International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations

Oh boy.

And it is an all-female film crew accompanying an all-female Matterhorn team and all-female IFMGA guides.

So it's going to be, I think, a pretty cool and pretty different experience from what typically happens on the Matterhorn.

You'll have to circle back if that comes out, or however it comes out, I guess.

As I said, we're seeing, you know, sort of the high end and the low end of this market growing.

And that means that there are more IFMGA certified guides on the mountain.

and just better support in general.

So I think that's what's driving that decrease in mortality rate.

And the plan should be, and again, if you're going with a guide company that's, you know, has experience on the mountain and understands these hazards, they will certainly organize your trip this way, but you want to be in that icefall at the coldest part of the day.

And if it's an option to acclimatize elsewhere, you know, I think that it's a great way to mitigate that risk.

Also climbing with a certified guide who has an IFMGA certification and has been on Everest and in that icefall, I think is so important just to help with decision-making.

You know, you, especially the first time you go through the icefall, it's going to be incredibly difficult.

In this episode, we speak with Zahan Bilmoryab.

He is both an IFMGA guide and the founder of Samsara Experienced, a TITAN-based outfit that offers online and in-person training for aspiring and well-established entrepreneurs.

Mountain Athletes.

While this is the first episode of our new season, it is part two of an interview we did with Zahan earlier in the summer.

And in 2020, was elected as the first female president of the Swiss Mountain Guides Association.

And this November becomes the first female president of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations.

She is Rita Christen.

Welcome to Mountain Voices.

[laughs]

Because we... [laughs] You quickly realize, like, we have, like, IFMGA guides or some of these certifications-

Yeah

... that other countries don't require, and you're like, "Mm, next time we are gonna do things a little bit different 'cause safety's first."