Make sure your competitive streak runs strong and deep. You have to be cutthroat ambitious. Off-season, you re a mere mortal, working construction, guiding fishing trips, mixing margaritas. A patroller with at least one year under his or her belt must pass expert ski or snowboarding courses, sledhandling clinics, and leadership seminars. Sales associates perfect the three S s straightening, stockings, and selling.
Mechanics get greasy hands.
Buy your own shop, and do both. Someone has to wash the grimy rags. Hired on by outfitters to oversee the well-being and health of team members, expedition physicians organize the acquisition and transport of all medical supplies, treat every kind of emergency, and decide when to call for a helicopter evacuation. To stay in the business, you ll need a full time job at home and a boss who ll tolerate long-and frequent absences. The current vogue for far-flung expeditions and the growing number of novice clients have put a premium on outdoor physicians.