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INTRO TO ALPINE CLIMBING
Eastern Sierra
Golden State Guiding is excited to announce our Intro to Alpine Climbing course dates for the 2025 Summer season are here! Join us for an IAC course in the beautiful Eastern Sierra as we dive into essential alpine climbing topics such as multi pitch systems, alpine anchors and transitions, rope management and the systems we use in the alpine, specifically on 3rd-4th, and lower 5th class terrain. We’ll also review traveling efficiencies in the alpine as two and three person parties, traditional gear placements and what to be looking for while leading, mapping software, and weather forecasts. A snow skills clinic will also be incorporated on the second day of the course which will cover snow travel, equipment, anchors, and more.
Our Intro to Alpine Climbing courses will run over five days in the Eastern Sierra, in the Rock Creek/ Little Lakes Valley region. Over your five day Intro to Alpine Climbing course you’ll review and practice all the essential alpine climbing systems as mentioned above, you’ll have the chance to climb Little Lakes Peak or Mount Morgan as a warm up climb on day three to practice your new skills, and your final objective on day four will be Bear Creek Spire’s North East Ridge, standing tall at 13,726’ feet at the head of Little Lakes Valley.
Scroll below to learn more about our Intro to Alpine Climbing courses and to register today! If the prescheduled dates don’t work for you, we’re happy to facilitate a private course for any individual or group. See below for our private program rates and options.
INTRO TO ALPINE CLIMBING COURSE INFO
COST: $1,595
LOCATION: EASTERN SIERRA, CA (ROCK CREEK CANYON/ LITTLE LAKES VALLEY)
COURSE LENGTH: FIVE DAYS
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June 25th - 29th, 2025
July 9th - 13th, 2025
July 23rd - 27th, 2025
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DAY 1
The first day of our Intro to Alpine Climbing course will begin at a designated climbing area near the trailhead for Little Lakes Valley. This first day we’ll review single pitch and multi pitch climbing systems in a single pitch environment, as well as discuss alpine climbing equipment, mapping software, weather forecast sites, and more. Day one we’ll camp near the trailhead and prepare for our trip into the alpine the following day.
DAY 2
We’ll begin our approach to basecamp as we head down Little Lakes Valley towards Bear Creek Spire. Day two we’ll review basecamp setup, facilitate an in-depth snow skills course, and review our objective for day three.
DAY 3
Our first climbing objective of our Intro to Alpine Climbing Course will be either Little Lakes Peak (12,785’) or Mount Morgan (13,003’). These peaks will act as the building blocks for our final objective, Bear Creek Spire, the following day. During day three we’ll review the rope systems we use in the alpine on class 3-4, and low 5th class terrain, how to place gear and transitions at the belay, how to move efficiently as a two and three person team, as well as route finding.
DAY 4
Early start on day four as we make our way towards Bear Creek Spire’s North East Ridge. Bear Creek Spire’s NE Ridge is rated low 5th class which incorporates some harder moves in the 5.6 range. This is the perfect introduction to alpine climbing in the High Sierra and a respected peak by many in the climbing community. After our ascent of Bear Creek Spire we’ll descend back to camp and debrief the climb.
DAY 5
Our fifth and final day has us packing up basecamp and heading back to the trailhead where we’ll do an in-depth debrief of the entire course, answer any additional questions you may have, and point you in the right direction as far as next steps are concerned.
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First night camping at trailhead
Wilderness backcountry permits
Ice axe
Crampons
Helmet
Harness
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PRIVATE COURSE RATES
One Person per day $525
Two People per day $370
Three People per day $290
Four People per day $260
Five People per day $260
Six People per day $260
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All guests will be responsible for all meals during the duration of their Intro to Alpine Climbing Course. If you are in need of any climbing gear listed on our equipment list, we highly recommend our friends at Mammoth Mountaineering for any rentals you may need for the course.
