Mountaineering FAQ

I am not sure if I am fit enough. How do I know if this event is right for me?

We recommend that you have experience hiking and are moderately active. This is not a strenuous event as it is very much skill based. There will be plenty of breaks while concepts are taught with sporadic practice periods. We do not move into extreme terrain nor do we take a fast pace. (Not to ruin the lesson but mountaineering is a slow and steady kind of sport.)

What kind of food do I need to bring?

You should bring lunch with any trail snacks that you prefer, like any other day out on the trail. We will make recommendations on what to bring in our information packet. Drinking water will be available but it is recommended that you bring your own.

What gear do I need?

Please see the course page for a list of items. You will need cold weather outdoor apparel, layers, sturdy waterproof boots, gloves & mittens such as that you would wear on a winter hike or snowshoe. The other required equipment is a mountain axe, crampons and helmet along with winter, waterproof boots or mountaineering boots are preferred. We will provide a list of everything you need soon after signup, and we have rentals available if you don’t have all recommended gear!

What happens if I am too cold? Will I freeze?

The short answer is NO! You will not freeze, we will not let you. The reality is that we are blessed with many sunny days in Northern California and despite being on the snow all day, you may warm up quite a bit. We will also be moving around and practicing techniques so your body temp will be warm due to the activity.

The longer short answer is that we will provide you with a list of recommended items to bring with you to help you remain comfortable outdoors. We will also be armed with extra equipment in the event that someone is underprepared or the weather turns sour. Two female guides will always be accessible in the event that you are not feeling warm enough with plenty of extras for comfort.

What happens if it snows? I am not ready for snow conditions.

This event is all about the snow! Unfortunately, we cannot control Mother Nature so there is always the chance of unpredictable weather. If we foresee snowy conditions, we’ll prepare you the week before as to what additional items you might need, with rental items available. Encountering snow will actually provide an added benefit as you will learn even more adaption tips, advanced cold weather skills plus some additional snow travel skills. In the unusual case that the snow is deep, we’ll work to provide snowshoes for use but will not be heading into anything advanced or extreme. Snow will not cause this trip to be canceled.

How much am I supposed to tip my guides?

It is customary and expected that guides be provided with a gratuity for their services. While you might see them working all day to provide education, skills or just a good time, so much more goes on behind the scenes in planning a safe and enjoyable day. Guides rely heavily on tips to supplement their income and their ongoing outdoor education and certification costs. The industry standard is to tip your guides 15-20% of the cost of your trip. You may tip your guides in person, in the tip jar or if you prefer a more discreet method, via PayPal and we’ll forward it to the team that led your event. Tips are shared evenly between guides, hosts and porters so you don’t have to worry about figuring that out. If someone excelled and you want to give more to a certain person, by all means say so!

Are there age limits?

You must be 18 to sign up for the weekend. There’s no upper age limit as long as you are willing to give the weekend your best effort!

Can I bring my friend, daughter, sister, husband, someone else?

Any female, or identifying as female, is more than welcome to attend as long as they are at least 18 years of age and book through us to reserve their space. As this is a safe space for women only, males are not allowed on this outing. We are happy to organize a private outing that accommodates non-female partners and friends. Let us know!

Who can sign up?

We invite those who have completed at least some hiking experience to sign up for this outdoor experience. It is important that you already know how to pack your own day hiking gear and layers, but no worries if you’re totally inexperienced with snow! We’ll cover everything from putting on crampons and handling your ice axe.

Prerequisites

Hiking experience is recommended.

Have any other questions for us? Drop us an email or hit the chat on the right hand side. We’re more than happy to help!