X

    Request More Information


    We'll get back to you as soon as possible. Please make sure you put the name of your class in the form to make sure we know what you are asking about.

    --
    This email was sent from a Class Item page.

     

    Fastpacking 101

    Fastpacking 101

    per person

    This 2.5 day introductory course teaches the basics of “fastpacking,” a sport that uses ultralight backpacking technique to cover an amazing amount of ground in a relatively short time period.


    2.5 day introduction to the world of “Light & Fast.” Prepare to change your backpacking life.

    This course has a minimum of 2 to run at this price on these dates.

    Cross the self-sufficiency and ability to stay out in the backcountry with the freedom and lightness of all day mountain running or day hiking.

    This 2.5 day introductory course teaches the basics of “fastpacking,” a sport that uses ultralight backpacking technique to cover an amazing amount of ground in a relatively short time period. Cross the self-sufficiency and ability to stay out in the backcountry with the freedom and lightness of all day mountain running or day hiking and you get a picture of what fastpacking is all about. Although equipment and technology play a critical role in the enjoyment of fastpacking, the real art is in the use of knowledge, skill, and experience to trim down the weight to the absolute minimum without overly compromising safety or overall enjoyment of the experience You won’t hear this from the equipment manufacturers and big retail establishments that want you to keep buying more stuff to tame the backcountry. Learn to trail the mountains more like John Muir and learn to make more out of the less that you carry. After a half day of trip preparations and lessons in Bishop, we learn experientially on the classic “Sky Marathon,” A 26 mile traverse in the Sierra above Bishop from North Lake to Pine Creek. We keep the mileage relatively low so this is a great introduction to fastpacking before embarking on our Mammoth to Yosemite trip or other longer or more committing fastpacking itineraries. One of our favorite courses to teach because the skills are so invaluable for mountain fun in all seasons and disciplines!

    • Included
      backpacking
      fastpacking
      lightweight
      Mammoth to Yosemite
      mountain running
    • Not Included
      14ers
      3D chute
      3rd pillar
      3rd Pillar Dana
      AIARE
      AIARE 1
      AIARE 2
      Alaska
      Alaska skiing
      alpine
      alpine climbing
      alpine rock climbing
      Alps
      Alps climbing
      Alps running
      Alps skiing
      Alps trilogy
      American Mountain Guides Association
      AMGA
      avalanche awareness
      avalanche course
      backcountry
      backcountry 101
      backcountry ski
      Backcountry Skiing
      backcountry snowboard
      Bear Creek Spire
      Berner Oberland
      Bernese Oberland
      Bishop
      Bishop Skyline
      Blacksmith Peak
      Bloody Mountain
      Breakthrough
      Bridgeport
      California
      California fourteeners
      camping
      Cardinal Pinnacle
      Carson Peak
      Celestial Aretes
      Chamonix
      Chamonix climbing
      Charlotte Dome
      chef
      classic rock climb
      classic Sierra rock
      climb
      climbing
      climbing camp
      climbing skills
      climbing Swiss Alps
      Clyde Minaret
      Convict Creek
      cook
      courses
      courses instruction
      crampon
      Crest tour
      Crystal Crag
      custom
      custom private ski
      Dana Plateau
      destinations
      Devil's Slide
      Dolomites
      Dolomites climbing
      Double Eagle Resort
      Dream Bowl
      East Buttress
      East Face
      Eastern Sierra climbing
      Eastern Sierra skiing
      Eastern Sierra Winter
      Eiger
      Evolution Loop
      exam
      Fishhook Arete
      Four Seasons
      France
      Glass Creek
      Grindelwald
      guide course
      Haute Route
      heli assisted
      heli skiing
      Hemlock Ridge
      High Sierra
      High Sierra skiing
      high tour
      hiking
      Horse Creek
      horses
      Horsetail Falls
      Hut to Hut
      ice 101
      ice axe
      ice climbing
      ice climbing course
      Incredible Hulk
      instruction
      intermediate level
      international
      introductory
      introductory ice climbing course
      Italy
      John Muir Trail
      John Muir Wilderness
      June Lake
      June Mountain
      Jungfrau
      Kautz Glacier
      kids
      kids climbing programs
      Las Vegas
      lee vining
      Lee Vining area
      lee vining canyon
      level 1
      level 1 refresher
      level 2
      light and fast
      Lone Pine
      Lone Pine Peak
      Lovers Leap
      Mammoth Lakes
      Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite
      Mammoth Mountain
      Mammoth to June
      Matterhorn
      Matterhorn Peak
      McGee Creek
      Merriam Peak
      mixed climbing
      Monch
      Mont Blanc
      Mont Blanc run
      Mount Conness
      Mount Dana
      Mount Emerson
      Mount Gabb
      Mount Humphreys
      Mount Mills
      Mount Rainier
      mountaineering
      Mountaineers Route
      Mt Conness
      Mt. Dana
      Mt. Emerson
      Mt. Humphreys
      Mt. Russell
      Mt. Sill
      Mt. Tom
      Mt. Whitney
      Mt. Winchell
      mules
      multiday
      negatives
      Nevada
      North Palisade
      North Peak
      north ridge
      onion valley to mt. whitney
      Ortler
      Owens River Gorge
      pack outfit
      pack support
      packers
      palisades
      Palisades Glacier Camp
      peak descents
      Peter Croft
      Pine Creek
      Polemonium Peak
      porters
      Positive Vibrations
      private
      private custom
      professional development
      Red and White Mountain
      Red Dihedral
      red rock
      Red Slate Mountain
      rescue skills
      Ritter Range
      rock
      rock 201
      rock climbing
      Rock Creek
      Rock Creek to Mammoth
      Sabre Ridge
      San Joaquin Ridge
      Sawtooths
      self arrest
      self belay
      self rescue
      Sequoia National Park
      sherpas
      Sierra
      Sierra 5.10
      sierra alpine
      Sierra Mountain Guides
      Sierra Nevada
      Sierra skiing
      single pitch instructor
      ski
      ski guiding
      ski mountaineering
      ski tour
      ski touring
      skiing
      snow
      snow skills
      snowboard
      SPI
      splitboard
      sport
      sport climbing
      Starlight Peak
      supported
      Switzerland
      Tahoe
      Temple Crag
      third pillar
      Thompson Pass
      Thunderbolt Peak
      Tioga
      trad climbing
      trail running
      traverse
      Tuolumne
      Twin Lakes
      Ultra Trail Mont Blanc
      ultralight
      Valdez
      Via Ferrata
      white line
      wilderness trip
      winter
      Yosemite
      yosemite national park
      Yosemite ski
      Yost Meadow
      Zermatt
      Zermatt Valley
    DAY 0 Meet at the Sierra Mountain Guides office in Bishop, CA at 1pm. Here you will meet your guide and learn about considerations for planning and executing a fastpacking adventure. Everyone will participate in judging weather and conditions, looking at maps and reviewing the route options, shopping for food and cooking fuel, weighing and packing all gear and food, and generally making sure that the group is prepared to go light and fast in the high mountains.
    DAY 1 Start from the North Lake trailhead. Hike up and over Piute Pass, then down Piute Creek to Hutchinson Meadow. Ascend to camp somewhere in French Canyon, depending on the group and weather. Spend the night in a minimalist bivouac. ~12 miles. Total Vertical Gain/Loss: +3200'/-2150'
    DAY 2 Breakfast and up to the head of French Canyon where we can choose from two options. The easiest way is to stay on trail and cross over Pine Creek Pass to descend to the Pine Creek Trailhead (7 miles). The more scenic and rewarding way, if the group is up for it, is to go cross-country up to the spectacular Royce Lakes and come down through "CocoLa" Pass and Honeymoon Lake to the same trailhead (9 miles).