Forthcoming Events
BMG Open Day Sat 7th June 2008
North Wales Following our first very succesful open day in 2006, the BMG will be holding an open day in June 2008.
This day is aimed at promoting the mountain guiding profession as a career and explaining the BMG training scheme. It is open to alpinists who would like to find out more about mountain guiding as a career.This is a great opportunity not only to meet the BMG Training officer and the guides involved in the training scheme, but also to get to know BMG guides who can assist you on your road to becoming an IFMGA guide.
The life of a mountain guide can be very demanding and it is important from the outset that we attract the right calibre of climbers and mountaineers who would like to join the BMG and become a member of the International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGA).
All participants for this open day must having extensive British and Alpine climbing and mountaineering experience and have a genuine interest in guiding as a career. This day should be of particular interest to experienced alpinists and MIC holders who have alpine experience.The pre requirements for joining the BMG training scheme are that you should have completed approximately 50 routes of E1/5b, a similar amount of British Winter routes at Grade IV/V and have completed about 20 alpine routes of which 10 must be TD and 5 of these 10 should be of a mixed nature around 1000m in length. Experience in the greater ranges is also accepted. You should also have logged about 30 days ski touring. Please consult the training section of this website for a complete list of pre requirements.
Do not worry if you haven't yet achieved this level of experience as part of the open day is to give you advice on how best to attain these pre requisites. You should however expect to be able to meet these pre requirements within the next 5 years. If in doubt send in an application and we will advise you
Download Further details and an application form 
in Word format
An OBE for one of our members
Pat Littlejohn awarded an OBE
Pat Littlejohn, one of our members, has been awarded an OBE for 'Services to Mountaineering' in the recent New Years Day honours list.
Here's what Pat has to say about it."Towards the end of 2007 an odd-looking letter arrived at the ISM office. It purported to be from 10 Downing Street and bore the Royal Crest of Arms. At first I thought it was a scam or a wind-up but after the third or fourth reading it sunk in that it was the genuine article. Basically it said that the Honours Committee had recommended me for an award and that if acceptable this would be submitted to the Queen. Nothing happened then until just before New Year when the honours list for 2008 was published, then various newspapers began calling the ISM office and it transpired that I had indeed received an OBE for Services to Mountaineering. To say this was unexpected would be putting it mildly. Till now the only honours given to mountaineers have been associated with Everest.
I have slightly mixed feelings - I'm very much a grass roots climber and not at all the public figure I've always associated with these 'honours'. However it is nice to get some broader recognition for our sport and if it proves to be of some benefit to mountaineering, in my BMC work for example, I'll be happy.
No idea yet when I collect the award, but I hope it's the same day as Kylie Minogue!"
