Looking down on the desert valley below, skiers and riders standing atop any peak in the High Sierra are greeted with some of the longest descents in the United States.
Couple the incredible terrain and goose bump inducing beauty, with near total solitude and pristine weather and you’ve got a recipe for some of the best day’s of your life. Our AMGA certified ski guides have been skiing the High Sierra for many years and will find the best terrain and snow on any given day.
Our High Sierra trips are available on a custom basis which provides our guests the ultimate flexibility in choosing dates that work best for their schedule. April and May are high time for favorable conditions. Call or email our office today to make your reservation. 877-873-5376 or info@alpenglowexpeditions.com.
Terrain Options
Tioga Pass Area – located on the border of Yosemite National Park, Tioga Pass offers terrain selections for every skill level. From wide open bowls filled with springtime corn, to steep couloirs requiring a technical entry, the pristine Tioga Pass and the Dana Plateau are famous for many reasons.
Bishop Skyline – Seen from the town of Bishop California, the peaks towering above the Buttermilks have been the backdrop to many a skier and climber’s dream. Multiple massive peaks jut from the Sierra Nevada range in this location, providing big terrain of varying degrees of difficulty
The Palisades – The name nearly says it all. Ski tours in both the north and south fork of Big Pine Creek are made up of some of the most incredible ski mountaineering objectives in the United States. From steep rock lined couloirs to glaciers and bowls, this high alpine playground is sure to impress.
Sample Itinerary
Meet your guide the morning of your first day. Over coffee and breakfast, you’ll go through the plan for the day. After breakfast the team heads to the trailhead where you’ll discuss the route for the day and begin the approach. Most approaches in the High Sierra take many hours and cover multiple thousands of feet of vertical gain. Tours typically start early in the morning to take advantage of the mid morning and early afternoon snow conditions.
After reaching the top of your objective you transition to ski mode and begin one of the longest descents of your life. Spring snow (aka corn snow) provides some of the silkiest skiing conditions imaginable, making straightforward descents into transcendent experiences.
Who Can Participate
Advanced intermediate skiers/riders that are competent on and off-piste in a variety of conditions are welcome. You should be confident skiing all blue runs and most black diamond runs at a ski resort (including ungroomed terrain). Here is a good example of intermediate skiers and riders.
There may be touring experience requirements, depending on your objective
Guide Travel Expense
We pay guides for use of their private vehicle and expenses they incur while traveling to meet you in the High Sierra. This price fluctuates depending on the specific location and distance from our Olympic Valley office. Contact us for details.
THE ALPENGLOW DIFFERENCE
With countless expeditions to high-altitude peaks around the world over the last 15 years, we bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to our beloved “home mountain”. Our teaching and guiding philosophy has been honed from the flanks of the Himalayan giants to the technical peaks of Peru, and we are beyond excited to be able to bring our program to this fantastic mountain. In addition to our international expedition roots, we are accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), being one of the very few guide services in the region to hold such a high standard. Each of our guides is trained by the AMGA in the terrain in which they operate, and the program is supervised by internationally licensed IFMGA mountain guides. This high standard, along with our many years of experience, translates to a fantastic mountain adventure!
Alpenglow Expeditions operates under special use permit with the Tahoe, Eldorado, Inyo, Humboldt-Toiyable and Shasta-Trinity National Forests. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
