Happy 2 year anniversary to us! Hard to believe it's been 2 years since GSG signed up to become a 1% for the Planet member! Two years ago we took a pledge to support the places we recreate in by becoming a 1% for the Planet member and donating 1% of our annual gross profit (not NET) to the organizations of our choice underneath the 1% umbrella. Through this commitment, organizations such as the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center, Yosemite Conservancy, Protect Our Winters, and Friends of Joshua Tree have been the beneficiaries of our 1% contribution. These organizations play vital roles in supporting the areas we recreate in and help to keep us safe while enjoying what we all love to do! Big thanks to our community for your continued support towards our guide service. It's because of you we're able to support these awesome organizations!
Weston Sierra Splitboard Program // Registration Open!
Registration officially opens today for our Weston Backcountry Sierra Splitboard Program in Mammoth Lakes, CA!
Golden State Guiding is excited to announce our new partnership with Weston Backcountry, a splitboard and ski company based out of Minturn, Colorado! GSG was drawn to Weston specifically for their dedication to education in the backcountry, their desire to support guides and guide services in our industry, their commitment to the environment and being a 1% for the Planet member like we are, and the overall stoke they have for winter time backcountry travel, whether that be on a splitboard or skis!
With the support of Weston, Golden State Guiding is rolling out our Sierra Splitboard Program in the Mammoth Lakes area for the 2020/2021 snow season! The programming will be multifaceted and will cover a wide variety of topics in the field and also in a classroom setting. The overall goal of our Sierra Splitboard Program will be to introduce snowboarders and splitboarders to a new medium in their sport, to familiarize them with the current equipment in the market, to give them entry level tools to access the backcountry, and most importantly, lay a foundation for good practices in the future to make the best decisions possible when traveling in avalanche terrain. Click the link in our bio to learn more and to register for our Weston Backcountry Sierra Splitboard Program! Looking forward to a great program with all you shredders out there!
@westonbackcountry @karakorambc @sparkrandd @g3gear @visitmammoth @ridge_merino @mammothlakesrecreation @mammothlakeschamber @exploreinyocounty @1percentftp @monocountytourism @monocountyofficial @snowboardermag @patagonia_snow @darkstartsbc @mesarim_mm @mesarim_mv @mesarimclimbing @mesarim_nc @verticalhold @aacsandiego @officialacsd @themountainsareglowing_imustgo @aiare_official @janczyzewski @jcizzler
#weston #westonbackcountry #sparkrandd #karakoram #karakorambc #karakorambindings #easternsierra #mammoth #mammothlakes #splitboard #splitboarding #shred #shredthegnar #shredthemountain #optoutside #neverstopexploring #goldenstateguiding #aiare #aiareavalancheeducation #avalanche #avalancheeducation #avysavvy
Ladies Weekend Out Registration is Open!
We’re getting back in the saddle with our regularly scheduled events, albeit in a much smaller capacity! Golden State Guiding and our good friends Tera Kaia and Saint Archer Brewery are throwing another awesome Ladies Weekend Out event in Joshua Tree National Park, October 16th - 18th! Twelve lucky ladies will have the opportunity to climb some of Joshua Tree’s most coveted rock climbing crags with our AMGA certified guides. Both days will be packed with fun climbing for all abilities, technical clinics introducing you to outdoor climbing, camaraderie, community and fun for all!
Our Ladies Weekend Out events are quickly becoming the go-to, all female climbing events to attend! The smaller group size sets the stage for a more intimate weekend where participants really get to know one-another and receive more personalized instruction. The relationships formed from our LWO events is what makes these events so special and such a success! Click here to view a photo gallery from our LWO, Fall 2019 event in Joshua Tree! We hope to see you out there, it's going to be another memorable weekend! Click the button below to learn more!
Crystal Crag Guiding // Mammoth Lakes, California
Another fun day out in the Eastern Sierra in Mammoth Lakes, CA! GSG Guide Joshua Reinig leading the way up Crystal Crag with guests Catherine Dang and Dan Kaiahua. Have a watch and enjoy the show!
Sierra Single Pitchn' Success!
Another incredible event is in the bag! Such a great weekend with these awesome individuals at our 3rd annual Sierra Single Pitchn’ event! Big thanks to everyone who came out for the weekend to climb with us in a beautiful place, we had a blast showing you around some of our favorite places to climb on the Eastside! Also, as always we couldn’t do it without our talented guide and ambassador team. Big thanks to GSG Guide @gregasaurus_flex for facilitating the weekend and to GSG Ambassador @jameson.schultz for capturing all the special moments! Looking forward to the next SSP in 2021! 📷 @Jameson.schultz. Click the button below to see the Sierra Single Pitchn’ photo gallery!
GSG Alpine Guide Training
Keeping the GSG fam sharp! Alpine skills training days on the Eastside with IFMGA guide Ryan Huetter. Mentoring is a big part of the equation when it comes to staying sharp and continued education outside of the regularly schedule AMGA programs which are currently on hold. GSG Guides Josh Reinig and Greg Davis spent 2 days in the alpine where they were able to work on their alpine techniques and systems while being observed by fellow IFMGA Guide Ryan Huetter. Big thanks to Ryan for helping facilitate this mentorship program and to GSG Guides Josh and Greg for the willingness to expand their knowledge and participate in the days out.
Sierra Single Pitchn' Registration is Open!
Golden State Guiding is excited to announce the third annual Sierra Single Pitchn’ event is back this July 25th - 26th in the Mammoth Lakes area!
Come join us for an unforgettable weekend of climbing and camaraderie in the beautiful Mammoth Lakes area, conveniently located in the heart of the Sierra and just a short drive from Yosemite National Park!
Throughout the weekend you’ll have the pleasure of climbing at beautiful alpine crags on an array of high quality Sierra granite and volcanic rock and the opportunity to meet new, likeminded people looking to have a good time! Click here to check out pictures from our Sierra Single Pitchn’ event last year! We hope to see you out there, it’s going to be another fun event! Click the button below to learn more and to register for SSP!
Eastern Sierra Rock and Alpine Climbing Is Back!
While there are many more important things happening in our country right now, GSG still feels its necessary to update our community regarding our current operations. As of June 8th, GSG is excited to announce that we’re officially guiding again in the Eastern Sierra! We are taking all the necessary precautions in retaliation to COVID-19 and have our new operating procedures and guidelines posted on our website for all to view. We’re incredibly excited to get back into the mountains and do what we love to do, Guide! Click the button below to book your next adventure in the alpine!
Break up with your Bank
We only have 1 Planet, let's do what we can to ensure she's around for future generations to enjoy. Break up with your bank and support a financial institution that is moving in the right direction with policy change that supports clean energy.
In the last 4 years a collective 35 banks throughout the world have contributed 2.7 trillion dollars to the fossil fuel industry, the top 5 donors being JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi, Bank of America, and RBC. While we understand no financial institution is perfect, we feel it makes sense to support the ones that are moving towards funding clean energy, ensuring we have a planet to recreate on in the future. The banks who are leading by example are those updating their policies to support clean energy in the coming years. For these reasons Golden State Guiding has decided to partner with Bank of the West.
Golden State Guiding is a proud donor of Protect Our Winters through our 1% for the Planet annual donation. Big thanks to our friends at POW for spearheading this campaign and for bringing awareness to our community. Give them a follow if you don’t already @protectourwinters . Click the button below to learn more an to support a worth cause!
@bankofthewest @chase @wellsfargo @citibank @rbc @bankofamerica @bnpparibasopen @1percentftp @yosemitenps @amga1979 @yosemiteconservancy @joshuatreefriends @jeremyjones @grahamzimmerman @patagonia @aiare_official @patagonia_climb @missiontrails_regionalpark @joshuatreenps @exploreinyocounty @friendsoftheinyo @americanalpine @terakaia @terakaiabishop @terakaiacollective @aacsandiego @officialacsd @mesarimclimbing @verticalhold @sheltahats @outdoorresearch @mammothlakeschamber.
#breakupwithyourbank #buwyb #gsg #gsguides #goldenstateguiding #1percentfortheplanet #neverstopexploring #optoutside #rockclimbing
GSG's 3 Year Anniversary!
It's hard to believe but Golden State Guiding's 3 Year Anniversary is May 1st! How quickly the time has passed! Starting up a small guide service in 2017, we never could have imagined how far down the road we would be in just 3 years. Within this short amount of time we've expanded our operations outside of Southern California to include the Eastern Sierra, Joshua Tree, and Red Rock. We've become a 1% for the Planet member supporting local organizations like Yosemite Conservancy, Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center, Protect Our Winters, and Friends of Joshua Tree. We launched our winter programming in the Eastern Sierra and became an AIARE Avalanche Course provider, and we've had the opportunity to work with some amazing clients, whom we call friends, and organizations along the way. From the bottom of our hearts, we'd like to thank this incredible community for all of your support and for opening your doors to our service the past 3 years. We truly look forward to continuing to provide our community with the highest level of service in the years to come.
Without a doubt the biggest thing we'd like to acknowledge and say we are most grateful for is our GSG Guide and Ambassador family we've had the opportunity to get to know and work with over the last 3 years. We refer to our Guides and Ambassadors as family for reason. They're more than just people who represent our service, they are the backbone of our business, the face of our brand, the future of our service and industry, and most important, they're family. Thank you to each and every one of our talented Guides and Ambassadors for your dedication and loyalty to Golden State Guiding, for facilitating amazing outings for our clients, for bringing uncontrollable laughs and stories to share around the campfire, and for continuing to keep the dream and vision alive along the way. We couldn't do it without your continued efforts and support!
GSG Guide Sarah Barrile // COVID-19 Frontline Hero
We wanted to take a second to send an honorable shout out to GSG Guide @sarah___bee for working the frontlines as an ICU nurse during this global COVID-19 pandemic. Not only is Sarah an incredible guide, but her everyday 9-5 is beyond admirable. It’s truly incredible to see all the healthcare workers come together to serve our community in these trying times. Our hats go off to everyone doing what they can to keep people healthy and safe. Thank you for everything you do, Sarah! Also, fun fact... Sarah was our very first client ever for GSG over 3 years ago!
COVID-19 Update // Guiding Operations Currently Suspended
As with so many other businesses, which includes guide services throughout California and the world, Golden Sate Guiding made the decision to suspend all commercial guiding in our permitted regions until this virus has come to rest. Although not a decision any company wants to make, it was an easy one. It was a decision that never felt forced, and one we felt was our responsibility to see through to the end.
In our opinion, it's time to take advantage of this down time (or tough time), to reenergize, rejuvenate, decompress, collect your thoughts, and maybe stay off the Gram for a minute. We'll soon return to doing what we love most which is guiding and recreating in these beautiful places we're so fortunate enough to have. The resiliency of our community and industry as a whole will ensure we come out the other side stronger and smarter, we thoroughly believe this, so take notes along the way.
Moving forward in the coming weeks, play by the rules, don't visit the places we love so much if it involves leaving your local community, and focus on whats important right now, family and friends.
And lastly, for all the other guide services and guides out there, thank you for being such a great inspiration to our service, it's been amazing to see everyone coming together during these uncertain times. Hang in there, we're all in this together, whether being the new service on the block or seasoned vets. Continue to do what you do best which is inspiring and supporting our awesome community.
AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course Wrap Up
Our February AIARE Level 1 avalanche course in Mammoth Lakes has officially wrapped up and what a great couple days in the field it was! Big thanks to everyone who came out and attended our first AIARE Level 1, it was a pleasure having you out! And big thanks to GSG AIARE Leader @janczyzewski for facilitating a great course! 1 spot is still available for our March Level 1 running March 24th - 26th in Mammoth! Click the button below to register and learn more!
Climb to Farm Event
Golden State Guiding has partnered up with our good friends at Patagonia and Enjoy the Farm for a fun weekend of rock climbing, camping, farm-to-table cuisine, up-cycling/ sustainable farming, and community!
Join us for an exciting weekend of rock climbing at two of San Diego’s most reputable crags with our professionally trained, AMGA Guides. After our first day of climbing, guests will have the opportunity to camp under the stars within the 9 acre, Enjoy the Farm grounds, take a tour of the facilities to learn about their regenerative fruit farm and up-cycling workshop, and enjoy each others company along the way. A fully catered, farm-to-table vegetarian dinner will be prepared by Chef Ron McCord Saturday evening along with refreshments provided by our friends Pure Brewing and Juneshine. Coffee and breakfast will also be provided Sunday morning.
Keeping with our 1% for the Planet commitment and giving back, 10% of all proceeds will go to the non-profit organization, Friends of Joshua Tree! Click the button below to learn more and to register for our Climb to Farm event!
Ladies Weekend Out San Diego
An ALL Ladies weekend of climbing is returning to San Diego this Spring!
Golden State Guiding and our good friends Tera Kaia and Saint Archer Brewery are throwing another awesome Ladies Weekend Out event in San Diego, April 4th and 5th! Fifteen lucky ladies will have the opportunity to climb some of San Diego’s most coveted rock climbing crags with our AMGA certified guides. Both days will be packed with fun climbing for all abilities, technical clinics introducing you to outdoor climbing, camaraderie, community and fun for all!
Our Ladies Weekend Out events are quickly becoming the go-to, all female climbing events to attend! The smaller group size sets the stage for a more intimate weekend where participants really get to know one-another and receive more personalized instruction. The relationships formed from our LWO events is what makes these events so special and such a success! Click here to view a photo gallery from our LWO, Spring 2019 event in San Diego! We hope to see you out there, it's going to be another memorable weekend!
1% for the Planet Annual Donation
GSG is pleased to announce we've made our 1% for the Planet annual contribution to the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center and Protect Our Winters. These nonprofit organizations spend countless hours delivering us vital information so we can make educated decisions in the backcountry and work hard to maintain access and bring environmental awareness to the places we spend so much of our time in. Please check them out and support where you can, it’s always appreciated! High-fives all around to the businesses that are affiliated with 1% for the Planet and for their commitment to a better world. Also, make sure to give our talented friend Miles Weaver who shot this photo a follow if you haven’t already, you’ll be happy you did! 📷 @milesweaverphoto
GSG Becomes an AIARE Provider!
It’s been a long time coming but Golden State Guiding is thrilled to announce we’re officially an AIARE provider! AIARE (American Institute of Avalanche Research Education) produces the highest level of avalanche education material for recreational and professional backcountry travelers and GSG is honored to now be able to deliver this curriculum in the Eastern Sierra region. Our AIARE Level 1, 2 and Companion Rescue courses act as the foundation for any avid backcountry traveler looking to understand the complexities of snowpacks in winter terrain and are the building blocks for a long, successful career in the backcountry and adventuring into the mountains. Click the button below to learn more about our AIARE course offerings and to register for a course this winter!
3rd Annual BBQ's x BELAY's x BEER's Recap
What a great and fun filled 3rd annual BBQ’s x BELAY’s x BEER’s event last weekend in Joshua Tree, NP! Incredible climbing went down, crack climbing clinics were facilitated, a tasty dinner was served up, new friendships were forged and an overall awesome time was had by everyone! Big thanks to everyone who came out and participated in our 3rd annual BBQ’s x BELAY’s x BEER’s event, it was a pleasure having you all out in one of our favorite places to climb, Joshua Tree!
As always, huge thanks to all the GSG Guides @senseisplitter @gregasaurus_flex @siwamoto @sarah___bee @blavacados @jessielyse @tytytheclimbingguy for facilitating another amazing event. Big shout out to @arcteryx athlete and GSG ambassador @cannonjtc for conducting a great crack clinic for all of our guests, that was a real treat. Also, big thanks to our partners for making this all possible! From @saintarcherbrew and @Blake y_85 for supplying the adult beverages, to @traegergrills and @jerky_george for cooking up a great dinner and supplying us with a Traeger grill to raffle off, to our other partners @sheltahats @prana @outdoorresearch @verticalhold @officialacsd @yeti and @aacsandiego for donating a bunch of rad gear for our rope coiling contest, you all make these events that much more special for everyone, thank you!!! And lastly big thanks to everyone else who came out and helped with the weekend and shot photos, from @cody.kaemmerlen to @goldencoastgrams to @kaiahua and Ernest, your help at our event didn’t go unnoticed, thanks for helping us continue to build this awesome community of climbers!
Click here or on the image below to check out all the photos that were captured at our 3rd Annual BBQ's x BELAY's x BEER's event!
Red Rock Roundup Recap
Red Rock Roundup has officially come to an end! This past weekend we had the pleasure of taking out 14 awesome climbers to beautiful Red Rock Canyon for some unforgettable climbing in a very special place! Some BIG multi pitch climbs went down in the canyons with some of our seasoned guides, multiple crags were explored with our sport climbing group, clinics were taught by GSG Ambassador and Mr. #50512’s @shane.mclimbing and we even explored the finer techniques of aid climbing one of the days! Big thanks to everyone who attended our Red Rock Roundup fall event, it was a pleasure hanging with you all for the weekend. And lastly, HUGE thanks to our incredible guide team once again for facilitating such an unforgettable weekend! @senseisplitter @dbirddy @gregasaurus_flex @siwamoto @kelvin_artdoors @blavacados @montemontepare and @tytytheclimbingguy, you all rocked it again as usual, can’t thank you all enough! Click here to check out the full photo gallery from Red Rock Roundup! Looking forward to one more exciting event with BBQ’s x BELAY’s x BEER’s in Joshua Tree this December to close out the year!
Mesa Rim Youth Team // Red Rock Canyon
Well we officially wrapped up our first outing with the Mesa Rim Youth Team in Red Rock and what a great couple of days it was! After their competition on Saturday in Las Vegas the team hit the Canyon for some fun sport climbs on Sunday followed up by some world class bouldering on Monday! The level these kids are climbing at is through the roof and inspiring to say the least! Big thanks to the Mesa Rim Youth Team and their parents for coming out to climb with us in Red Rock Canyon and an even bigger thanks to the coaches Alvaro Rangel and Kory McAfee for setting this up. Lastly, huge shout out to our amazing guide team consisting of @thecodybradford @senseisplitter @gregasaurus_flex and @ben__rad, you guys delivered yet another incredible weekend of fun, thanks as always for your continued support towards our service!
