Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Sierra Mountian Snow Skills

Anyone familiar with Sierra Mountain Snow Skills class? I signed up for a one day class at Shasta Guides for essentially the same course for the same price (though at shasta you have to rent all your own equipment, ice axe, crampons etc), but the location where Sierra Mountain offers their class is mre conveniant. I'm considering climbing whitney in april or may (depending on the lottery). I don't have any experience with climbing gear.

Thanks

"depending on the lottery" ...during April or May? Except for maybe Memorial Weekend, you don't need the Whitney lottery, since the quota is never full. You just walk in and ask for a permit.

Yeah, you're right applying for the lottery for May 30 was probably a waste of money now that I think of it. Not being familiar with the area, I heard the word "lottery" and thought of it like Half Dome where hordes of people show up, and they don't even have a lottery (mabe they should), so what must Whitney be like. I was also thinking of april to get around it altogether, but without any winter climbing experience that's a major problem waiting to happen.

I've taken SMC's course and have told folks it was the best $125 I ever spent. I would have taken SMI's but their schedule did not work for me at the time.

I might want to rethink your time of year. Let conditions tell you when to go. Permits will not be an issue until July.

Thanks. I will take that as a compament. Remember Self BELAY, before self arrest.

I took SMC's one-day snow skills class a few years ago - it was a really good class. I'm glad I took it.