Hike/Float Guide

The Skagway Guide’s main responsibility is to carry out the company’s mission of providing clients with a safe, enjoyable, and educational wilderness experience. The Skagway Guide will lead clients up the Chilkoot Trail and down the Taiya River safely and enthusiastically with an ultimate goal of satisfied passengers at the end of each trip.

Description of Guided Programs: 

Hike the historic Chilkoot Trail, the centerpiece of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. This world-famous trail was the main route to the riches of the Klondike during the gold rush. Enjoy the exercise, fresh air, beautiful scenery, pristine forests, and history of a bygone era as the trail takes you up and over the 350' tall Saintly Hill. Where the trail reaches the banks of the Taiya River you will board an 18-foot inflatable raft for a scenic float (no whitewater) back down the tidal estuary, where the forest gives way to fields of beach greens and wild iris, and the granite walls of the fjord rise steeply to the snow-capped peaks and hanging glaciers. Enjoy a riverside snack and countless picture-perfect moments before making the return journey back to your ship.

Additionally, Hike & Float guides will train into the “gear guide” position. This position is the behind-the-scenes person who ensures all rafts and gear are set and clean for guests when their hike ends at the riverbank. The gear position requires driving a box truck with a raft trailer attached and operating an electric or hand crank crane to load/unload rafts from the trailer. The gear person is also the liaison between the guide on the trail/river and the office via radio for all incidents.

Becoming a guide with Alaska Mountain Guides (AMG) / Chilkat Guides in rugged southeast Alaska requires verification of your technical competency, leadership skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of company policies and procedures. Over the length of required training, there will be a segment of unpaid training and a segment of paid training. The unpaid portion will comprise courses through the International Wilderness Leadership School (IWLS). IWLS is an accredited, recognized leader in experiential education. Training length may vary depending on class size and how quickly you demonstrate leadership and technical proficiency.

Essential Job Functions

• Responsible for the safety and satisfaction of each of his/her passengers throughout the entire duration of the tour.
• Responsible for following a strict daily schedule.
• Responsible for cleanliness and excellent maintenance of gear, trail, and staging areas/kiosk.
• Responsible for communicating all incidents to the Skagway manager as soon as possible.
• Responsible for communicating all gear and vehicle issues to the manager.
• Must be a good communicator with the willingness to teach and entertain his/her guests.
• Must possess the desire to continually improve his/her knowledge and skills.
• Must at all times be clean, well-groomed, courteous, honest, and reliable.
• Must be willing to work as a strong team member, assisting in the maintenance of group morale.
• Responsible for entering hours daily in our online time-clock program.
• The Skagway Guide reports to the Hike n' Float Manager and the Skagway Program Manager.

Experience Required to Perform Job Requirements

• Prior guiding, leadership, and tourism experience are helpful.
• Must be able to lift up to 70 pounds repeatedly throughout each day.
• Must be able to carry loads over uneven ground.
• Must be comfortable speaking to large groups of people.
• Must be able to handle multiple, simultaneous groups of guests.
• Must be currently certified or willing to get a  WFR offered through the company 
• Must possess or be willing to acquire an Alaska license with a chauffeur's permit
• All employees must provide proof of vaccination upon being hired

Training 

• IWLS Raft School, 7 days (Certification for rafting may take significantly longer depending on how long it takes to verify rafting skills.)
• IWLS Swiftwater Rescue, 3 days
• IWLS Wilderness First Responder, 10 days

Paid Training for all guides, 1-2 days

CDL is a required job qualification for employees over the age of 21.  AMG/CG will assist and help provide training to achieve a CDL if you currently do not have one.

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) is the preferred medical certification for all positions and is required for some positions. While we do offer WFR & SWR training in Haines, these certification courses have fees associated with them (which can be deducted from future paychecks) and space is limited. Our season ends officially ends in early October, but special considerations can be made for college students who need to leave early to return to school.

Living Space and Rent Structure

AMG housing is located in the center of Skagway with immediate access to the entire town. Accommodations consist of shared rooms with up to 6 employees. Room sizes are generally moderate and a premium is placed on mutual respect for the living space and the other residents.