While no outdoor adventure can be completely free of risk without losing the essence of the activity, hiring a professional guide is a fantastic way to manage and mitigate this risk. Activities like skiing and climbing have what we call “inherent risk”, which can be defined as a risk that cannot be completely mitigated by a professional. That is part of playing in the mountains. We encourage you to reach out to the office if you would like to discuss this in more detail.

What is your local adventures cancellation policy?

Please click here to review our domestic cancellation policy

Can I customize a day for my group?

Yes! A large portion of our business is designed around custom adventures. Booking a private day gives you the freedom to tailor the day around your goals, pace, and group size.

Where can I purchase trip insurance?

We strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance to protect your activity purchase against unforeseeable circumstances. We recommend Spot as a provider of trip insurance. Spot is a 3rd party provider and is not affiliated with Alpenglow Expeditions – please refer to the Spot website or contact Spot directly for all terms and conditions.

I am an experienced rock climber but I do not have a harness or helmet with me. Do you have this available to rent?

While owning your own gear is always the best option, Alpenglow provides rental gear at no additional cost. Equipment availability varies and is on a first come first serve basis. Please contact the office to inquire about borrowing gear!

Introductory

4-Day Lake Tahoe Rock Climbing Adventure with Girl on Rock

Donner Summit, CA

4 Days

Join a supportive, women’s-only climbing trip at Donner Summit, a short drive from Truckee at the north end of Lake Tahoe. Donner is known for its clean Sierra granite and a long history of California climbing, with plenty of variety to grow on. This trip is geared toward beginners but is open to all women/femmes, from your first day on real rock to years of experience, including a full introduction to the fundamentals of trad climbing. Our guides match the terrain and the climbing to where you’re at, so there’s something in your range whatever your level. IF THE DATES ARE GREYED OUT – the expedition is sold out and you’ll need to join our waitlist! Please email “info@alpenglowexpeditions.com” to join the wait list.

September 24 – 27, 2026

Inquire

Lake Tahoe Group Climbing Trip Overview

Donner Summit holds some of the best granite climbing in the Sierra.

We’re excited to collaborate with Girl on Rock to put together a guided, women’s-only group trip that puts you on world-class rock for three days in Lake Tahoe, California. Whether it’s your first time on real rock or you’ve been climbing for years, the days are built around where you’re at, with guides choosing terrain to match the group.

This trip will be structured around providing an introduction to trad climbing. We’ll cover the basics of gear placement, anchor building, and movement on the rock.

Expect a supportive, low-pressure feel. We’re here to climb, connect, and have a good time on the rock. Your guides handle the logistics, the gear, and the safety so you can focus on the climbing.

What’s Included

Professional Alpenglow climbing guides
Transportation throughout the trip, to and from every climbing spot (airport transportation not included)
Group ropes, hardware, and helmets
Group welcome dinner
Personal gear rentals (harness, shoes, belay device) available on request

What’s not Included

Accident, Luggage, & Travel insurance
Flights
In-town meals & crag snacks (access to grocery stores and restaurants, depending on the day’s agenda)
Transportation to/from the airport

Meet the Hosts

Joining us as trip host is Delaney Michels, a climber, photographer, and content creator who builds her work around climbing and the outdoors. She runs girl on rock, a community centered on group climbing trips and the stories that come with them. Delaney hosts the trip to build community, support the group, and document the experience. Climbing, guiding, and safety are all led by Alpenglow’s certified guides.

Joining Delaney as co-host is Olivia Rademaker, an avid climber and an integral part of the Girl on Rock community. If you’ve followed Girl on Rock for a while, you’ve probably seen Delaney and Olivia’s friendship grow through countless climbing trips and adventures together. Their friendship and partnership are a big part of what inspired Girl on Rock in the first place, and together they’ll be there to help foster an encouraging, welcoming environment for everyone throughout the trip.

Follow along:

Instagram: @michelsdelaney

girl on rock: @girl_onrock

Website: delaneymichels.com

Rental Gear

Need gear? We’ve got you covered. All climbing gear, including shoes, harness, helmet, and belay devices, is built into the cost. Just let us know what you need!

Questions before booking?

Reach out at info@alpenglowexpeditions.com and we’ll talk through the trip.

Preparation

Fitness

Strong physical fitness is required. Climbers must be able to hike short approaches carrying climbing gear. Rock climbing is a physically demanding activity.

Technical

No technical climbing experience is required. We’ll teach rock climbing from the ground up.

Itinerary & Map

Lake Tahoe Rock Adventure Itinerary

guided rock climbing in Lake Tahoe with professional mountain guides

Day 1: Arrival + Welcome Dinner
Climbers should plan to arrive in Reno, NV (RNO) in the early afternoon. From there, climbers are responsible for arranging their own transportation to our hotel in North Lake Tahoe, CA. After check-in, we’ll have a welcome dinner with Delaney!
Day 2: Full Day Rock Climbing
We’ll spend the full day on Donner Summit rock climbing as a group. For new climbers, we’ll go over basic introductory movement and safety skills, as well as the fundamentals of trad climbing.
In the evening, if the group is feeling up to it, we’ll recommend areas to go on a sunset hike (unguided).
Day 2: Full Day Rock Climbing
We’ll pick up where we left off on Day 2, continuing our education on trad climbing and gear on Donner Summit’s beautiful granite cliffs.
Day 4: Half Day Climbing + Departure
We’ll head up to Donner Summit in the morning to wrap our time climbing together with a few more sends before heading to the airport. Flights should depart RNO after 4pm PT.

Alpenglow’s California Guides

Meet Your Rock Guides.

FAQ’s

Rock Climbing Questions

The answers to our most commonly asked questions about rock climbing.

: While no outdoor adventure can be completely free of risk without losing the essence of the activity, hiring a professional guide is a fantastic way to manage and mitigate this risk. Activities like skiing and climbing have what we call “inherent risk”, which can be defined as a risk that cannot be completely mitigated by a professional. That is part of playing in the mountains. We encourage you to reach out to the office if you would like to discuss this in more detail.
: Please click here to review our domestic cancellation policy
: Yes! A large portion of our business is designed around custom adventures. Booking a private day gives you the freedom to tailor the day around your goals, pace, and group size.
: We strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance to protect your activity purchase against unforeseeable circumstances. We recommend Spot as a provider of trip insurance. Spot is a 3rd party provider and is not affiliated with Alpenglow Expeditions – please refer to the Spot website or contact Spot directly for all terms and conditions.
: While owning your own gear is always the best option, Alpenglow provides rental gear at no additional cost. Equipment availability varies and is on a first come first serve basis. Please contact the office to inquire about borrowing gear!

Equipment

Rock Climbing Equipment List

Here’s everything you’ll need to climb on Donner Summit.

Download Equipment Link

Select a category

Hat
Bring your favorite baseball hat for shelter from the sun. No white under the brim – the reflection off of it from the sun is blinding.
Recommended: Black Diamond 5-Panel Synthetic Cap
Beanie
A comfortable, warm well-fitting hat that covers your ears. Make sure that one of your hats fits under a helmet.
Recommended: Black Diamond Levels Beanie
Sunglasses
Must have dark lenses. Minimal light should come in below, above, or around the sides of the lenses.“Wrap” style is best. Ventilation is important and a retainer strap is very useful (Chums or Croakies). A Category 4 lens is recommended.
Recommended: Julbo Shield
Lightweight Gloves
All-around gloves for mountaineering, backcountry skiing, and hiking. These gloves (and similar options) are warm, wind-resistant, durable and have a sure grip. You will rarely take these gloves off. They should be snug-fitting, and have some sort of reinforced palm.
Recommended: Black Diamond Alpine Softshell Gloves
Warm Socks
A wool synthetic blend. Pure rag wool socks are not nearly as effective in wicking moisture or retaining their shape and reducing blisters. Bring a few pairs of these socks. NO COTTON.
Recommended: Darn Tough Mountaineering Sock
Lightweight Top
Ultra-light base layer that effectively wicks moisture away from your body and is breathable. Quick-dry is important as well. One light-colored shirt is recommended for extremely sunny days.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Lightwire Short Sleeve
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Lightwire Short Sleeve
Sun Hoody
Lightweight, long-sleeve sun hoody that is great for protecting from the sun.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoody
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoody
Lightweight Baselayer Top
A long sleeve base layer that is fitted, lightweight and quick drying. Make sure it is long enough to tuck in.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Men’s Lightwire Long Sleeve
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Women’s Lightwire Long Sleeve
Mid-Weight Warm Layer Top
This mid-layer will be worn over your base layer most of the trip.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Men’s Coefficient Hoody
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Women’s Coefficient Hoody
Mid-Weight Puffy Jacket
A simple, lightweight puffy jacket. This item is good for layering systems and staying warm. We recommend 800-fill down that is packable and resists inclement weather.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Deploy Down 1.0 Hoody
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Deploy Down 1.0 Hoody
Hard Shell Jacket
A lightweight, waterproof and breathable jacket WITH A HOOD that can withstand extreme weather conditions. Make sure you have pit-zips and if you are using an old jacket, re-waterproof it.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Recon LT Stretch Shell
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Women’s Recon LT Stretch Shell
Climbing Pack: 60-75L
Internal frame pack that is between 60 and 75 liters. Either purchase a matching pack cover, or use garbage bags as liners. Make sure the pack is fitted to YOUR body.
Recommended: Black Diamond Mission 75
Hydration System
Should carry 70-100 ounces. Must be durable and have a reliable closure system. Recommended: MSR Dromlite 2L with Hydration Tube
Two 1L Nalgene Bottles
Two 1 Liter Wide Mouth Nalgene bottles.
Recommended: Nalgene 1 L wide mouth
Headlamps
Please bring two L.E.D. Headlamps. One will be intended as a lightweight backup. L.E.D. headlamps are required. Make sure they have 3+ bulbs. Bring extra batteries. We highly recommend a tilting lamp.
Recommended: Black Diamond Storm 450
Backup Headlamp Recommended: Black Diamond Deploy 325
Trekking Poles
Make sure that they are durable, lightweight + easily adjustable. These are optional, but highly recommended.
Recommended: Black Diamond Pursuit FLZ Trekking Poles
1 Liter Wide Mouth Nalgene bottle
1 Liter Wide Mouth Nalgene bottles.
Recommended: Nalgene 1 L wide mouth
Hiking/Trail Runner Shoe
Light, breathable trail running shoe.
Recommended Mens: La Sportiva Bushido III
Recommended Womens: La Sportiva Womens Bushido III
Hiking Pant
Lightweight, durable, quick-drying hiking pant that will be your day-to-day pant during the expedition
Men’s Recommended: Black Diamond Alpine Light Pants
Women’s Recommended: Black Diamond Women’s Alpine Light Pants
Hiking Boots
Light to mid- weight boots for everyday use. The ideal boot is comfortable enough to wear for days and scrambles decently on rock. A Gore-tex lined boot often stays drier when hiking in rain or snow.
Recommended: La Sportiva Trango TRK GTX
Hiking Socks
Your everyday sock, good for day hikes, trekking, and in-town. It’s good to bring several pairs of these socks. NO COTTON.
Recommended: Darn Tough Hiking Sock
Quick Dry Shorts
Throw these on under other layers for when the sun begins to beat, or you want to stretch / relax in Basecamp. Lightweight, durable and comfortable. NO COTTON.
Recommended Men’s: Black Diamond Sierra Shorts
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Sierra Shorts
Down Booties
You’ll love having a warm, comfortable shoe to slip into when tent-bound. These are optional, but nice to have.
Recommended: Western Mountaineering Flash Down Booties
Climbing Harness
Rock climbing harness that has gear loops, adjustable leg loops and waist belts. We recommend a harness that does not require the belt loop to be “double backed”.
Recommended: Black Diamond Zone Harness
Climbing Shoes
Recommended: La Sportiva TC Pro
Belay Device
Light, easy to use + simple. Should have teeth/grooves for skinny ropes.
Recommended: Black Diamond ATC Alpine Guide Belay Device
Helmet
An easily adjustable lightweight helmet that fits with hat and Balaclava. Make sure this is a climbing-specific helmet. *Climbing helmets are also available to rent (for our introductory climbing courses) at no charge from Alpenglow Expeditions on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Recommended: Black Diamond Vapor Helmet

Testimonials

Alpenglow is the best
“I’ve been climbing with Alpenglow for over ten years. After my first expedition, I knew I’d found the best team. I feel like I’m a member of the Alpenglow family, and have come to know and love many of their guides, office staff, and programs. Alpenglow is truly the best!”
Evan M
Alpenglow was an amazing company to work with
Alpenglow was an amazing company to work with from booking to the actual rock climbing lesson. We purchased the half-day lesson on Donner Summit, and were blown away with the knowledge of our guide, Pete. Climbing can be an intimidating sport for people to try, but Pete’s positive and playful personality made the day very enjoyable. I highly recommend this company for anyone looking for a fun and challenging adventure to do solo, with friends or with your family!
Natalie S.