If you are looking for lodging in the town of Bridgeport the night prior to the overnight portion of the trip we recommend the Ruby Inn.

For intro to mountaineering courses past April, check out our summer version of the same course Intro to Mountaineering 3-day.

For more info on this trip please fill out the form below:

THE INTERNATIONAL ALPINE GUIDES DIFFERENCE

For the past 40 years IAG/ASI team have been guiding in the High Sierra & throughout California, as well as on the great peaks of the world. One of the most experienced and oldest guide services in California, we bring to you the highest standards in the mountain guiding industry. All of our mountain guides operating in technical terrain have training with the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) in the terrain they guide. We are also one of the most experienced American mountain guiding companies operating in the Alps of Europe and Latin America. Our extensive worldwide experience, adherence to the highest standards, as well as our easy going guiding philosophy all combine to give you, our valued guests, the best mountain experience possible.

All of our programs are developed and supervised by internationally licensed IFMGA guide Dave Miller, our founder and technical director. Dave has over 20 years of personal guiding experience in the Sierra Nevada. We know the Sierra! 

INTRO TO WINTER MOUNTAINEERING COURSE ITINERARY

Day 1
We meet in the town of Mammoth Lakes in the Eastern Sierra at 8 am at our main office at 325 Old Mammoth Road. We then drive to a nearby trailhead and spend the day doing a full in-depth snow climbing and winter travel school. You will learn all the aspects of winter climbing you will need to know for the winter ascent of Matterhorn Peak. Instruction includes ice axe and self-arrest techniques, using crampons, proper footwork, snowshoeing techniques, and a full avalanche rescue drill using avalanche beacons. Afterward, we will have a full gear check and pack up for the adventure for the next three days. Lodging and meals are on your own this evening.

Day 2
Getting an early start, we meet near the town of Bridgeport, California, and drive a short distance to the trailhead where we begin our hike into base camp up the Horse Creek drainage and into the heart of the Sawtooth Ridge area (2-wheel drive vehicles are fine). We will use snowshoes to get high up to Horse Creek Canyon. The late afternoon is spent setting up a secure winter camp and covering the basics of winter camp selection and construction. If time and conditions allow, we have fun building winter shelters and snow caves, which you may sleep in if you like. In the evening you will enjoy a hearty backcountry meal prepared by your guide.

Day 3
After an early "alpine start" we leave basecamp and begin our climb of Matterhorn Peak, learning valuable winter route-finding skills as well as more avalanche awareness. We travel with snowshoes up to and across the small Matterhorn Glacier where we enter the East Couloir (gully) that takes us to the crest of the Sierra Nevada. Taking off the snowshoes we rope up and ascend the couloir which involves moderate, up to 38-degree snow climbing, in boots and maybe crampons with an ice axe. Once on the ridge, we rock scramble up easy 3rd-4th class rock that is usually snow-covered to the summit of the California Matterhorn at 12,300 ft. We then descend to base camp for the night.

Day 4
The morning is reserved for any additional skills learning. We may also do a navigation practice scenario involving what to do in the event you are caught in a winter whiteout. Late morning is spent breaking camp and heading back to the trailhead arriving back at the vehicles in the afternoon between 2 and 3 pm.

Itinerary subject to change & the summit of Matterhorn Peak is subject to safe weather and snow conditions