Eastern Sierra 4 Day Ski Mountaineering Basecamp
Our main venue for this program is Rock Creek.
Rock Creek contains high peaks like Bear Creek Spire, Mt Dade and Mt Abbot and Treasure Peak and our ski objectives include the Cat Ears Couloir, Hourglass Couloir, Petit Griffon and Northeast Couloir of Mt Abbot.
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - Take your backcountry skiing to the next level on the steep couloirs and endless lines in the Range of Light!
- Ski Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel
- Objective Attempt - These will be long days, gaining between 3,000-4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
- Ski Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route and ski the variations holding the best snow, racking up 3,000-4,000' of vertical!
Here's the schedule for your day:
- 6:00am Trailhead Meetup - Meet your guide at the trailhead and review the plan for the day. The guide will discuss the avalanche problem for the day, the proposed route up and options for the ascent and descent. Your guide will conduct a Trailhead Departure/Beacon Check.
- 6:30am Tour into Objective - We'll ski as many laps as time will allow on the best snow available.
- 5:30pm Return to the Trailhead We'll give ourselves enough daylight to get back safely and recap the day.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Expert Resort Riding Skills - Including steep and consequential off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.
- Basic Ski Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills are encouraged, but not required. Build those skills during the program or attend our Ski Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending and spend more time climbing and skiing on Day 2
- 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.
- Ski/Split Touring, Avalanche, & Ski Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Ropes & Gear - for ski mountaineering
- 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
- Ski/Splitboard Gear
- Avalanche Gear
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Ski/Split Touring Gear
- Ski Touring or Splitboard Setup
- Ski Touring or Splitboard Boots
- Climbing Skins
- Touring Backpack - with pockets for avalanche gear
- Adjustable Touring Poles
- Avalanche Beacon
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche Probe
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Ski/Split Crampons
- Climbing Harness
Know Before you go
Blackbird Mountain Guides offers both scheduled group programs and private programs.
Private programs are simply above and beyond what Blackbird Mountain Guides currently has scheduled. Scheduled courses are not always less expensive. Before booking a trip with Blackbird Mountain Guides, clients are encouraged to review the differences between these types of programs, and to decide what works best for them.
SCHEDULED PROGRAMS
Scheduled Programs have fixed dates, itineraries, objectives, curriculum, and costs. They typically appeal to solo individuals or small groups or who are looking to share the cost of their program with a larger group. Correspondingly, scheduled programs are less expensive for smaller groups (1-2), and they provide the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. If you have a large group (3+), Scheduled programs will often be more expensive. They can fill up quickly, and scheduling flexibility is obviously limited.
Scheduled programs will have advertised dates. All scheduled programs can be run as private programs with private dates/rates as well.
PRIVATE PROGRAMS
Private programs have scheduling freedom. They typically appeal to those who would like some flexibility in planning their own trip or course. In this regard, Itineraries and objectives can be tailored to suit current conditions as well as client goals. Private programs are normally less expensive for larger groups (3+). If you have a small group (1-2) private programs will be more expensive.
Day 1 - Meet at trailhead, gear check, approach to camp.
The trailhead will be chosen depending on where the best conditions are. Options include Rock Creek Area (Bear Creek Spire, Mt Dade, Mt Abbot, etc) or the Palisades Area (Mt Sill, Thunderbolt Peak, U-Notch, V-Notch, Temple Crag).
Your guide will conduct a gear check and hand out group gear at the trailhead. Make sure you have room for group gear such as tents, stoves and fuel in your pack. Typical pack sizes for 4-day itineraries like this are 50-65 liters.
After the gear check, the group will skin in and set camp. Your guide will cover camp craft to help the team establish a comfortable, sheltered and safe camp to maximize the experience during your three evenings at the basecamp. If time allows, you will go for an afternoon ski!
Day 2 - Ski Mountaineering Objectives.
Based on conditions, group abilities and fitness, we'll choose the most fun objectives for the team.
Day 3 - Ski Mountaineering Objectives.
Based on conditions, group abilities and fitness, we'll choose the most fun objectives for the team.
Day 4 - Pack up camp, ski and return to the trailhead.
Depending on desires of team members, time constraints of the group, and ski conditions, we'll either try to squeeze in a quick ski objective or pack up camp and return to the trailhead.
Our main venue for this program is Rock Creek.
Rock Creek contains high peaks like Bear Creek Spire, Mt Dade and Mt Abbot and Treasure Peak and our ski objectives include the Cat Ears Couloir, Hourglass Couloir, Petit Griffon and Northeast Couloir of Mt Abbot.
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - Take your backcountry skiing to the next level on the steep couloirs and endless lines in the Range of Light!
- Ski Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel
- Objective Attempt - These will be long days, gaining between 3,000-4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
- Ski Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route and ski the variations holding the best snow, racking up 3,000-4,000' of vertical!
Here's the schedule for your day:
- 6:00am Trailhead Meetup - Meet your guide at the trailhead and review the plan for the day. The guide will discuss the avalanche problem for the day, the proposed route up and options for the ascent and descent. Your guide will conduct a Trailhead Departure/Beacon Check.
- 6:30am Tour into Objective - We'll ski as many laps as time will allow on the best snow available.
- 5:30pm Return to the Trailhead We'll give ourselves enough daylight to get back safely and recap the day.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Expert Resort Riding Skills - Including steep and consequential off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.
- Basic Ski Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills are encouraged, but not required. Build those skills during the program or attend our Ski Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending and spend more time climbing and skiing on Day 2
- 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.
- Ski/Split Touring, Avalanche, & Ski Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Ropes & Gear - for ski mountaineering
- 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
- Ski/Splitboard Gear
- Avalanche Gear
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Ski/Split Touring Gear
- Ski Touring or Splitboard Setup
- Ski Touring or Splitboard Boots
- Climbing Skins
- Touring Backpack - with pockets for avalanche gear
- Adjustable Touring Poles
- Avalanche Beacon
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche Probe
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Ski/Split Crampons
- Climbing Harness
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Just took the "lift-assisted" Avalanche Rescue course, and it was a fantastic opportunity to act out more realistic rescue scenarios. It was a great refresher and learning experience. Our instructor Evan was knowledgeable and a lot of fun. Highly recommended!
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Completed AIARE 1 w/ Blackbird. Instructors were very knowledgeable, experienced, patient, attentive, and down-to-earth in relating to clients across a wide spectrum of ability. Highly recommended. Great group of people!
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