Why I Became a Certified Hiking Guide

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I’ve lived in Tirol for 15 years, and the mountains have always been at the center of my life here. Over the years, I’ve worked as a ski and snowboard instructor, a tour guide for a British travel company, and even behind the reception desk of a local hotel. No matter the role, one thing has always tied it all together: helping people discover the magic of these mountains.

When I became an elopement photographer, it felt like the most natural continuation of that path. I was able to combine my love for storytelling with my love for the outdoors, capturing couples as they shared the most meaningful moments of their lives surrounded by peaks, lakes, and alpine meadows. But as time went on, I also began to notice something that worried me. Too often, I saw photographers leading couples into situations that weren’t safe or sustainable, sometimes unknowingly, just for the sake of dramatic photos. I knew I never wanted to put my couples at risk or treat these mountains as just a backdrop.

That’s why I decided to become a certified Tirol Bergwanderführer (mountain hiking guide). For me, this step was about so much more than maps and mountain safety (though that’s certainly part of it). It’s about deepening my local knowledge, embedding myself more fully in the mountain community, and learning how to guide couples in a way that respects, protects, and preserves the landscapes we all love. Being a hiking guide allows me to give couples peace of mind, knowing their adventure is not only breathtaking, but also safe, responsible, and connected to the place in a meaningful way.

Above images by Made in the Mountains Photo

My Story: Why I Decided to Become a Hiking Guide

The mountains have always been more than just a beautiful backdrop for me—they’re part of my everyday life. Living in Tirol for over 15 years, I’ve spent countless hours hiking, skiing, snowboarding, and exploring different corners of this landscape. I know what it feels like to set out on a trail at sunrise, to hear the sound of cowbells echoing across an alpine meadow, or to watch the light shift across a mountain ridge as a storm rolls in. These are experiences that shape you, and they’re also the moments I want to help couples discover on their elopement day.

But as I started photographing more elopements in the mountains, I realized something important: being a photographer alone wasn’t enough. I had seen too many situations, sometimes with other photographers, sometimes just out on the trails, where couples were unknowingly put in risky or uncomfortable spots, all in the name of getting an “epic” shot. Loose rock, sudden weather changes, steep terrain… the mountains are stunning, but they can also be unforgiving if you don’t have the right knowledge. I knew I never wanted to put the people I work with in those situations.

That’s what led me to pursue the Bergwanderführer certification. For me, it wasn’t just about ticking a box. It was about becoming the kind of guide I would want if I were in their shoes. It was about being able to say with confidence: this path is safe, this plan respects the land, this experience is about you – not just the photos.

The process of becoming a hiking guide also connected me more deeply to the local mountain community. It gave me the chance to learn about the challenges these landscapes face, from climate change to overtourism, and how guides can play a role in protecting them. That knowledge allows me to plan elopement hikes in a way that’s thoughtful, sustainable, and respectful of both nature and the people who call these mountains home.

In the end, choosing to become a certified hiking guide wasn’t just about safety; it was about alignment. Aligning my work with my values, aligning couples’ experiences with joy and peace of mind, and aligning my love for photography with my love for these mountains.

What is a Bergwanderführer(in)?

In Austria, a Bergwanderführer (or Bergwanderführerin if you’re female) is a certified mountain hiking guide – someone trained and licensed to safely lead groups on hiking trails up to moderate difficulty, in alpine terrain, in both summer and winter conditions.

The certification process was challenging (especially for me as a non-native German speaker). It covers far more than just “knowing the trails.” Over the course of 9 months, and three intensive in-person training weeks, we learned about:

Navigation & Orientation – using maps, a compass, and local knowledge to plan and adapt routes.
Safety & Risk Management – understanding alpine hazards like weather changes, rockfall, and terrain challenges, and planning routes around them.
First Aid & Emergency Skills – specific to the alpine environment.
Group Leadership – making sure every participant feels safe, comfortable, and cared for.
Environmental Knowledge – learning about local flora, fauna, and ecosystems, as well as how to minimize human impact on alpine landscapes.

For couples, what this means is simple: I’m trained and authorized to guide you on safe, beautiful adventures in the mountains of Tirol and South Tyrol. You don’t have to worry about where to go, how to get there, or what’s safe – I take care of that, so you can just focus on being present with each other and enjoying the experience.

What This Means for Couples Choosing to Elope in the Mountains

When couples choose to elope in the mountains, they’re dreaming of more than just stunning views. They’re dreaming of a day that feels adventurous, safe, and fully theirs. My role as both photographer and hiking guide is to make sure that dream becomes a reality in the best possible way.

One story in particular really brought this home for me. A few years ago, I had planned an incredible two-day tour with a couple to a mountain hut surrounded by glaciers. It was their dream spot, and honestly, one of mine too. I had been waiting for years to photograph an elopement there. But when I tested the hike the week before, I found the trail still buried under deep spring snow. The photographer in me wanted to push through, to make it work somehow. After all, the couple had been looking forward to this location for almost a year, and the pressure of their wedding day made me hesitate to change the plan.

But when I put on my “hiking guide” hat, I knew the truth: it wasn’t safe. If this had been any other hike with friends or a tour group, I wouldn’t have thought twice about cancelling and finding an alternative. So I made the difficult decision to re-plan the tour to a safer location. The result? The couple still had an amazing adventure, we captured beautiful photos (which you can see here), and, most importantly, nobody was put at risk. That experience reminded me why this certification matters: it helps me make decisions with clarity and confidence, even when emotions and expectations are high.

But being a guide is about so much more than avoiding risk—it’s also about adding richness to the experience. Over the years, I’ve learned to read the mountains in new ways and share that knowledge with the couples I work with. Whether it’s pointing out alpine wildflowers in bloom, explaining the geology behind a dramatic rock formation, spotting ibex or marmots along the trail, or recommending local mountain foods to try at a hut, I love being able to give couples a deeper connection to the place they’re exploring. These little discoveries often become some of the most memorable parts of the day—moments of wonder that make the adventure even more special.

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