week with the Guide Trainees.

More on Alaska Guide Training to give you a clearer look at one of the most difficult career choices men and women can make.The Guides trained by Pioneer Outfitters are accepted anywhere in the United States, including Alaska, as Professional Guides of the highest caliber and as capable of safely guiding clients and guests through the toughest lands of North America after and to some of the most dangerous game in Alaska.

There are lines between fear and respect as an Alaska Professional Guide that quite often are ignored or swept under the rug. First, you have to understand the difference between fear and respect. Fear: be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening .

Know that we here at Pioneer Outfitters want you to succeed. Pass or Fail, you will be part of Pioneer Outfitters for Alaska Guide Training. "Be who you say you are. If you aren't, yet, work for it. Work hard towards it. Focus on it. You WILL be. Live it.

A client will book and sign a contract with Pioneer Outfitters to "Hunt." In pursuit, with the intent to kill. He (or she) will not contract for a "kill." We stand firm. We, here at Pioneer Outfitters, continue to ride, hunt and work to make ourselves, and through ourselves, our world, a good and honorable business.

Alaska Guide Trainee Makinzi Rutledge is a "special consideration" trainee in her second year of training of the Guide Training program that Pioneer Outfitters offers. Makinzi was born and raised in Alaska and has been part of Pioneer Outfitters family since she could walk.

"Monkey-See, Monkey-Do" is the child's silly saying that was running through my mind today. This post is especially for our Alaska Guide Trainees, during their "Hands-On" field training. The Pioneer Outfitters Guide Training program has undergone a change in the way that I, as Manager for Pioneer Outfitters, perceive it.