The hills are alive with … Many different folk! Rationalising and operationalising a professional judgment and decision making approach within mountain leadership

ABSTRACT

Growth in the adventure sector has increased the demands on adventure sport professionals. Satisfying a diverse range of participatory motivations, however, requires an adaptable and flexible workforce. In this discursive paper, we suggested that a narrowing of service skills caused by commodification and sportification are compounded by general (mis)perceptions of who best suits the adventure sector. Accordingly, this paper discussed two important implications for outdoor professionals to improve inclusivity standards. Specifically, using mountain leadership as an exemplar, we firstly, presented themes in connection with motivations and social dynamics. Secondly, we contextualised these themes against pertinent environmental challenges. Finally, we presented a decision making approach and its requisite planning and reflective skill-sets, designed to assist mountaineering professionals to negotiate the complexity presented by individualised service provision. We concluded that there are no simple solutions to these complex and multiple issues. Services require better alignment between epistemology and delivery via an epistemological chain.

KEYWORDS:

• Hiking/hill walking
• leisure
• metacognition
• nature sports
• professional practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. We have chosen to use the term ‘adventure sports’ as a reflection of the aims and scope of this journal; however, we acknowledge that a range of different terms have been used (e.g. nature and action sports). Collins and Brymer (2020) provide an initial attempt to unpick the messiness of this myriad of terminology.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Howie J. Carson

Howie J. Carson is a Lecturer in Motor Learning and Control at The University of Edinburgh with a PhD in Motor Control and Sports Coaching. To date, he has published over 35 articles/book chapters in the areas of skill acquisition/refinement, coach decision-making, motor control and talent development. Professionally, he is an accredited PGA Fellow Professional golf coach, BASES Sport and Exercise Scientist and Chartered Scientist. Reflecting these roles, he has worked with performers/organisations across a variety of contexts, including: mountaineering, golf, motor sport, cricket, rugby union, archery, clay pigeon shooting and military training.

Nick Davies

Nick Davies has been a full-time academic for 15 years. From 2005 at UCLAN he was a Researcher in Transport and Tourism and Lecturer in Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management. Since 2016 at University of Salford, Nick has been a Research Fellow with additional teaching duties and co-lead the Healthy Active Cities research group. Nick has lead and supported 80 research projects at all scales and been on an expert panel for the European Parliament on Transport and Tourism and lead work packages of large consortia projects. He is currently technical lead of the IGNITION Living Lab on campus

Loel Collins

Loel Collins is Director of Learning and Development at the National Outdoor centre, Plas y Brenin, UK. His research interests lie in the understanding of judgement and decision making in complex environments and the education and training of outdoor professionals. He has taught extensively in the outdoor sector with more than 30-years of experience in a wide range of organisations internationally working as a guide, leader and coach. Loel’s background is as a kayaker and canoeist, having explored in many of the great ranges and the Arctic.