High Sierra Alpine Climbing
High Sierra Alpine Climbing
- Booking 2025 Now!May 01 – Nov 15
The Best High Sierra Guides
ContactCalifornia’s High Sierra is Alpenglow’s favorite mountain range to climb in.
Near-endless terrain means the area is devoid of crowds, offering a unique sense of remoteness. With 14,000′ mountain peaks of impeccable granite and snow covered entrances thrusting into the sky, alpine climbing in the High Sierra has become a sacred practice to those who annually venture into its reaches. Stable weather through the summer months virtually guarantee ideal climbing temperatures during the day, while the nights bring just a little nip to make things cozy.
With decades of experience climbing in the High Sierra, our High Sierra guides know how to keep any daunting adventure light while still tackling serious objectives. While alpine climbing in the High Sierra comes with a series of obstacles, our guides handle all of the planning and risk-management to keep you having fun.
Alpenglow Expeditions guided High Sierra trips will be run in accordance with your schedule and demands. We’re happy to offer suggestions and can help you plan your trip based on the conditions. If there is something that you wish to accomplish, we are excited and prepared to guide and organize nearly any adventure. Over the years, our alpine climbing guides have developed an intimate knowledge of our Sierra Nevada playgrounds, allowing us to provide incomparable experiences. Tell us your ideas and parameters, and let us organize your dream High Sierra adventure!
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
As a Tahoe guide company 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!
Fitness
- Sample Day 1
- Meet, Plan, Climb
Meet your guide before dawn over a steaming hot cup of coffee. Review the plan for the day and proceed to the trailhead. Climb up your planned objective. Celebrate with high fives and enjoy a great day of climbing in the High Sierra!
Our High Sierra Guides.
High Sierra Alpine Climbing Questions
Please click here to review our domestic cancellation policy
We always consider customs. Custom trips make up more than 50% of our groups. Please reach out to learn more!
At Alpenglow, we have only the highest standards of safety and guide qualifications. All of our rock climbing trips are led by AMGA certified SPI’s (single pitch instructors), certified rock instructors or certified rock guides. Our guides have extensive experience and knowledge with technical climbing equipment and risk management to ensure a safe day in the mountains! Furthermore, every Alpenglow program is supervised by an internationally licensed mountain guide (IFMGA/UIAGM). Alpenglow Expeditions is the only guide service in the region with such high standards, your family’s safety is our our top priority.
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.
High Sierra Equipment List
- 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: Alpenglow Hat
- 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).
Recommended: Vuarnet Ice Rounds
- Approach Shoes
Recommended: La Sportiva TX4
- 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 Hoodie
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
- 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 Approach Down Hoody
Recommended Women’s: Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody
- Hiking Pant
Lightweight, durable, quick-drying hiking pant that will be your day-to-day pant during the expedition
Men’s Recommended: Black Diamond Technician Alpine Pant
Women’s Recommended: Black Diamond Technician Alpine Pant
- Climbing Pack: 50-60L
Internal frame pack that is between 50 and 60 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 Speed 50L Pack
- Small Backpack
Recommended: Black Diamond Speed 30 Pack
- Trekking Poles
Make sure that they are durable, lightweight + easily adjustable. These are optional, but highly recommended.
Recommended: Black Diamond Pursuit FLZ Trekking Poles
- Two 1L Nalgene Bottles
Two 1 Liter Wide Mouth Nalgene bottles.
Recommended: Nalgene 1 L wide mouth
- Hydration System
Should carry 70-100 ounces. Must be durable and have a reliable closure system. Recommended: MSR Dromlite 2L with Hydration Tube
- 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
- Technical Kit
While the technical equipment needed for a specific objective and season varies, this basic kit is a great baseline. Your guide will bring gear for you to use during your course, but participants are encouraged to bring some or all of this if you own it or are interested in purchasing it.
1 Cordalette (6mm x 5m/16.4′)
4 locking carabiners
2 non-locking carabiners
1 double-length Dyneema sling
Small prusik loop (6mm x 112cm/44″)
Auto-blocking belay device (eg. ATC guide)
Micro Traxion or similar
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