Well kinda a depressing topic this week but I feel it needs to be addressed
If you have ever had to lead a hike or mountaineering group or what ever, no matter if you realize it or not. You carry a MAJOR load of responsibility. From having people trust you to know the route to knowing the basic medical. A lot needs to be learned and be taken into consideration by a guide. That responsobility can be a burrden some times.
And don't get me wrong. I love being able to include my friends on hikes but the one thing that many don't understand is that there is a bit of pressure, even if you aren't going up something like Tahoma, a simple slip of the foot can result in a broken ankle. That always rings in the back of my mind while hiking.
Maybe it is just me being a worried person but I feel like it is a cursed blessing. On one side of the tracks, you have someone trusting you to lead them into their unknown and trusting you in your skills to get them back safely but as someone who has said experience. I don't know. I may not make it vocal but I believe this is something that guides need to have in there head and if YOU are on a guided tour and they aren't concerned for your safety. I'd politely back off, just because I wanna live.
Who knows though.. Some function under that pressure.
