We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:

• Climb the Famed Celestial Aretes - Take your alpine climbing to the next level on these Eastern Sierra classics!


• Venusian Blind - 5.7 - Packed with fun climbing and wild exposure, some consider this climb to be more classic than the East Buttress of Mt. Whitney
• Goddess Arete - 5.8 - With a reputation for being one of the finest 5.8 climbs in the High Sierra, you must experience the wild and continuous exposure of this climb for yourself!
• Sun Ribbon Arete - 5.10a - 18 pitches on a striking arete, only to be topped with a thrilling Tyrolean Traverse that helps you pass a large gap


• Alpine Climbing Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest, and rope travel


• Summit Attempt - This will be a long day, gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.

Here's the schedule for your trip:

• Day 1 - Arrival & Hike to Camp - 8:00 am meetup with your guide in town. We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day. Your guide will discuss the route up to camp and we'll make any final adjustments before we caravan to the trailhead. The rest of the day will be spent hiking to camp and learning about camp craft.


• Day 2 - Mountaineering Skills Training - We'll get an early start , having breakfast with hot coffee or tea, and preparing food for the day before gearing up and heading out.
  
  In this course we'll cover:
  • Alpine Climbing Gear
  • Ice Axe Techniques including Self Arrest and
  • Team Arrest (for Glacier Travel)
  • Crampon Techniques
  • Mountaineering efficiency including the Rest Step
  • Descending techniques for mountaineering
  • Basics of rope team travel
  
  In the evening, we'll prepare an early dinner and head to bed

• Day 3 -Summit Attempt 3:00-5:00am quick breakfast followed by an early alpine start. Your guides will set the start time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast. Prepare for a long day, where we gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route. We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags, and descend to the trailhead.

Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:

• Basic Alpine Climbing Skills - Including basic rope skills, experience with belaying and rappelling, and technical climbing on 4th and 5th class rock. Depending on the time of year, crampon and ice ax techniques may be required. Build those skills during the program or attend our Intro to Mountaineering course prior to attending and spend more time climbing


• Strong Fitness - Able to spend a long, active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of 1-1.5 hours between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 8-10 miles, climbing 2,500 - 3,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day. People with strong fitness typically have a strenuous workout 3-4 days a week.

Here's what's included with your trip:

• Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
• Ropes & Gear - for mountaineering training
• Tent
• Stove & Fuel
• Group Safety Gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit
• Wag Bags - for human waste disposal in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles

• Meals
• Transportation
• Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
• Guide Gratuities

The gear list for your program depends on your level of skill, experience, and your goals for the day(s).

For this program then please refer to the Multi Pitch Rock Climbing Gear Guide and make sure your have the appropriate gear for your day(s) of climbing.

• Come prepared with your own climbing gear or rent from Blackbird


• If you need to buy any gear, we recommend our friends at Mammoth Mountaineering