Bernie Schiesser Bernie grew up on a small farm about 13 km north of the town of Golden. It was here where he spent a lot of time in the forest and mountains learning about nature. The farm sold some dairy products, eggs and produce such as many small farms in rural BC in the 40's and 50’s. The income was supplemented by selling forest products. He became a professional mountain guide in 1967 and spent most summers after that until 1984 living in the alpine regions guiding and teaching outdoor skills. During this period he was responsible for more than a thousand teenagers and adults in programs which taught mountaineering and mountain travel/living in the National Parks of B.C. and in Alberta. Bernie also served as the President of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) for 7 years. He also worked as an examiner on the mountain guide qualification courses. The ACMG is dedicated to protecting the public interest in mountain travel and is the only internationally recognized professional association of trained and certified mountain guides and instructors in Canada. As a group, the ACMG presents a strong voice for high standards of alpine risk management and the professionalism of mountain guiding in Canada. ACMG members, like Bernie, are highly talented, dedicated professionals who are committed to providing safe and exciting mountain adventures. During this period the ACMG made application and was admitted into the UIAGM (International Association of Mountain Guides) He enjoyed guiding many well known people such as the Canadian Actor Lorne Green. In 1980, when President of the ACMG, he guided Premier Peter Lougheed and his party up Mt. Lougheed, with Bruno Engler and Kiwi Gallagher, as part of an Alberta 75 year celebration. Throughout his life he has been involved with the mountains, wildlife and the teaching of outdoor skills to others. He has always observed and learned about our environment and expressed this value to all who he has been associated with. He does not have a degree in wildlife biology but his observations and practical experience exceeds that of many professionals. He also has 2 years as avalanche control director in California at the Sugar Bowl ski area in 1963? 65. He worked as a rescue specialist with the warden service in Yoho Park in 1966 and attended several wardens training sessions in rescue from Walter Perrin a Swiss guide hired by Banff Park as their rescue director. From 1983 to 1996 he instructed on several courses for the Alpine Club of Canada each season on: mountain travel, survival, avalanche safety, mountain leadership and crevasse rescue. In the late 1970.s Bernie Schiesser and Eric Lomas constructed several huts for the Alpine club of Canada, in the National Parks: the Neil Colgan hut at almost 10,000ft, the Peyto Hut beside the Peyto Glacier, the Freshfield Hut on the Niverville meadow near the Freshfield glacier, the Scott Duncan hut and the Lloyd MacKay Mt. Alberta hut.Upon hearing that Parks Canada wanted the Freshfield Hut removed from Banff National Park, and it was going to be burned down and knowing theenvironmental mess after burning a hut with steel cladding and heavy fiberglass insulating, Bernie approached Parks Canada and offered to remove it at no cost for parks and to clean up the area. Parks agreed. The disassembled hut was removed to an appropriate site out of the Park near the Campbell Icefield.Eventually Bernie received a license of occupation from the B.C. Government and used the old Freshfield hut for three seasons until 2002 when, with Eric Lomas and his sons, Chris and Andre, they built a more substantial and modern lodge, now known as the Campbell Icefield Chalet. Bernie’s greatest passion is hosting skiers at the new Campbell Icefield Chalet. He knows the area like the back of his hand. He takes great pleasure in working with other ACMG guides to ensure a safe ski touring week for his clients. Since the new Chalet was constructed there have been more than 12,000 skier days. Volunteer Work: Bernie is a current member of the Civil Air search and Rescue Association in Golden. He was a Deputy commander CASARA Banff. He trains spotters and flies search training and has participated in several searches in BC and Alberta Association Work: Member of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and President from 1974 to 1980. During this time he was an instructor/examiner on their courses and is currently an honorary member. This august list is comprised of members of the mountain community that have distinguished themselves through their contributions to the guiding profession as well as general mountain safety and knowledge.

• published: 15 Feb 2015
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