Highpoint 2011 Summit Events
Continuing forward with our strong collaboration with the Highpointers organization and our commitment to helping its members acheive their summit goals, we've created three special Highpoint Summit Events. All are welcome on the Summit Workshops—Highpointer or otherwise—but we do encourage you to check out the organization.
Events include:
- Mt. Whitney via the Mountaineers Route
- Winter Presidential Traverse
- Camp 10K+ and Mt. Washington Summit (FULL)
Dates and details appear below—come join us!
Mt. Whitney via the Mtnrs Route—June 17-19th, 2011
At 14,505 feet the granite megalith of Mt. Whitney juts out 10,080 feet from the Sierra foothills, beckoning highpoint climbers with its clean sweeping granite, snow couloirs, and impressive relief.
Partnering with SWS Mountain Guides, we’ll ascend via the Mountaineers Route. First climbed by legendary climber and naturalist John Muir, the Mountaineers Route is the classic technical ascent route to the summit. On our first day we’ll leave from the Whitney-Portal Trailhead, then quickly depart from the chaos of the standard route and head up North Fork Lone Pine Creek. That night we’ll camp by an alpine lake encircled by jagged granite towers at 11,000 feet. Rising early the next morning, we’ll navigate up past Iceberg Lake and into the steep snow couloir (gully) at the start of the Mountaineers Route. Arriving at the col (saddle) atop the couloir we may encounter a mix of snow, ice, and rock terrain during the final summit push. Standing atop the granite blocks of the summit, you’ll gaze out over the flanks of the mountain which drop away over 10,000 feet in front of you, through snowfields, alpine meadows, pine forests, and the Owens Valley—a truly stunning experience.
June is the perfect time to climb Mt. Whitney, as the snow cover provides smoother travel over the rough terrain, builds skills in technical crampon and ax use, and keeps the crowds at bay. Participating in this adventure, you can hope to advance your high-altitude climbing skills and ability traveling in mixed alpine terrain while enjoying a glorious mountain experience.
This cost is $850 for this 3-day alpine adventure. That includes breakfasts, dinners, climbing and camping equipment, and permit fees. And—of course—that cost also includes the pre-trip communication and consultation that we pride ourselves on at Adventure Spirit and that will provide you with an optimal mountain experience.
Winter Presidential Traverse—March 18-20th, 2011 (2 spaces remaining)
Home to the world’s highest land speed winds and frequented by Arctic blasts, an enchainment of the Presidential Range is a true test of one’s mountaineering mettle and the crown jewel of Northeastern mountaineering. Spanning over 20 miles, the Presidential Traverse takes one past and—weather permitting—onto the summits of eight peaks. During the traverse, we will travel above tree line in extreme conditions and camp in spectacular locations. While the technical challenges are low in one sense—there is no roped travel or high-angle crampon terrain—it is technically challenging in another sense, forcing you to get your alpine travel and living skills dialed (i.e., tent set-up in high wind, stove use, melting snow-water, building wind barriers, etc--all in extreme conditions). The crown jewel of Northeastern climbing in its own right, the Presidential Traverse is also an excellent training ground for those considering a Denali climb—in fact, many people who have done both think it’s the other way around!
This experience demands a good level of physical fitness and it offers the opportunity to hone skills in efficient movement and camping in exposed alpine situations. Given that the Presidential Range is well-known for the weather challenges, we’ll wisely allow one-day of flex time at the front or back-end. Whether used at the front or back-end, the flex day will be filled with valuable instruction on topics such as snow and ice anchors, roped travel, steep cramponing techniques, and snow shelter building. Contact us for pricing details (dependent upon group size).
Camp 10K+ & Washington Summit—January 28-30th, 2011 (FULL)
Getting ready to tackle America’s higher peaks or to take it international? Take your hiking skills to a new level with the Camp 10K+ & Washington Summit. Alpine travel and living strategies, efficient cramponing techniques, roped travel basics, crevasse rescue, snow/ice anchors, and other fundamental mountaineering skills will be covered in this 3-day workshop on the flanks of New Hampshire’s legendary winter test piece, Mt. Washington. With three days of flexibility, we’ll save the most favorable day for a go at Mt. Washington’s summit. On the climb and during all the mountain clinics and evening skills workshops, you’ll be acquiring the skills set necessary to tackle 10K+ objectives like Hood, Gannett, Rainier, and Denali. Contact us for pricing details (dependent upon group size).
Learn more about the Highpointers organization here.
