Intro to Backpacking       2 Days      $270

The two-day overnight backpacking course is a great way to introduce yourself to being in the outdoors. We'll cover basic packing principles including pre-planning, choosing a good route, packing your pack for success, and food options. We keep our mileage relatively low (3-5 miles per day) as the goal is learning the skills with plenty of time to practice for success. Schedule and Course Registration

Locations:
Joshua Tree National Park, Sequoia National Park, and the Angeles National Forest

Intro to Snow Camping       2 Days      $270

Our two day course which covers the finer points of snow camping is perfect for mountaineers looking to move into the world of snow or just backpackers wanting to enjoy the beauty of winter camping. During this course, we will take time to build snow shelters (conditions permitting), analyze most of the dangers associated with snow camping including avalanche risk assessment, learn how to efficiently and safely use snowshoes, food options, energy conservation, winter navigation in whiteout conditions, and basic first aid. Schedule and Course Registration

Locations:
Sequoia National Park

Intro to Mountaineering       2 Days      $270

This is a great course for those training to tackle the mountaineer's route at Mt. Whitney or any of the other semi-technical introductory mountain routes in the Western United States. We spend two days in Sequoia National park learning basic rope travel, ice axes and crampon use including self-arrest techniques, the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), safe travel techniques through snow and scree, and basic mountain navigation. Schedule and Course Registration

Locations:
Sequoia National Park

Three Day Survival School       3 Days      $405-495

This class is designed for people with basic to little knowledge of survival skills. This class takes a low-tech approach to survival and emphasizes using available resources and basic tools to prepare you for a survival situation. We cover basic bushcraft - how to locate a suitable location for a shelter and the basics of shelter building; how to locate water sources as well as purification techniques; basic fire starting - both with items from a survival kit as well as with a bowdrill; and recognizing potential sources of food and how to go about acquiring them. Details

Locations:
Phoenix, Joshua Tree National Park, and Sequoia National Park

Mt. Whitney Massif       2 Days      $475

First climbed by the legendary John Muir in 1873, the Mountaineer's Route provides a good climb in a magnificent High Sierra setting. These are 2-day guided climbs with a spectacular highcamp at Iceberg Lake. Offered through our sister company, Alpine Skills International. Please contact us for details.

Location:
Mt. Whitney July - September

Mt. Shasta       2 Days      $455

These 2-day ascents are short courses covering the most important fundamental skills and mountaineering safety techniques. We cover self-belay and self-arrest with your ice axe and French stepping with your crampons. You will learn to build a safe high camp and begin to understand avalanche and rock-fall hazards. Offered through our sister company, Alpine Skills International. Please contact us for details.

Location:
Mt. Shasta May - July