Ice guides?

Kevin,
Unless your from the UK or been living under a rock I'm surprised to hear someone so vehemently opposed to tipping.
I think you need to think a bit about where the money is going. Sure you foot the bill for the service and pay x amount to the business that is taking you skiing, fishing, climbing or whatever. In most cases the guide is an employee of that business and tips make up part of what they make. You pay $1000 to ride a heli and the answer is, it is not enough. The guide isn't making $1000 even though he just worked his ass off and probably kissed yours and for that he's deserves a token of your appreciation. Guiding is a service and common practice in this country for the last um umpteen years is to tip. Factor it in.

Can of worms = OPEN.

That's what I thought...I tip white water guides and thought climbing guides would be similar. Does one just hand them $x.00 after the climb? 15% should be good 'eh?

Some how I knew my post would generate the responces it did so let me clearify my position on guides n guiding.

1st I have Nothing against guides period

And second I still believe for someone starting out ice climbing or rock climbing for that matter a guide is a total waste of money unlessyou have no friends who climb.

When I started ice climbing I was taught by one of the best not a guide and have been climbing w/ several really good ice climbers sence, I have never paid someone to teach me to climb rock or ice and ive been doing so for 20+ years.

I believe a guide is money well spent if you want to improve your game learn to lead ect But just to try something for the first time unless you have no other option Hell No.

I take people out all the time n have several sets of tools n poons n such I don't expect a dime let alone a tip it's a way for me to give back something that was given to me several years ago .

As far a tipping goes if whatever you did or had was exceptional than a tip is inorder a tip is not something that is manditory just because someone was doing there job and if that person isnt making the money they wish than its time to find another job , Im not the welfare office or give two shits about your student loan or whatever. you picked your path not me If you give me good service you will recieve a good tip it's that simple.If not well ......

I once tipped a guide 300 bucks because he had to leave gear when we bailed off a mixed route in RMNP it wasn't anyones fault just the weather n time so I covered his gear expences which amounted to maybe a hundred bucks and tipped him well for his effort .This after I paid 400 dollars for an all day one on one alpine climb. Im sure he went back and recovered his bail gear anyway so good for him .

Im not knocking guides in anyway, I just don't see the logic in spending money on something you don't even know if you like yet when you may have other options .If you do not have other options than by all means hire a guide I guess the ones mentioned are good I don't know .

Cheers
Ice.

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The responsibilities of the guide's job are a good deal greater than the counter help at Moe's Bagels or the plumber snaking your clean-out. And guides' pay, by the nature of their industry, is more dependent on your enjoyment of their services and the experience they provide.

If you are part of a large group/class, maybe the tip is optional. If you are in a small group or alone with a good guide, a gratuity equal to your enjoyment/appreciation is very important.

Guide Gilroy

If you want to learn how to Ice Climb, and don't have a rock star ice climber friend to take you out, hiring a guide is good way to go. And hire a Professional - like Jack Roberts, Eli Helmuth, not some random dude you met at the rock gym. I've seen so many junk shows at the crags, it is hard for me to recommend going out with a random climber friend anymore... Funny, because that is also how I learned, but I had so many close calls early on, I developed my skills to the other end of spectrum, becoming a meticulous climber, which eventually led to becoming a guide. There *is* a difference, which is why you pay for one service in cash, and the other in beer.

With regard to tips, let's just be clear. Tipping is optional. It is in almost any venue in the world, even at your local restaurant. But if you want to know what your average guide gets in tips, it is around $50/day. We are *psyched* to get tips - it gives us a little spending money outside of our typically cost of living. Tips vary from getting nada, to the exceptionally generous $100's wad of cash, which is often accompanied by an exceptional level of patience the guide doled out that day. A good way to look at it is, tip if you thought they did a good job, and tip fat if you want the person to remember you, and go out of their way to set you up for a good time your next time out with them. If you don't care, don't tip - it isn't big deal.

Most important, and easily missed in this discussion, is be safe, and have a good time!

what-ever guys
people (ie clients, guests) should do whatever they like feel appropriate.
No reason to try and justify someones pay by adding a tip...just my opinion after 15+ years in the industry

You just missed the Ouray Ice Fest, which was pretty awesome. The clinics are top notch and cheap. At the fests there is a ton of demo gear, so you pretty much just need to bring pants and a helmet. Cody's Ice Fest is coming up in February, same deal, different location. The clinics are a great way to get into ice, or get better at ice.

Even using a parking shuttle now .....