Getting your SPI

Minimum wage in vt is $9.15hr  but that $73.20 per day  is completely unlivable. 

LOL at people talking about getting your SPI like it's a way to make a living

Good guides can make $200+ a day (before tips) with just an SPI. Not exactly raking it in, but enough to make a living, especially when you live as frugally as some climbers do. What do you do for a living GDavis?

I guide

You can definitely get hooked up with a company who puts you up on 3/4 days a week, and in my experience guiding pays 200+. However, there are a million SPI's and down here in So Cal the positions you are talking about are few and far between (and usually taken by rock instructors/guides).

Maybe RRG has a good economy but in Joshua Tree and Idyllwild you can take that SPI cert and 2 bucks and buy a cup of coffee.

Well Red River Gorge houses 3 of the poorest counties in the nation, so I wouldn't say our economy is great. Getting a guide here is cheap, if you hustle you can make it just guiding. It seems competition in your local area is a big factor. 

I am successful, but I am very much the minority. I also do other things, like sell jewelry.

Edited because you took back that passive aggressive comment and I'd look like a dick, lol.

DrRockso wrote:

 I wouldn't say our economy is great. Getting a guide here is cheap

I mean the CLIMBING economy, Southern California has tons O money just not for guides.
Do you need permits to climb there? How do you afford liability insurance? Or are you talking about pirate guiding, which is not something to do.

GDavis wrote:

I mean the CLIMBING economy, Southern California has tons O money just not for guides.
Do you need permits to climb there? How do you afford liability insurance? Or are you talking about pirate guiding, which is not something to do.

I would not describe the climbing economy as strong for guiding here, relative to the region the climbing economy is stronger in North Carolina and West Virginia. I work for 2 of the 3 guiding services here and work as much as any of the guides here, permits for guiding are necessary in certain areas.

hobo. try feeding  and houseing a family on minimum wage.... heck you can't even do it on $15.00 per hr....

As a part time employee, I'm very grateful to have benefits, including partially paid health insurance and a pension. But, that also means my take home pay is less than minimum wage, after health insurance for myself, husband, and son.

Wahoo. 

OLH

Those that can't, mountain project?

isnt that the old saying?

Bruch is wrong and fat

GDavis wrote:

Bruch is wrong and fat

Who's Bruch??

Old lady H wrote:

Who's Bruch??

That's the dyslexic version of Burch.

Burcheydawwwwwwg wrote:

Those that can't, mountain project?

isnt that the old saying?

This should go in the great climbing quotes thread

Hobo Greg wrote:

Does anyone know if there's a required waiting period between the course and exam or can you take them as closely spaced as is offered?

You can take them as closely as you like, though success on the exam then tends to be quite dependent upon your skill set prior to taking the course. 

Hobo Greg wrote:

Been climbing solidly for two years, need to practice some knots, and I've never done a pickoff or a instructor rappel whatever (not real rappelling but not sure what it really is). Otherwise I feel OK.

I just took my exam with a well respected and tough evaluator. I can tell you from personal experience that you need to have your systems and skills dialed in. Neither the course, nor the exam are really a "Learning Environment", as you are expected to show up with a baseline of skills. For me, it was very valuable, and I got some great (and constructive) feedback. It was made very clear to me that the SPI isn't a place to show up and expect to get your certificate. You will be expected to uphold the values and instructional professionalism of the AMGA, even as a "lowly" SPI. 

Hobo Greg wrote:

Been climbing solidly for two years, need to practice some knots, and I've never done a pickoff or a instructor rappel whatever (not real rappelling but not sure what it really is). Otherwise I feel OK.

If your knot knowledge is in a place where you "need to practice," then you may want to put some time between the course and the exam. The exam is taken seriously, and given the scoring system, you still need to get what comes out to a score of about 90% to pass. To ensure you pass the exam, your knots and other technical skills should be dialed and smooth. If you're planning to take the course, I'd wait to schedule the exam until after you've taken the course and have a good idea of your skills.

For knots specifically, those that tend to give many students trouble are the munter, munter-mule, and bowline. The belayed rappel system relies heavily on the munter-mule as well, so you'll really want to have that one mastered or you'll likely find the belayed rappel much more challenging.