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.

     

    High Sierra Peak Descents – South

    High Sierra Peak Descents – South

    $750 per person

    On our Peak Descents – South program, your guide will choose 2 amazing Eastern Sierra peaks in the greater Bishop area for quality of skiing, mountain hazard considerations, overall mountain aesthetics, peak “summit skiability,” and group profile.


    The Eastern Sierra is well-known for its easy access to hundreds of ski summits. Nothing beats ripping turns off an alpine summit and then sniffing the desert sage of the valley bottom. For skiers who want to rise above the crowds and ski from a mountaintop!

    2023 Dates:

    • April 10-11
    • April 15-16

     

    This program requires a minimum of 2 to run on these scheduled dates at this promotional price, and will have a maximum guiding ratio of 4:1. We are happy to arrange this program on a custom, private basis.

    This program is a step up from our High Sierra Peak Descents – North and is designed for very capable backcountry skiers and snowboarders with a taste for mountaineering adventure!

    On our Peak Descents – South program, your guide will choose 2 amazing Eastern Sierra peaks in the greater Bishop area for quality of skiing, mountain hazard considerations, overall mountain aesthetics, peak “summit skiability,” and group profile. We may go as far north as Pine Creek, above Rovana, and as far south as the mountains above the town of Lone Pine.  Each peak on this program will be done from the valley as a day tour with day 1 lasting from 6-8 hours and day 2 being a bigger line that may take 10-12 hours maximum. You will need to arrange your own level of lodging in or around Bishop, and we are happy to help you with that logistic. This gives the program maximum flexibility and allows a nice evening of rest in town or at local hot springs, between peak descents. We plan to climb and descend 3000-4000 vertical feet on day 1 and 4000-6000+ feet on day 2, both with possible skiing up to 45 degrees in steepness. Clearly this scheduled program is not for the uninitiated and demands advanced backcountry skiing skills and experience and superior mountain fitness. This program is a step up from our High Sierra Peak Descents – North and is designed for very capable backcountry skiers and snowboarders with a taste for mountaineering adventure!

     

     

    
    
    • Included
      Backcountry Skiing
      Eastern Sierra skiing
      peak descents
      ski mountaineering
    • 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 snowboard
      backpacking
      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 Winter
      Eiger
      Evolution Loop
      exam
      fastpacking
      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
      lightweight
      Lone Pine
      Lone Pine Peak
      Lovers Leap
      Mammoth Lakes
      Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite
      Mammoth Mountain
      Mammoth to June
      Mammoth to Yosemite
      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
      mountain running
      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
      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 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

    TRIP ITINERARY: High Sierra Peak Descents - South

    Day 1 Meet your guide in the morning at the SMG office in Bishop. The guide will reveal the plan and we will transport to the ski destination. Ski a local peak and descend to spend the night in or around Bishop. There are plenty of places to go to for dinner and rehydration and there is Keough's Hot Springs pool located several miles south of town. The guide will let you know the plan for the next day which will include an alpine start.
    Day 2 Early alpine start, generally well before sunrise! That is how we do it when we want to climb a big peak, and it's all worthwhile when the alpenglow hits the east side of the Sierra. Anticipate a big day out of up to 12 hours or so and ideally don't plan to drive a long distance at the end of the day.

    Additional Information

    Prerequisites:
    • Advanced-expert downhill skiing skills
    • Ability to control speed and execute fall-line turns in control and comfort in difficult snow conditions (deep powder, heavy and/or moist snow, breakable crust, firm or icy, etc.)
    • Ability to execute hop turns on 40 degree+, firm slopes, coming to a complete and immediate stop at the finish of each turn
    • Ability to sideslip forward and backward, with edge control, on steep, firm slopes
    • Experience ski touring in the backcountry using ski touring equipment (boots, bindings, skins, transceiver, shovel, probe, etc.)
    • Ability to make uphill facing kick-turns in an uphill track on a slope
    • Excellent fitness
    Trip Cost Inclusions:
    • AMGA Trained/Certified Ski Guide
    • Avalanche Rescue Equipment Rental (Transceiver, Shovel, & Probe) as needed
    Trip Cost Exclusions:
    • Personal ski touring and mountain gear  (we have some items for rent)
    • Lodging & transportation