Via Ferrata Organiser

An Organised VF near Corvara

An Organised Via Ferrata above Arabba

Demonstrating correct clipping
technique on an Organised Via Ferrata

Outdoor days

Outdoor Days involve accompanying guests on our Organised Via Ferratas and helping in the evening at 'Office Hour' (and occasionally in one of the chalets at dinner). These are the days on which you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery that surrounds us in the Dolomites in the company of our guests, who, like you, are likely to have a passion for walking, scrambling and climbing in the great outdoors. We allocate two Via Ferrata Organisers to each Organised Via Ferrata excursion. A typical day would involve the following:

• Eat a good breakfast in the staff kitchen before meeting up with the guests, who have subscribed to 'your' Via Ferrata. We congregate for Via Ferratas at 9am - you will be at the meeting point at 8.50am. (Some longer routes depart at 8.00 or 8.30)
• Pass on safety information about what kit and equipment to carry.
• After sorting out any transport arrangements you would normally ride in a guest's car to the start of the Via Ferrata (one or two routes start from the village, but more often than not we drive to the starting points, normally between 20 and 50 minutes away).
• Before setting out on the Via Ferrata we give a talk about how we intend to organise the day, making sure everyone is aware of their own responsibility, reminding people gently that you are not a qualified guide etc.
• During the Via Ferrata you need to be able to climb confidently whilst keeping a discreet eye on the condition of the guests and progress of the party. You will have arranged the group so that you are near the people you think may struggle. You may have to encourage and reassure people as you go, giving them the confidence to proceed without further assistance.
• Without intruding on your Via Ferrata companions, try and talk to as many people as possible, getting to know them a little along the way. If you have walked or climbed with friends before in the mountains, you will know it is a great way to get to know people - barriers come down and people are happy to share a bit of life history or put the world to rights.
• At all times during the Via Ferrata you would behave in a responsible and mature manner, putting safety first.
• At the end of the Via Ferrata (or on the way home) a stop at a bar for a beer, coffee or ice cream goes down well and is normally well deserved.
• Back in resort you need to go to 'Office Hour' from 6.00 pm till 7.30pm, helping people organise their next day's itineraries and generally playing your role as a host within the village.
• After 8pm you would eat with the rest of the 'Outdoor Day' team in the staff kitchen/dining room, and whilst the occasional domestic job might need your input (for example meat gets delivered and needs unpacking after 9pm on a Friday), you would normally have the rest of the evening off.

Important: the 'Domestic Day / Outdoor Day' rota (with the various jobs they entail) is only the beginning of your responsibility to the job - not the end. Jobs can crop up unexpectedly and usually they need to be carried out immediately. We aim to recruit people who are prepared to 'go the extra mile' - people who will drop what they are doing (work or leisure) to help out when necessary.

Qualifications and Experience required for a 'Via Ferrata Organiser'

To get the most out of this experience, we cannot over exaggerate the importance of having a keen interest in the alpine environment and mountain activities, especially walking or climbing. There is very little to do in the villages in which we are based unless you are an outdoor enthusiast. If you are looking for a lively nightlife, forget it! We tend to socialise in the chalets or in a local bar with our guests or other members of the staff team.

The following are absolutely essential:

• Polite, responsible and helpful - Engaging and generous personality.
• Passion for a mountainous alpine environment.
• Keen interest in walking in the mountains.
• Respect for and interest in people, places and local culture.
• Positive energy, hard work and a willingness to get stuck into a range of day to day domestic and menial resort chores.
• Team skills /compatibility - a tolerant, flexible and supportive attitude.
• The willingness to do jobs over and above a timetabled schedule.
• Focus on and interest in the well-being and safety of others.
• Availability from mid-May to early October.

Outdoor Experience Required:

• Plenty of experience of climbing outdoors (up to British grade HVS or 5+ UIAA) and navigating using a map in mountainous or wilderness areas.
• You need to be relatively fit and a confident climber, able to walk on high level mountain terrain and happy to accompany groups of guests on any grade of Via Ferrata, whilst enjoying the day yourself.
• Good multi-pitch rope work skills.

A bonus but not essential:

• Full Driving Licence (accompanied of course by safe and sound driving skills).
• A basic First Aid qualification - would you be prepared to take a basic First Aid course prior to joining Collett's?
• Any Outdoor Qualification, Mountain Leader Course, SPA etc.

Most of the walking we do in the Dolomites is very well way marked and straightforward to navigate without previous knowledge of the area. We tend to stick to routes we know are tried-and-tested winners, (occasionally our staff explore new routes on a day off, so that they might include it in our 'Organised Walk' programme). However, that said, you may occasionally find yourself with a group of 25 or more people, so confidence in navigation and familiarity with map reading in mountainous or wilderness areas are important.

Training & Awareness

We dedicate the first two weeks of the season to 'Staff Training & Awareness' and 'Local Orientation.'

All of our staff, especially our Walk and Via Ferrata Organisers, must offer accurate and suitable advice to our clients at all times and so, once in resort, everyone is required to nurture a good level of local information and to take an interest in the local geography.

Much of this 'Training & Awareness' period therefore includes an extensive familiarisation programme of the local area with a series of walks, talks and drives. It is essential that, within as short a period as possible, you can talk about the area with knowledge and authority.

Of equal importance are the procedures and techniques that apply to the safety, efficiency and success of both Outdoor Days and Domestic Days.

The following areas are covered - (With areas such as First Aid, Food Hygiene and Driving etc.. we cannot provide certified training as such, but we do raise your awareness of the relevant safety issues as much as we can).

• 'Organised Walks' - procedures and safety.
• Hosting, Hospitality and Guest Wellbeing.
• Local Knowledge, the Walks & Neighbouring Valleys.
• Office Hour.
• Cleaning, Changeovers & Chalet Kitchen Assistance.
• First Aid.
• Food Hygiene.
• Driving in the Mountains.
• Airport Transfers.
• Packed Lunches.