Guide training and exam prep for candidates going through the American Mountain Guides Association guide training programs.

AMGA Course and Exam Prep

NCMG Owners Jeff Ward, Larry Goldie, and Josh Colle are instructors and examiners for the American Mountain Guides Association guide training and certification programs.

We often get requests from guides going through the AMGA training program for either additional training for advanced courses or structured preparation for an exam. If you would like to prepare for an upcoming course or exam please get in touch with us as soon as possible. Their schedules fill up quickly, especially right before the alpine and ski exams (late summer and late winter).

Itinerary

All of these programs are booked on a custom basis with Larry, Josh or Jeff. Please contact us to check for availability.

Skills

Skills Required

You must be enrolled in the AMGA guide-training program to book one of these programs. These programs are offered at a discount from our regular private guiding rates because we want to support guides who are willing to further their education. When you contact the office please let them know what AMGA courses you have completed and what courses or exams you are preparing for.

Guides

Jeff Ward, co-owner of NCMG, is a fully certified AMGA and IFMGA licensed Mountain Guide and has been working as a full-time professional mountain guide since 1995. In addition to working as a guide for NCMG, Jeff is an instructor and examiner for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), teaching the next generation of American mountain guides. Jeff lives in Leavenworth, WA with his wife Kristen and 14-year old daughter Allison.
Larry Goldie, co-owner and lead guide for NCMG, has been making a living as a mountain guide for over two decades. He has climbed, skied and guided extensively in the Cascades, with additional experience in the Alps, Sierras, Rockies, Alaska, Canada and Antarctica. In addition to guiding for NCMG, Larry is an instructor and examiner for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), as well as an instructor trainer for AIARE, also being one of a select few teaching AIARE Pro 2 courses. With that background, Larry is one of our lead avalanche educators. Larry is an internationally (IFMGA) licensed Mountain guide and AMGA certified guide.
Joshua Cole, a co-owner of NCMG, has been adventuring in the mountains for more than 20 years, and guiding since 2004. He has climbed and skied extensively in the North Cascades, Swiss Alps, Italian Dolomites, Sierra Nevada, New Zealand and the ranges of SW Montana. Josh has given trainings and presentations on wilderness risk management to numerous organizations and is a risk management consultant for Experiential Consulting. Josh has worked as a professional ski patroller in Montana and New Zealand, and has a former life as a geologist. Josh works in the North Cascades as a ski, alpine and rock guide for NCMG. Josh is an IFMGA Licensed Guide, and is certified by the AMGA in the Rock, Alpine, and Ski disciplines.