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Intro to Mountaineering Course
$1,195
Dates
- 2025: May 16-18 | May 23-25 | June 6-8 | June 13-15 | June 27-29
Our three-day Intro to Mountaineering Course is designed for hikers and rock climbers who are ready to expand their skills into the world of mountaineering. This course will prepare you for our technical alpine climbing trips in the Sierra Nevada and beyond!
As outlined in our itinerary, we cover rock skills, snow travel skills, and winter camping skills. Then, we put it all together with a peak ascent.
We keep our group small, with four clients per guide on the first day as we cover rock climbing skills. On day 2, we head out for our overnight peak ascent. We add a second guide for a max ratio of two clients per guide to allow for added safety and attention during our peak ascent.
Prerequisites
No prior climbing experience is necessary to participate in our Intro to Mountaineering Course. Prior backpacking and wilderness travel is helpful.
Course Location
Our course will take place in either Rock Creek, just north of Bishop, or in Bishop Creek. We will make our decision before the course based on conditions and access.
Inclusions
Price includes guiding, permits, group climbing gear, tents, kitchen gear, lunch and dinner on Day 2, and breakfast and lunch on Day 3.
Day 1 (4:1 client:guide Ratio)
We will cover rock climbing basics wearing both rock shoes and mountaineering boots. Skills covered on day 1 include:
- Knot tying
- Belaying
- Equipment selection and use
- Movement skills
- Rappelling
For the night you have two choices. Camp at a nearby campground or head back to Bishop for a hot shower, burger and a bed.
Day 2 (2:1 client:guide Ratio)
We add a second guide to the course on day 2 to allow for added safety and attention during our peak ascent. We hike into either the Little Lakes Valley out of Mosquito Flats or the Bishop Pass drainage out of South lake. We arrive at camp after a few hours and spend the rest of the day working on the basics of snow and ice travel including:
- Snow skills
- Step kicking
- Moving on snow
- Ice axe use
- Self arrest, snow anchors
- Belaying on snow
- French crampon technique
Day 3 (2:1 client:guide Ratio)
Now that we have learned the basics we put it all together with an ascent of a nearby peak. The program finishes late on day three with the hike out to trailhead after our peak ascent.
Rental Equipment
We have rental equipment available at checkout.
Reviews
Amanda, Snow Travel Skills Course
“I took SMC’s Snow Travel Skills course and their 3-day Mt. Whitney’s Mountaineer’s Route trip. The course was detailed and the instructor included a lot of practice time and feedback, plus helpful gear and planning trips. The course allowed me to feel confident about safely completing the Mountaineer’s Route.”
More Reviews
Jaime, River Crossing Skills
“Completed the River Crossing Skills course with Sierra Mountain Center this June, Larry was a great teacher! I learned so many valuable skills in one day, and I’m confident that I can now size up a river crossing to determine my suitability/safety as well as the proper way to get both myself and work with others to get across! Thanks SMC and Larry for a great day!”
Amanda, Intro to Mountaineering & More
“I have done a few trainings with Sierra Mountain Center and I highly recommend them as a training source for all your adventures. Last year I did their river crossing and a mountaineering basic course. I recently completed the mini mountain camp and I had the best time. I learned so much! My guide was Anouk and she was so badass. She taught me so much! I had a blast and I can’t wait to take my mountaineering to the next level. I will definitely use SMC as a future training source.”
Kaz, Winter Mountaineering Skills
“The four-day winter mountaineering course was everything I hoped it would be and more. I nabbed a spot just a week before the trip and Emma, the office manager, was super helpful in coordinating logistics and rental gear for me on short notice. Our first day was spent rock climbing in mountain boots; the second day was spent ice climbing; and the third and fourth days were spent backcountry camping and making a successful winter ascent of Crystal Crag. There were so many memorable moments throughout those four days that is hard to lick just a few to share but I’ll never forget snowshoeing across a frozen lake and climbing 4th class terrain in wind and snow. Our guides—Paloma, Dakota, and Tyler—were incredible throughout the trip and I’d gladly follow any one of them up a mountain again. They provided us with quality instruction in the field and good times back at camp. The guide team also did a great job adjusting the course to suit people of various ages, skill levels, and interests. In short, I had a lot of fun, learned a lot along the way, and believe the course was worth every penny. Thanks, SMC!”
James, Snow Travel Skills Course
“Thoroughly enjoyed their “Snow Travel Skills” course this past Sunday with Larry. He was an excellent instructor who gave us practical experiential opportunities to utilized these skill sets, equipment and increased our confidence in doing so. He was generous in answering our various questions and setting up the slope so we could practice safely what he was teaching us. I look forward to taking the river crossing course in the future as I add to my tools in doing the JMT at some point in my life, and until then, enjoying the wilderness with greater safety. Emma was also incredibly helpful in answering questions, reserving the equipment necessary and even offering recommendations to camp before/after the training.”
Lauren, Snow Travel Skills & River Crossing Skills Course
“Thoroughly enjoyed their “Snow Travel Skills” course this past Sunday with Larry. He was an excellent instructor who gave us practical experiential opportunities to utilized these skill sets, equipment and increased our confidence in doing so. He was generous in answering our various questions and setting up the slope so we could practice safely what he was teaching us. I look forward to taking the river crossing course in the future as I add to my tools in doing the JMT at some point in my life, and until then, enjoying the wilderness with greater safety. Emma was also incredibly helpful in answering questions, reserving the equipment necessary and even offering recommendations to camp before/after the training.”
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