Let's Talk About Tipping Climbing Guides
And a transparent explanation of why I deserve your gratuity
A Note to the Reader
Before I get more into this topic, I want to make something clear– I am very grateful to all of my clientele. This post is not meant to be an angry rant aimed at anyone.
Rather, my goal is to shed light on an otherwise lesser-talked-about topic in rock guiding. I sincerely thank all who have helped support me with their generous gratuities.
I love what I do as a rock climbing guide. But I would be lying if I told you that I didn’t think I should be paid more. And that’s not a jab at my personal employer. It’s widely understood in the industry that climbing guides are underpaid. (This is typical for the service industry in general).
For that reason, as guides, we’re always looking for ways to professionalize our industry and charge higher wages. For example, my professional development with the American Mountain Guides Association Rock Guide Program will eventually allow me to receive higher wages.
However, in addition to our wages, the fact of the matter is that we rely heavily on your gratuities.
A Pavlovian Understanding of My Relationship to Tips
Early on in my guiding, I wasn’t conditioned to expect to receive a gratuity after a day of climbing. So, when I did get tipped, it felt extra special– like I had a pocketful of “fun money” separate from my paycheck I could use to buy dinner or take Whitney out on a date.
Nowadays, I admit that I expect to receive a tip, like Pavlov’s dogs, when they hear the bell. That’s because the vast majority of my wonderful clientele tip me. THANK YOU!
Therefore, I am conditioned. Now, when I am tipped, it feels similarly fun. I glean a bit off the top for fun money, and I tuck the rest away for a later date (aka my mortgage).
The fallback of my conditioning is that now I always expect a tip. When I don’t receive a gratuity, I take it somewhat personally. I feel like I made a mistake. Or that the experience I offered that day wasn’t up to snuff.
However, most of the time, I am willing to bet that not receiving a tip (or a minuscule tip) is unrelated to the climbing experience I offered that day.
Why? Because social scientists have found out that folks normally tip the same amount regardless of the quality of service. That’s because the social pressure placed upon tipping outweighs one’s desire to tip less. In other words, people tip the same because they would rather give more money than face the stigma of withholding their tip.
Therefore, days where I am not tipped could be a result of either:
The client is unaware that tipping your climbing guide is customary. Sound like you? That’s okay. Read this article.
The client knows it is customary to tip but has intentionally chosen not to.
In this case, the rest of this newsletter is dedicated to explaining why I deserve your gratuity, no matter how small.
Why I Deserve Your Tip: An explanation from start to finish
I can confidently say that I try my best every single day I guide. The unique and rewarding climbing day I curate for my clients is worthy of a gratuity, however small or large.
The work I do starts well before our day together
You may think my workday starts when I meet you at the cliff. But in reality, my work began well before that. It started when I received your registration paperwork and began conceptualizing a day for you. This includes the time spent on the phone conversing with you before your climbing day. And the extra work I do to prepare my equipment. It also involves my brain power to curate a custom climbing day to meet or exceed your expectations.
I’m invested in your improvement
When you climb with me, my number one job is to manage risk and keep you safe. For some guides, that might be plenty to worry about. But I am invested in your improvement, not just your safety.
Let me explain: when you want to go top roping, for example, I build you an anchor, and I belay you. I keep you safe as you climb up, and I keep you safe as you lower down. If I do that all day, I’ve accomplished my number one job.
But when you climb with me, you don’t just benefit from a climbing experience where risk is managed as much as possible. You also benefit from my coaching, which helps improve your movement skills. And you benefit from my knowledge when you ask questions about technical concepts. I’m not just there to keep you alive. I’m also there to help you learn and improve.
I document the day in writing and with photographs
After every climbing day, I sit down and debrief the day in my notebook. I ask myself questions like:
“Where were we most at risk?”
“What did I do well?"
“How can I improve?”
I also document what we accomplished and propose ideas for next time.
While this process is primarily for me, you benefit in the long run. You benefit from this extra work because I'll be a better guide the next time you climb with me. And because of my documentation, I’ll be able to craft another day that builds on your previous experience to enhance your future outings with me.
Besides that, I don’t underestimate the fact that you want photos to remember our day together and share with your family and friends. I know how important recording valuable moments with photographs can be. That’s why I take the time to compose photographs that make you look rad.
I care for you when you become injured
Rock climbing is a dangerous outdoor sport. That being said, sometimes you can become injured. That’s why I am medically trained as a wilderness first responder and why I consider an emergency plan for every climbing day. (Fortunately, the emergency response plan is pretty straightforward at the Gunks, a front-country climbing destination.)
For the most part, scrapes, bumps, and bruises are the most common. Every day, I am equipped with an intentionally prepared first aid kit to clean and cover basic wounds. In addition, I carry medicine to deal with pain, bug bites, burns, and allergies. And a few other items to deal with more serious possibilities.
I remain available for questions and further guidance
My guidance doesn't stop when you get in your car and drive away. I pride myself on telling everyone I work with to stay in touch with any questions they might have from that point moving forward.
The reason? I want to be a resource for you on and off the cliff so you can continue learning when I am not physically with you. I’m happy to do this extra work because I value creating and maintaining relationships that extend beyond the physical location I guide.
Conversations About Tipping Shouldn’t Be Taboo
Tipping is a massive social phenomenon that we all participate in. It’s part of our culture in the U.S. Therefore, we should talk about it and work to understand it more. This week’s newsletter was a small push in that direction.
On a more personal note, I know my service as a climbing guide is worth an added gratuity. I’m not ashamed to say that. Similarly, the art I create as a writer is worth something. I don’t find it cringy or bad taste to suggest that because I am proud of what I do and the career I’ve created for myself.
Okay, Let’s Wrap This Up
So, for the folks who maybe did not know that tipping your climbing guide is customary, hopefully, this week’s newsletter helped clear that up.
Normally, a good place to start is tipping 15%-20% of your final price.
For example, if you paid $320 for a full day of climbing, tipping between $48 and $64 would be customary.
For those who withhold a tip because you think that climbing guides don’t need a tip, because they’ve already been paid, or because the excursion itself was too expensive, or for whatever reason, I’d implore you to reevaluate.