Do you regularly use a guide or instructor?

For a good guide "local" knowledge goes beyond what's outside the markers in his resort and definitely much further than the lift-served sidecountry. But local knowledge at least to me means that the guide knows what is below the snow, what terrain looks like when there is no snow on it etc. But, yes, I expect his "home" turf to be quite extensive, at least for Verbier the guide should be familiar with Haute Route and its variations/deviations, and very detailed knowledge of Arolla - Rosablanche - Combins area, plus St. Bernard- Trient since these are common destinations for ski touring. If any guide just moved to the area after spending years guiding elsewhere, I will pass at least until he stays in the area for a few years summers included. Chamonix so far has been the only place where we had a guide to take us to Grand Envers. Where there are no glaciers and crevasses and approach is known we have managed ourselves.