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Jorg and Heather Wilz
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ABOUT
ONTOP
OnTop is owned and operated by Jorg Wilz,
Internationally Certified Mountain & Ski Guide (UIAGM / IFMGA),
who also guides most of the trips. Jorg's wife Heather helps with
logistics and administration.
Mountaineering, trekking and backcountry skiing
in Europe, Canada and the US is where most of our expertise lies
- the Alps and the mountains of the North American West are our
home turf!
However, on a custom-trip basis, we offer trips to any mountaineering
destination in the world.
OUR TRIPS
We offer a wide selection of scheduled
programs/courses as well as
Our trips range from non-technical treks to extreme mountaineering
and climbing ventures. Our itineraries are designed to sample the highlights
of each destination. For lodging, we mainly select family owned B&Bs,
hotels, lodges and huts with local ambiance and home cooked food. For our
European trips, some of our clients keep coming back just for the multi-course
dinners and the wines!
OUR
CLIENTS
Our clients are mainly English speaking,
with the majority coming from the US. With a return rate of over 80% many
of our longtime clients don't mind to be contacted to give a second opinion
on trips that you might be interested in or give references for our guides.
WHY
BOOK WITH US:
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UIAGM
/ IFMGA Guides Badges |
- Certification/Licensing:
Jorg and alomst all OnTop guides hold UIAGM
/ IFMGA certification - the highest certification available internationally
for mountain guides. At times, we also use Assistant Guides or "Guide
Aspirants" who have passed exams on their way to full UIAGM
/ IFMGA certification. If so, we adhere to the supervision and terrain
guidelines of the Canadian Mountain Guide Association (ACMG) and
the UIAGM / IFMGA. For non-technical trips (hiking / backpacking)
we also use ACMG hiking or backpacking guides or in Europe non-certified
guides if they are under close supervision by fully certified mountain
guide.
- Permits/Legality
All European alpine countries as well as Canadian
National and Provincial Parks require commercial mountain guides to hold
UIAGM / IFMGA certification to ensure public safety. Guides that have not
completed their full UIAGM / IFMGA certification must be supervised by a
fully certified guide. Many guide services, namely in the US, largely violate
the certification requirement outside of the US, which could lead to a rather
abrupt end of your trip, if you were out with the wrong guide. Ask your
guide for his/her valid UIAGM / IFMGA guide's card. Our guides have it!
- You know your Guide
Your guide is the single most important
factor for a fun and safe trip. We gladly put you in touch with
your guide / course instructor early on in your trip planning
to discuss trip details and to ensure compatibility. We also encourage
our clients to obtain references from former clients by e-mail
or phone before committing to a trip.
- Direct Communication:
We don't mind the extra effort to e-mail or talk
back and forth to make sure a trip is right for you or a custom itinerary
meets your expectations.
- Local Knowledge/Foreign Languages:
Our guides are local experts, with many years of
experience in particular areas. Consequently, they are well familiar with
local culture, language and mountain conditions as well as suitable alternatives,
if ever the conditions dictated a change of plans.
- Insurance:
Our guides hold valid liability insurance through
their professional guides associations.
Feel free to get in
touch, no matter if you are seriously interested in mountaineering
or skiing with us or if you just want to get some information about
your personal trip to the Alps or the mountains in North America.
Enough sales talk - let's go climbing!
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