KATHMANDU: Fifteen aspiring mountain guides have begun the latest phase of an internationally accredited training programme designed to strengthen technical skills for guiding in Nepal’s challenging mountain terrain.

The Aspirant Guide Course (AGC) 2025/26, Component III, organised by the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association (NNMGA), began with an orientation and theory session on mountain history and geography at the Nepal Mountaineering Association’s training hall.

The 22-day programme will be conducted in and around the Kathmandu Valley and at Kangla Pass in Manang, combining classroom lessons with practical mountain training.

The trainees have already completed the previous components of the course. During the latest phase, they will undergo training in glacier travel, technical ice climbing, crevasse rescue, alpine-peak guiding, short-rope techniques on complex rock routes and rock climbing in mountaineering boots.

During the orientation, Riten Jangbu Sherpa (Tashi), technical committee co-convener of NNMGA and education chief of the course, briefed participants on the curriculum, training schedule and examination and evaluation procedures.

Course expert Anish Dahal conducted the opening theory session on mountain history and geography.

The programme is being conducted by NNMGA with support from the Nepal Mountaineering Instructors Association (NMIA). The Nepal Mountaineering Association has provided its classroom facilities for the theory sessions.

The course forms part of the professional training pathway for aspiring mountain guides, combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills required for guiding in technical mountain environments.