Winter Mountain Skills Course
Mt Shasta & Bear Valley CA
2 days / 1 night
Price per person
$995
Join us for a Winter Mountain Skills Course at Mt. Shasta or Bear Valley designed for climbers who want to feel more confident in winter alpine conditions. Our hands-on course focuses on the practical skills you’ll use on alpine winter climbs: efficient snow travel, proper ice axe techniques, crampon use, and navigating routes on snow-covered terrain.
You’ll also get an introduction to avalanche awareness and learn ways to move smarter and more efficiently across snowfields and moderate slopes. The training is deliberately practical and confidence-building, so you leave ready for future winter climbs and higher-altitude objectives.
Winter Mountain Skills Course combines practical skill-building with the challenge of Mt Shasta and Bear Valley’s winter landscapes, helping, hikers, snowshoers, climbers move confidently into more advanced alpine adventures.
Departure: Mt. Shasta, Bear Valley, CA
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights
Skill Level: Previous hiking and backpacking experience required. No previous mountaineering experience is needed.
Group Size: 8
Guide to Guest ratio: 1:4
Know Before You Climb
Winter Mountain Skills Course Itinerary
, Day 1 – Introduction, Approach, and Winter Base Camp Skills
We begin the trip with a morning meeting at our SWS Mountain Guides office for a complete gear check and orientation. Guides will review both personal and group equipment, answer any last-minute questions, and make sure everyone is packed and ready. Once the team is set, we drive to trailhead at 7,000 feet, where our climb begins. From there, we’ll snowshoe or ski into the backcountry, traveling toward a suitable camp location based on snowpack, weather, and group fitness. Along the way, your guide will introduce key skills such as efficient movement in winter terrain, layering systems, and staying comfortable in cold conditions. By afternoon, we’ll establish a winter base camp and start building your foundation of winter travel skills. Training may include campsite selection, snow shelter building, winter cooking systems, and camp setup in snow. After dinner, we’ll review the plan for the next day.
Day 2 – Technical Skill and Application
The second day is focused on hands-on training and practice near base camp. Instruction typically includes:
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Navigation, GPS, and route finding,
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Avalanche awareness and snowpack basics
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Ice axe and crampon techniques
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Knots, rope handling, and rope team travel
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Mountain medicine and cold weather care
Students will have plenty of time to practice skills in realistic terrain. In the afternoon, we’ll review camp breakdown and efficient packing before snowshoeing / skiing back to the trailhead. We typically arrive back at the vehicles by late afternoon (around 5:00 pm).
Winter Skills Course FAQ
- Q: What areas does SWS Mountain Guides operate in?
A: SWS operated throughout California in both the Sierra Nevada and Mt Shasta Region since 1981 under the same management, plus Oregon & Nevada, and international destinations around the world for over 30 plus years, guiding in mountaineering, rock & ice climbing, ski & snowboarding guiding, and avalanche education. - Q: How do I know if I’m ready for a guided climb?
A: We offer courses, climbs, and clinics for all skill levels. Your readiness depends on your fitness, experience, goals, and comfort in the outdoors. We aim to provide courses and trips designed to build your skills. See physical requirements list above. - Q: What is a good weather resource for Mount Shasta?
A: The National Weather Service, Windy.com, and local avalanche center weather stations are all reliable. Make sure to check updated conditions before your trip, as mountain weather can change rapidly on Mt. Shasta. - Q: How much water should I bring for a climb?
A: We recommend having a capacity of carrying 2–3 liters per person for a most trips, but this varies with conditions, exertion, and route. For most routes on Mt. Shasta, we can make the approach into camp with carrying approximately 2 liters of water but the summit day will require carrying 2-3 liters. We can advise exact needs for each trip during the first morning we meet for a pack check. - Q: What should I pack for a guided trip?
A: We provide your helmet, harness, ice axe (if needed), and a tent plus stove and pots for melting & boiling water. This typically means your essentials include appropriate clothing layers, a waterproof jacket & pants, gloves, hat, mountaineering boots, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, snacks, and any personal items you might want. We provide a detailed packing list for your trip in your reservation confirmation email, or you can find some recommended items in our Mountain Shop. - Q: Do I need prior climbing experience?
A: Not always. For some routes on Mt. Shasta, we do require prior experience, however, we have courses for beginners and trips designed for new climbers as well. For some of our other destinations or more technical objectives we do require more specific climbing experience to make sure it’s the right fit and appropriate for your skill level. If you have questions about this, please contact our office or inquire online. - Q: What is your group size?
A: We keep groups small to ensure personalized attention, and a better experience for our guests. Generally, we operate at a 1:2 or 1:3 guide-to-guest ratio. However, depending on the trip, we may go up to a 1:4 ratio (Clear Creek on Mt. Shasta, or non-summit bound glacier courses). - Q: Are your guides certified?
A: Yes. All our guides hold certifications in various fields or disciplines many have Outdoor Recreation Degrees both BA / BS and MA. Some hold certifications from the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) or equivalent international organizations. All our guides are highly experienced in their specialties. To read more about our guides and their various certifications and backgrounds, visit the ‘Our Guides’ page to learn more. - Q: How physically fit do I need to be?
A: Fitness requirements vary by trip, and the objective. Most climbs require moderate to high aerobic endurance, strength, and comfort at altitude. We recommend our partners at Uphill Athlete to help you prepare physically for a climb with us or anyone else. - Q: Can I rent gear from SWS Mountain Guides?
A: We offer rental options for select items like puffy jackets, trekking poles, snowshoes, mountaineering boots, crampons, and avalanche gear. Our rental items are only available to our guests, so a link to our online rental store is provided with your confirmation email after making a reservation with us. - Q: What is your cancellation or refund policy?
A: We have a cancellation policy; however, we don’t want to operate like an airline and be super rigid. We do our best to work with our guests if they need to cancel or change a reservation. Please keep in mind that our options become more limited once we’re within 30 days of the trip date, so we ALWAYS recommend trip insurance for our guests. Our full cancellation policy is provided with your reservation confirmation, or you can find it on our website HERE>> - Q: How do I train or prepare for a climb?
A: Focus on cardio, strength, and hiking with a pack. Specific courses in mountaineering, glacier travel, and snow skills can accelerate your readiness and confidence. For more personalized training suggestions and programs, we recommend contacting our partners at Uphill Athlete. - Q: Is mountaineering safe?
A: All outdoor activities have inherent risks, including weather, altitude, and terrain hazards. Our guides are trained to recognize, manage and reduce your exposure to these risks when possible. We take our guests’ trust in us seriously and do all that we can to minimize the hazards associated with any trip while still providing an exceptional experience. - Q: How do I know what trip is right for me?
A: We are happy to help match you with a trip based on your experience, fitness, and goals. Feel free to contact us by phone or email at any time if you need. We want to make sure you can make the best choice for your abilities, experience, and goals.