< SUMMER MOUNTAINEERING PROGRAMS

Technical difficulty
Technical snow and ice to 50 degrees

Physical difficulty
Strenuous

Length
3 days,
2 night

2009 Dates
July 10-12

July 31-August 2

or custom programs at any time.

Price
$725 per person

Ratio
1 guide : 3 participants for Days 1&2
1 guide : 2 participants for Day 3

Prerequisites
Basic climbing skills combined with overnight backpacking experience with off trail travel.

Inclusions
Price includes guiding, permits, group climbing gear, tents, kitchen gear, breakfasts, lunches and dinners (you bring hot/cold drinks and snack items). Scheduled dates include USFS trail fees. Private programs do not. Local accommodation is not included.

RESOURCES
Details, itinerary and equipment list
Read about out Recent Trips


CONTACT US
174 West Line Street
Bishop, CA 93514

tel. (760) 873-8526
fax. (760) 873-4800
office@sierramountaincenter.com
   Alpine Ice Climbing Seminars  
Mt Thompson Information
 
Mt Gilbert Information
 

California is well known for a sunny climate and fantastic rock climbing but less well known is its alpine ice climbing. Come summer and fall the snows of the past winter have melted off and repeated freeze and thaw cycles have transformed the snow to firm neve and water ice, often offering straightforward ways to the summits of many a Sierra summit. Success with this type of climbing requires proficiency with crampon and ice axe skills so the goal of this program is to introduce a variety of techniques and put them to use on some good climbs. .

Itinerary
Day One: We will travel into the Treasure Lakes area out of the South Lake Trailhead west of Bishop. The approach to camp is about 3-4 hours and we will have time to set up camp and work on skills later that day.

Skills covered will include:

  • Ascending and descending crampon techniques.
  • French/flatfooting and American technique.
  • Ice axe use
  • Placing ice anchors
  • Multi-pitch climbing skills and belay stance management
  • Selection of equipment
  • Belaying on snow and ice
  • Hazard recognition and assessment

Day Two: We will get off to an early start and ascend Mt. Thompson. This ascent offers some six pitches on moderate snow and ice with the crux being passing a chockstone towards the top of the climb. Along the way we will work more upon skills and saving energy to prepare us for the longer climb on Mt. Gilbert.

Day Three: We head to Gilbert early in the morning since this will be a long day. The approach is shorter than that to Thompson, but the ascent is steeper and often has hard water ice making proficiency and good tool placements a necessity. We intend to return to the trailhead late in the afternoon of day three.

Notes
Eastern Sierra IceGuidebooks include Secor's “The High Sierra; Peaks, Passes and Trails”, and “Sierra Classics” by Moynier and Fiddler The best of course is “Eastern Sierra Ice” by SP Parker.
Get it from Maximus Press.

We highly recommend that you spend at least one night at moderate altitude (higher than 8,000') just prior to the trip. Spending a night in Mammoth would do the trick or better yet, camped at an even higher trailhead, such as one of the campgrounds in Big Pine Creek for a night just before the trip. Glacier Lodge is also a good lodging option. Please refer to our Planning for Success info sheet for more info.

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