 You'll need to click on RESERVATIONS, email us at office@sierramountaincenter.com call us at
760-873-8526 to check for availability, to reserve your spot, or arrange custom dates.
You can make a preliminary contact by e-mail at but we'll need to speak with. Our trips are active outdoor programs and while you don’t have to be a super fit athlete to participate, you do need to be in appropriate shape as most programs require a moderate to high level of physical fitness.
Remember that the mountain weather can change rapidly, making any backcountry trip extremely physically challenging. Thus we find the initial conversation over the phone an important step in the sign up process. After confirming availability we'll then send you our registration materials or you can download them from here.
SIGNUP FORMS
You need to fill out the Registration & Medical Information Form and the
Acknowledgement of Risk Form. For ski trips you will need to also fill out our Ski Skills Questionnaire.
If paying by credit card you may also need the Credit Card Payment Form.
Please also read our Cancellation Policy. Sometimes things do not work out the way we want them to but we cannot be responsible for events that affect your ability to fully participate in the trip you have signed up and paid for. Since we need to pay our guides and cover our expenses we have a cancellation policy that we go by. We strongly encourage you to obtain trip cancellation insurance (travel insurance) at the time you pay your deposit.
Two vendors of this that have been recommended to us are Travel Guard and Insure my trip.
We also suggest membership in the American Alpine Club, which, as well as a great Journal for winter reading, included rescue insurance - even though we hope that this is something we will never need to use. American Alpine Club Rescue Information.
TRIP INFORMATION
Each of our trip pages has a trip description and an equipment list as a PDF, Download these, read over them and use the equipment last as a guide when you are packing.
You will also find information that will make your trip more successful. This included our Planning for Success suggestions, our Leaving no Trace principles to ensure that we take care of the land.
Then there is information that might prove helpful. If you have not been to Bishop before then Rockfax’s Staying in Bishop Guide will get you around town (not that Bishop is that big!) Rockfax’s Bishop Area Hot Springs might be just what you need after a long day on the trail.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT OUR TRIPS
(also see our "Welcome to Sierra Mountain Center" page)
We pride ourselves on safety and a personal touch on all our trips. A small group size is not only safer but allows for more on one instruction and attention, and more time spent climbing, rather than belaying. Obviously the ratio or group size that we can guide affects our prices. You may find organizations willing to take parties of three clients, or even more up technical routes, at a lower cost, but we do not. We believe that value is not simply the lowest cost, but rather, the best possible experience.
COURSE PRICING
Our scheduled trips are intended to be as inclusive as possible and to offer the best guides and services we can. If you are comparing our prices to similar trips consider the quality and experience of the guides and items included in the price such as trailhead shuttles, air charters and food inclusion.
Our scheduled programs are priced to run on a full, or near full basis. If there are insufficient registrations we will give you the option of paying an additional surcharge or perhaps shorten the program to enable it to run. We have found that most participants would rather do this then have the program cancelled and we will discuss it with you should this situation arise.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Our scheduled overnight backcountry programs include all group equipment, kitchen gear, tents, group climbing equipment when necessary, emergency kits, avalanche beacons, and food, including breakfast, lunch and dinner (You bring hot and cold drinks and your favorite snacks). We take special care to choose meals that are as nutritious as possible, providing ample chow for the heartiest of backcountry appetites. Front country programs do not include meals and unless otherwise noted our front country trips do not include lodging. For these programs we provide recommendations for local lodging in various price ranges.
RENTAL EQUIPMENT
We have available for rent the following equipment; mountaineering crampons, mountaineering axes, technical crampons, technical ice tools, harnesses, belay plates and carabiners and snowshoes.
For ski programs we work locally with Wilson’s Eastside Sports and Mammoth Mountaineering. If you have tried to rent randonnée equipment in Southern California you will have found that there is none to be had. Mammoth Mountaineering has the best selection you will find anywhere in the country. Call them directly at 760 934 7160 or coordinate with us.
PRIVATE GUIDING AND CUSTOM TRIPS
If the dates we have scheduled do not match your time available, you desire a special type of program, or you have a group and would like one of our regular programs at a different time, we will work with you to set it up. Go to our Private Guiding page. |
