Sierra Nevada Mountaineering

This is a two- or three-week mountaineering course in the Sierra Nevada in California. Mountaineering is the original Outward Bound activity and includes technical and physical challenge. Students selecting mountaineering courses should be fit and prepared for physical challenge and an experience that will inspire success.

The Sierra Nevada is the largest mountain range in the contiguous United States. It extends 400 miles from north to south which is bigger than the Swiss, Italian, and French Alps combined! It is filled with smooth granite domes and cliffs, cool alpine lakes, and lush meadows. Atop the domes we can view the jagged profiles of the LeConte Divide, the Ritter Range, and the Great Western Divide, all containing mountain peaks and passes up to 14,000 feet in elevation. The rugged and beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains provide an inspiring and intensive Outward Bound backpacking experience in an area that naturalist and explorer John Muir called the Range of Light. You spend your time in one of four different areas of the Sierra Nevada, including Southern Yosemite National Park (in the Ansel Adams Wilderness), the John Muir Wilderness and the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. At times throughout the day the nature of the light on the granite formations, the ridges, peaks and valleys create stunning landscapes -- many students comment about feeling like being in calendar art. Even at night, under the moon the land is glowing with the beauty of the light.

The Outward Bound Difference
As the course progresses and your skills and experience increase, your instructors will turn more and more responsibility over to you and your patrol. You take over decision-making on navigation, route finding, distance to be covered, sharing of duties, campsite setup/cleanup and meal selection. This is your opportunity to make the course your own unique experience – setting up each day’s challenges, setting a pace that is appropriate for your patrol, becoming each other’s friends and confidantes, having more fun. Successful completion of your course demands mastery of skills, trust, fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion. The promotion of these qualities, and the discovery of what’s in you, is the purpose of Outward Bound. Come travel with Outward Bound and reach some of the most beautiful terrain in the country.

Course Description
During this Sierra Mountaineering course, backcountry and off-trail travel is common, which will necessitate learning both map and compass skills. Depending on the weather, there may be an opportunity to participate in peak ascents, some of which may be technical ascents, involving ropes and protection along the route. Snow school will be another part of the program in the May or early June courses. This instructs students in the proper methods of travel on and over snow slopes, snow camping, and climbing with an ice axe. A one or two day solo provides ample time for reflection and rejuvenation. This course focuses on three separate, but integral, skill stages: learning the basics, practicing each method, and finally applying skills to actual situations. There will be time to learn both "hard skills" – actual outdoor skills and techniques -- and "soft skills" – group dynamics, teamwork, and responsibility -- along with putting them into practical use.

Mountaineering vs. Backpacking - In alpine environments like the Rockies, the Cascades or the Sierra Nevada, or any of our courses in the west, backpacking and mountaineering are very similar. On both course types the majority of travel takes place around 9000', both course require strict adherence to alpine oriented Leave-No-Trace principles and practices and both include peak ascent attempts. Mountaineering courses attempt peaks that are higher in altitude and that require ropes, anchors or rock climbing to reach the peak. Backpacking peak attempts generally can be reached on foot without ropes of other gear. Because mountaineering requires technical climbing gear, the pack weights are heavier and the course more challenging.

To enroll in this course click the enroll button next to the course dates that work for you. To shop comparatively on line visit our Advanced Course Finder or better yet call one of our expert Admission Advisers at 866-467-7651. Course tuitions listed below do not include our Application Fee or Transportation Fee.

Region: California

Activities: Mountaineering, peak attempt, rock climbing, low-impact camping, solo, service and final expedition

Additional Information:
Application Fee
Transportation Fee

Sorry, there are no current offerings for this course.