Yosemite Backpacking Trips
Backpacking - Alpine Lakes - Reviews
Ian, My family and I had a great time on the Alpine lakes backpack trip! Chudy and Drew took great care of us and were very professional. We got some phenomenal
photos but they don't begin to portray the vistas we encountered. From Chittendon Lake and Sing Peak Summit to Jones Store the trip met our every expectation. I hope that you are able to continue to get people into the backcountry. Thanks again.
- Francis Siracusa MD FACS, July 2009
I want to give you some feedback on my trip with Roddy. First of all, I researched back country guided trips on Google last Monday, and found your website the most attractive, and the most interesting. Second, the speed with which I was able to set up to go on the Wed trip was great. Third, I think your inclusion of gear for clients to borrow in the total price is generous, and the equipment was great - although the Thermarest on granite slab is a little thin. Fourth, Roddy was professional, personable, informed about the wildlife and geology, his cooking was great, his attention to hygiene was impressive and instilled confidence in his general attention to detail. You are lucky to have him on your crew. I will look for opportunities to point people in your company's direction. I had a great time.
- Marian Price, June 2009
Just a note to let you know that we have returned safe and sound from our High Sierra adventure. Dave did a terrific job!!! We found him to be a knowledgeable and
personable guide, who made sure we had a trip tailored to our individual desires. Thanks again for all your help in organizing our trip.
- Tracey Schwatze Family, July 2007
Just a short note to you to say that we are back at sea level in Folsom and that we had a GREAT trip! Csuri took excellent care of us on our trip and made sure everything went well. The good news is that this was Angie's first backpacking trip and she loved it. So we want to schedule something with you guys next year!. I cannot thank you and Csuri enough for your flexibility and willingness to work with us. Angie and I both think the world of Csuri. She pampered us and took great care of us all the way through..what a great lady....So thank you sir for everything! We will be in touch with you soon to make plans for next year. Warmest regards,Jeff
- Jeff and Angie Crosby, August 2007
Dear Ian,Thank you sooo much! Dana and I had a fantastic time and Tim was a great guide. I'm so glad you offered the trip at the cancer fundraiser, because I might not have found you otherwise. That area is absolutely gorgeous...especially Rainbow Lake and the valley we passed en route to there. I'm glad you discovered this area and share it with others.
- Mary Jane Marcus, July 2004
Thank you for yet another fantastic trip. I speak for my whole group in saying that you guys run a first rate operation. As a second time SYMG client who organized this trip, I felt very happy when the first timers in my group raved about how everything was even better than expected. We could not have asked for better guides than Graham and Kelsey. They were fun to hang out with, clearly expert in our backpacking/camping activities, knowledgeable of our geological and geographical surroundings, and chefs extraordinaire. Most importantly, Graham and Kelsey did a terrific job in challenging us to reach new levels of accomplishment, while also making us feel well taken care of. During the entire trip, I had the utmost confidence in our guides. Needless to say, SYMG continues to be my first choice in outdoor adventure tours. It was a pleasure organizing this trip with you. Thanks again for everything!
- Vivian Kuo Center, September 2002
Just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the Alpine Lakes trip. We all had a great time and the experience was everything we hoped it would be and more. Our leader was a super guide and a great person. She was invaluable as a leader and climbing coach, and she's also a great cook!!
- Keito & Kuo, July 2000
A short note to tell you how much I enjoyed my Alpine Lakes backpacking trip. My guide on the same trip 2 years ago was excellent, but my guide this time was even better! She was attentive to the group's needs; a very proficient young lady, and a nice asset to your company.
- Martin Rypins, July 2000
We had the best time! We will certainly recommend SYMG to our friends and can't wait to get back and do a longer trip in the years to come. Melissa was an outstanding guide, chef and companion through the amazing backcountry of the Sierra. Just a marketing note--SYMG might be good for those who are just getting comfortable in the backcountry, but for those of us with lots of trips under our belts, it was even better.
- Dave and Tracy Flum, July 1999
Our guide did a superlative job. As you know, he has many talents, and he put them all to work for our group. The food was very good and extremely well prepared. The guided hikes were just right for us. And, most importantly, he was friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable.
- Al and Margie Werker, Dave and Penee Hull, October 1998
From a letter to the editor of SHAPE Magazine: As I read through your March issue, the article "Off the Beach" caught my attention--specifically #3 Backpacking in Yosemite. I called SYMG to get the scoop. From my first conversation with Jay, which would prove to be the first of many, I was hooked; I signed up for the Alpine Lakes trip. As my departure date approached, however, anxiety started tapping me on the shoulder. What was I thinking? I mean, I wasn't even going with a friend. I live in Maine and suddenly the thought of flying clear across the U.S. and meeting 7 people I didn't know and spending 5 days with them was a bit unnerving. But, I just kept thinking: you made it through your divorce; you'll get through this and you'll be a better person for it.
Well, I've been home for a month now, and I'm still not completely down off my high. It was one of those defining moments in my life. I knew the minute I put one foot on the trail that my life had indeed changed and that I would not be the same person returning to Maine.
Your writer described the backpacking trip as a "luxury wilderness trip." she could not have been more on if she tried. True, our guide did all the cooking and cleaning. That was a treat. The luxury is this: it's about being outside and a part of the incredible life the outdoors has to offer. We hiked to and around about a dozen lakes--all magnificent. This was my front and back yard for 5 days. So why write? Oddly enough, the initial reason was not to describe what the trip meant to me. It was to tell you that 3 out of 7 on the trip were there because of the article. Talk about reaching out and touching the reader! But to just tell you this would not truly give the article the credit deserved. I needed to also say thanks...for planting the seed...the seed that has allowed me the pleasure and rewards that come when you challenge mind, body and spirit.
- Kathy Hughes, September 1997
Though his photos adorn the walls of museums and homes around the world, Ansel Adam's images of California's High Sierra look better in person. See for yourself with Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides.
- Escape Magazine, April 1997
"Luxurious wilderness trip" might sound like an oxymoron, but Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides proves otherwise. First, you have the luxury of doing absolutely nothing to prepare for this camping trip. SYMG supplies the tents, sleeping bags, mattress pads, stoves, water filters, and the rest. You simply show up, put on your backpack (guests carry their personal gear; guides carry just about everything else) and put one foot in front of the other. Once you hit the trails, the breathtaking views of the High Sierra back country aren't the only reward; you'll also enjoy fresh, nutritious, gourmet meals. No freeze-dried veggies or franks and beans here. Some guides even carry woks. Trips last 3 to 23 days and are tailored to the fitness level of your group. (At altitudes of at least 8,000 feet, even fit hikers may have to slow down a bit.) Whether you hike four miles or eight, you'll feel a world away from the daily grind, as you inhale the cool, thin, pine-scented air and take int the lush meadows, clear lakes, and granite peaks of the Angel Adams Wilderness.
- Shape Magazine, March 1997
Thank you for a fun and memorable backpack trip! I always felt like our group was in good hands. The scenery was unbelievable, the cooking superb, and the peak climbs a real challenge. I'd love to do another trip with you in the future.
- Kathy Mohr, August 1995
Thanks for the help back to the 'basic life.' The vacation was a blast, the experience a memory forever. The guides were marvelous guides into this wonderful physical, spiritual experience. I rate SYMG 'five stars' and look forward to another adventure soon.
- Ariella Huhn, August 1995
Eat gourmet grub at the end of the trail. The trouble with wilderness is this; after you've sweated your way to 1,000 feet above the tree line, pitched the tent, and lit the stove, you rarely get food worthy of the view...In addition to eating good food (examples include honey-wheat pancakes with fresh strawberries, Armenian-style sandwich rolls and homemade pesto), hikers on SYMG treks begin their trip in accommodations, the hot tub equipped Pines Resort on Bass Lake. "We want people to wake well rested for their first day in the wilderness," says Mike Maciaszek, Director.
- Sunset Magazine, June 1993
If you have experienced this trip with the guides of SYMG, you can submit your review for inclusion here!