In an exclusive interview with Indigenous-SME Business Magazine, Tim Taylor, Owner and Lead Guide of Girth Hitch Guiding, shares a grounded perspective on what it truly means to lead in the outdoors. Moving beyond traditional ideas of achievement, Tim approaches guiding as a responsibility rooted in care, adaptability, and respect for both people and place.
Interview By SK Uddin
For two decades, Tim Taylor has focused on delivering safe outdoor experiences while investing in the growth of other outdoor leaders. Earlier in his career, he did not always approach guiding through a clearly articulated, guest-centred, transformational lens.
Tim values transformational—rather than transactional—adventure, a perspective that continues to shape how he guides and mentors today.
As principal owner of Girth Hitch Guiding and a proud Métis man, Tim’s connection to the Canadian Rockies is both personal and cultural, grounded in respect for place, people, and shared experience. Tim is also the author of Rock Climbing in the David Thompson and a significant contributor to stewardship efforts in the Lake Abraham region.
“My first climbing experience taught me that failure can be the gateway to growth. Climbing was the venue, but care, patience, and intentional leadership were the lesson.”
Girth Hitch Guiding offers hands-on mountain and climbing experiences. What inspired you to start this guiding company, and how do your values influence the way you approach risk, responsibility, and your connection to the land?
I think it is a distinct privilege to journey with other humans. For me Girth Hitch is an extension of that passion using the mountain environment. We strive to walk with others and focus on their growth and betterment. Our first priority is your holistic safety. When choosing objectives we look for environments that offer the appropriate level of risk and reward, while at the same time, safely challenging you out of your comfort zone.
With that said, there are times in the mountains when environmental or personal conditions unexpectedly change. Our commitment to your holistic safety may require that the planned day’s objective alters dynamically to align with those changing conditions. Sometimes it may even mean that we don’t hit the summit, regardless of whether it was the stated objective at the beginning of the day. We recognize that the appropriate degree of challenge in consideration of the environmental circumstances, is a key factor in nurturing your transformational adventure.
Adventure tourism is often focused on goals like summits and personal achievement. How do you design your experiences to also encourage respect for the land, humility, and learning about the places and histories connected to them?
We believe that mountains are not something to be conquered but rather ancient friends to discover and experience. Our years exploring the mountains has taught us that being amidst the giants provides far more than mere fitness and adventure; we have discovered that our time in the mountains nurtures us holistically and spiritually and challenges us to be more than we thought we could be.
The outdoor and guiding industry has not always been inclusive. What changes do you think are needed in training, hiring, and leadership opportunities so more Indigenous youth and underrepresented groups can enter this field?
Entry into outdoor leadership, and especially the ACMG standard is very difficult to obtain. Even for highly resourced people it is difficult. Programs that support individuals by offering mentorship and resources to live and travel in mountain environments would be a good step towards taking down the barriers.
Running a guiding business involves balancing safety, environmental care, and seasonal challenges. What are some of the biggest challenges you face, and what support would help small, values-driven guiding companies grow and succeed?
I often ask aspiring guides if they want to be a technician or a business owner. Invariably they mostly start out wanting to be a technician. The hardest part about adapting and evolving as a guide is the transition to running your own business. Support networks like Travel Alberta and Indigenous Tourism Alberta are amazing resources for those looking to make that transition.
For people who feel drawn to the mountains and want to start a guiding or outdoor business, what advice would you share about building skills, respecting local knowledge, and staying grounded as they grow?
Ask yourself WHY? If you don’t have a clear reason in this industry it will eat you alive. If your WHY is to spend time outside because you like climbing, go get a high paying job somewhere and climb recreationally. Your WHY has to be rooted in the betterment of your people or you will become bitter and disappointed. Guiding is a service industry and my work is to care for people, I just happen to do it outdoors.
Disclaimer: Indigenous-SME Business Magazine is committed to providing insightful interviews that highlight the successes and challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses. The views expressed in this interview are those of the guest and may not reflect the opinions of the magazine or its affiliates.
