Grampahawk wrote:Get a copy of "Freedom of the Hills". That will give you a good idea of the skills you'll need to develop.
I got a start in more serious mountaineering and technical climbing when my mother, a librarian, brought home the 3rd Edition of Freedom of the Hills the library was getting rid of. Even though much of the equipment was antiquated at that time, it still gave a solid foundation.
I had another thought as well. If you intend to pursue employment as a mountain guide, earn a college degree. Many guide firms require their guides to have a college diploma. The reason being is most of your clients are going to be doctors, lawyers, business executives, dentists, software developers and other well educated types and they want their guides to be able to relate their guests on a similar level.
The degree doesn't much matter, but when I guided I know my undergraduate courses in plant ecology, botany, and wildlife biology allowed me to give my guests an additional level of education on the mountain environment. A degree in geology would be really cool to have, and at least a minor in French or Spanish would be very helpful if you guide internationally.