[pct-l] New Mountain Education videos on YouTube!

Wed Jul 2 14:45:02 CDT 2014

Thanks Matt,

I appreciate your efforts.  I have to say as a newbie, aspiring PCT hiker,
there certainly are a lot of issues and vigor you bring up that I am simply
not equipped to address.

I would reiterate that I found Mountain Educations courses very focussed
and instructive, at all levels, for gaining experience and planning my PCT
hike.  In particular,the Advanced Class which took us over Forrester
Pass will serve me well in preparing me to reduce my personal risk and
increase my solo safety  and in assisting me in choosing proper equipment
and loadouts for differing terrains and weather conditions.

I cannot discern anything illegal or unethical being practiced here based
upon your comments and my additional research due to your response, and
don't see any viable options that you are recommending which would have
better informed my current and past hike planning and execution.
Additionally, I would highly recommend Mountain Educations courses, OR ANY
OTHER TRAINING COURSES to other aspiring PCT hikers in their preparations
for future assaults on the PCT!

Thanks for taking the time and effort to expand upon your original email to
me.  Obviously, there are other dynamics at play here that are outside of
my interests, capacity and desire to become involved in.

Also, thanks for your patience in my response, I did not even know what the
AMGA was and their certifications but glad you pointed that industry out to
me.

Coastal

On Mon, Jun 30, 2014 at 1:50 PM, Matt Signore <mpsignore at gmail.com> wrote:

> If I were guiding clients.  I would be required to provide what you ask.
>  However, I am not a guide nor do I pretend to be one on the pct-l or even
> TV.  Nor do I guide clients under the guise of a donation based guide
> service.  I have taken 30 days of alpine mountaineering courses with
> accredited guide services to learn the necessary training to safely travel
> on in an Alpine environment.  However, just like Ned I am not certified to
> lead clients, but Ned tries every year.   Every year someone falls for his
> smoke and mirrors guide service.  This year someone really fell, and got
> pretty busted up.  Busted up enough to need a helicopter rescue.  Yet Ned
> is posting away about more course offerings, and avoids any comment on his
> clients injuries and how they could have been avoided.
>
> Really I have no personal issues with Ned.  Other than he takes food off
> the table of starving guides that are certified and permitted in the parks
> where Mountain Education guides illegally.
>
> It is illegal to guide on public lands without a permit.  In fact, you have
> to receive permission from the Federal Agency managing the lands even if
> you operate on a donation basis.  This is for many reasons; permitted guide
> services get ranges of dates they are allowed to guide clients in the
> National Parks and USFS lands mostly for over usage issues.
>
> Ninety - nine out of one hundred clients may return safely, but what about
> that one person.  Why should that person suffer any injuries?  The only
> thing that saved the guy's life at Harts Pass was not his guide, not the
> rope team, but a fall into a tree.  His SOBO hike is now over because of a
> few broken ribs and a scalp laceration.  Seriously a scalp laceration?
>  Where was the clients helmet?  That is inexcusable!
>
> Look at the gear list a credible guide service requires you to have before
> you get in the van let alone start a snow basics course or alpine
> mountaineering course then compare that to Mountain Educations gear list.
>  I do not know of a single guide service that recommends a whippet and
> micro spikes.  You know why because they are not meant for what he is
> teaching.  They all require a helmet though.  Mostly for insurance reasons.
>  Something else I am sure Ned is bereft in maintaining for his clients.
>
> The helicopter rescue Ned's client needed would have been avoided if the
> client were roped up to a rope team or a guide.  It seems Ned won't even
> carry a 10 lb rope to save a client fall.  What guide doesn't care about
> client safety?  The answer is all guides do, and Ned is not a guide.  No
> matter what he is telling you about not needing his certification to guide
> clients.  The AMGA sets the standard for guiding clients safely, and Ned
> lacks the commitment to himself and his clients to spend the necessary
> money to gain AMGA certification.
>
> Imagine going in for surgery, and the person isn't a doctor. He or she
> might be a veterinarian, and has a few scalpels some alcohol swabs.  You
> still ready for surgery?  Because I would guess there are as many people
> dying in the mountains as there are on operating tables.
>
> Matt Signore
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 30, 2014 at 3:02 PM, Dave Fajer <davefajer at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Wow!  If you have credentials...you didn't list them......can you?
> >
> > I have taken 3 courses from Mountain Education...All perfectly safe but
> > challenging IMHO and perfect for preps for my intended forays.
> >
> > I see some rancor in your words for sure......perhaps some personal
> issues
> > and experiences too!.  Please help me understand better where you are
> > coming from.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Coastal
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone
> >
> >
> > -------- Original message --------
> > From: Matt Signore
> > Date:06/30/2014 12:38 PM (GMT-08:00)
> > To: Ned Tibbits
> > Cc: johnmuirtrail at yahoogroups.com, pct-l
> > Subject: Re: [pct-l] New Mountain Education videos on YouTube!
> >
> > I would rather see the video of the guy plummeting down Harts Pass
> breaking
> > 3 ribs and his scalp laceration.  You know the guy that should have been
> > roped to you as his guide. he as your client.  Especially since he didn't
> > know how to self arrest yet.  His blood is literally on your hands.
> >
> > No credible guide service would allow a client to travel un-roped with
> the
> > objective hazards Harts Pass can present.  If you cannot teach roped
> > travel, and manage a rope team you should reconsider guiding clients.
>  You
> > could more safely teach snow basic courses at a ski resort and eliminate
> > the risk to your clients?  That would cost each person a lift ticket at
> > most.
> >
> > Instead of linking Youtube videos I would rather see a link to the
> permits
> > you have gotten from the Federal Land Agency where you are offering
> > classes.  Maybe even an AMGA guide certificate.  Because if that same
> > incident would have occurred with an AMGA certified guide I am quite sure
> > the AMGA would revoke his guide's license.  You just don't seem to care
> > enough to carry a rope.
> >
> > I hate to nit pick, but you obviously are not taking the necessary
> > precautions to keep your clients safe.  A guide needs to teach and take
> > necessary precautions to ensure your clients the best and safest possible
> > experience.  Everytime you post about your guide service I will make sure
> > this comes up.  You are not doing anyone any favors in this fashion.  You
> > are putting them in harms way.  The client is just too blind to see that
> > until it is too late.
> >
> > Matt Signore
> > _______________________________________________
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>
>
> --
> Matt Signore
> *http://www.yogisbooks.com/ <http://www.yogisbooks.com/>*
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