Mountaineering and Winter Trips

Mountaineering and Winter Trips - Basic Mountaineering - Itinerary

  • About the Trip: The high country lakes and peaks of the Ansel Adam's Wilderness/Yosemite high country are truly spectacular--this trip takes you deep in the heart of this alpine environment to learn basic mountaineering. This trip is for those with backpacking and mountain skill experience who want to learn more advanced skills for backcountry travel including basic mountaineering. This trip will teach ice axe self arrest, rope travel, mountaineering rock climbing, snow travel with crampons, off trail navigation, and will include a peak ascent utilizing many, if not all, of the skills learned.
  • Accommodations: Our first night is spent in chalet lodging on beautiful Bass Lake. Facilities include lakeside pool and hot tub, as well as tennis courts, market, and restaurants. Chalets contain two queen beds and a fold out queen and are shared among trip participants (3-4 per chalet) unless otherwise arranged. The remaining nights will be spent in shared tents.
  • Group Size: 4-12 participants with 1-3 guides.
  • Grade: Beginner/intermediate mountaineering.
  • Equipment: SYMG can supply all needed personal (backpacks, sleeping bags, ground pads, tents) and group camping equipment if requested on the registration form. There is no additional charge for this service. You may print from our web page a detailed gear list, directions, and this itinerary. You are responsible for the items on the bring list including personal mountaineering gear ( boots, crampons, ice-axes, harnesses, helmets).
  • Cost of the Trip: $795 per person
  • Your Cost Includes: Meals provided, camping gear, permits, accommodations and guide(s).
  • Not Included: Personal gear, mountaineering gear, meals at the Pines Resort, tips for guides (10-20% of trip fee), transportation. Optional trip cancellation insurance.
  • Meals: Dinners & breakfasts are included.
  • Preparation:We recommend increasing your exercise routine in the month prior to the trip to increase your cardiovascular/aerobic ability. Hiking, with a backpack, preferably on hills and off pavement is excellent practice.
  • Day 1: Check in at the Pines Resort on Bass Lake anytime after 4 PM. Meet your guides and go over a summary of the trip. Choose from several local restaurants for dinner.
  • Day 2: Meet at Pines Village Bakery in morning and travel to Fernandez trailhead (7,600'). After final gear check and handing out of group equipment we travel about 4.5 miles along the Timberline Trail to our camp at appx. 8,800'. This day is essential for acclimatization. At camp in the afternoon we will review our snow travel & arresting skills.
  • Day 3: Today we leave camp and travel 6 miles to our high camp at 10,,600 feet near Isberg Lakes. At camp in the afternoon we will review our snow travel & arresting skills.
  • Day 4: We awake for an alpine start and rope up to climb Isberg Pass. We then traverse the thin one mile ridge that serves as the Eastern boundary of Yosemite National Park. There is an optional ascent of Post Peak (11,009), should time allow, before descending via Post Peak Pass. The day’s mileage is approx. 4.5 miles.
  • Day 5: Today we descend 8 miles to the Staniford Lakes Basin (9,000ft).
  • Day 6: We descend 6 more miles, thus completing our loop back to Fernandez Trailhead by about 1:00.

Please note that this itinerary is merely a guideline and that conditions etc may affect the final destinations.

Back to Basic Mountaineering