Day 1
We meet at the trailhead located at the Mono Village
resort on the shores of Twin Lakes, near the town
of Bridgeport. After a pack check and gear discussion
we begin our hike into base camp up the Horse Creek
drainage into the heart of the Sawtooth Range. We
begin on a trail that eventually peters out and we
hike the last bit to base camp cross-country. Our
base camp is beside a beautiful tarn (alpine pond)
with views up towards Matterhorn Peak. The late afternoon
is spent acclimating and setting up camp and covering
some basic mountaineering skills such as knots and navigation. In
the evening we enjoy a hearty backcountry meal prepared
by your guide.
Day 2
Today is skills and acclimating day. We spend the morning learning
basic rock climbing skills with the use of a top rope.
You will learn basic movement on rock as well as belaying technique and rope management. The afternoon is spent in snow school learning ice
axe use and basic snow climbing skills including cramponing
techniques as well as ice axe self arrest. There will also be discussions of "mountain sense" and what to do if things go wrong.
Day 3
After an early "alpine start" we begin our
climb of Matterhorn Peak, using your new found skills.
We scramble 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. The couloir
involves moderate 38 degree snow climbing and ice
axe use (depending on season). Once on the ridge,
we rock scramble up easy 3rd-4th class rock to the summit
of the California Matterhorn.
We then descend to base camp and back
to the trailhead arriving around 4-5pm back at the
cars.
