When on tour with a Guide, he is responsible for the safety of the party, and every member should do his best to help him by carrying out any instructions he may give for their greater safety.  This is not always appreciated by people who do not know the Alps and their unwritten laws, and the Guides complain somewhat bitterly that they are often put in very difficult positions.  For instance, on one occasion, when a party was crossing an avalanche slope, the Guide asked them to go singly at intervals of 20 metres, so that if anyone was carried away, the others would not be involved and could go to his rescue.  One of the party was overheard saying:  “Oh! he is only trying to prove how careful he is in order to get a higher tip,” and they were careless in their carrying out of the instructions.

In any case it is discourteous not to do what the Guide prescribes and he is put in a very false position as he is held responsible.

Ski Instructors belong to a different category, unless they are also Certificated Guides, which is often the case.  In some Cantons, such as Graubuenden, the Instructors have to pass an examination showing their capacity to ski and also to teach.  Many of them are perfectly beautiful runners, but they should not be pressed to conduct tours where glacier work or rock climbing is involved.  They are not examined for this and they hold no credentials, and if an accident occurs, everyone is blamed.  There are a great many other runs they are allowed to lead and they will set as good a course as anyone would wish for.

Before engaging a Guide, or an Instructor on the recommendation of the concierge, get some expert advice as to who is the best.  The Secretary of the local Ski Club would advise or some good runner in the neighbourhood.

In some parts of Switzerland the Guides and Instructors have taken to touting for clients.  They hang about the hotels and try to induce the unwary to engage them and to go for tours for which they are often not fit.  The better Swiss Guides are the first to want the public to discourage this type of behaviour, as it is doing a lot of harm to their good name.

When a Guide is engaged, treat him as a friend and trust him.  They are usually a most obliging and reliable set of men, who will do everything in their power for their clients, such as carrying food and spare clothing, waxing skis, attaching skins and even making terms in inns, and cooking the food in huts when on tour.  Their knowledge of the mountains and their experiences are well worth probing, and they will usually talk willingly when kindly dealt with.  They are quick judges of character and if the younger ones are sometimes a little inclined to take advantage of the people who do not treat them suitably, only those people themselves can be blamed.  The old-fashioned Guides are never familiar, though they are very friendly and will always do their best for the entertainment of their party.  They should not be petted and flattered, neither should they be treated as inferiors.  A happy medium is easily found which is what the Guide will prefer, because in his heart of hearts, he has the whole of the Swiss characteristics—­great dignity, independence and respect for wise people.