High Sierra Alpine Lake Hike
A full day of adventure awaits you in the High Sierra. On this approximately 10-mile round trip loop, you will follow single track hiking trails as they meander through high country meadows, over rock outcroppings and around alpine lakes in this enchanted and less traveled area of the High Sierra.
You’ll have time to soak in the beautiful vistas along the way, have a relaxing lunch at an alpine lake, and even take a plunge into the crisp, refreshing waters if you wish! You will be escorted by an experienced adventure guide with advanced knowledge of the terrain, mountain weather and wilderness first aid.
As a custom adventure, your guide will tailor the adventure to the group’s enthusiasm and ability. At the end of the day, you’ll feel like you’ve completed a well-earned journey that’s put you back in touch with nature and filled your soul with MountainGeist – the Spirit of the Mountains.
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EXPERIENCE
High Sierra Alpine Lake Hike
ACTIVITY
Hiking
DESTINATION
Stanislaus National Forest, High Sierra
SEASON
Summer - Fall
DURATION
Full Day - approximately 7 hours
CHALLENGE
Moderate
SOLITUDE
Less-Traveled
PRICE
From $120 PP, lunch included
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Expert Outdoor Guide
Natural, historic and cultural interpretation
Guide will carry all necessary navigational tools: map, compass, GPS
First Aid kit carried by guide trained in wilderness first aid
Water at trailhead (bottle/s)
Water filtration while on trail
Light trail snacks – may contain nuts
Bag lunch (for full day trips only)
USFS permits and guiding fees (does not include park entrance fees)
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
Guide Gratuities
Transportation to/from trailhead (we will caravan from a central meeting location)
Personal Park Entry Fees (where appropriate and driving separately)
Please call for equipment rental options for specialized gear (bikes, boats, paddleboards, etc.)
WHAT TO BRING
Highly Recommended
Light day pack
Comfortable hiking shoes with grippy soles
Comfortable outdoor clothing – synthetic, non-cotton is recommended
Sunscreen (SPF 30+) and SPF rated lip balm
Sun hat
Additional top insulating layer of clothing (e.g microfleece or ‘puffy’)
Wind/Water resistant jacket (top shell)
Headlamp or small flashlight
WHAT TO BRING
Optional
Camera
Sunglasses
Small trail binoculars
Personal water bottle or hydration pack: 1-liter minimum recommended
Additional trail snacks (especially those with dietary restrictions or allergies)
Walking poles
Personal medication
Bug spray
Wind/Water resistant pant shell (weather dependent)
Nitty Gritty Details
Scheduled Days of Experience
High Country experiences are offered on weekends and holidays throughout the summer and fall as weather allows. Call to book. Private experiences may be booked during the week days with prior arrangement.
Meeting Time and Place
Upon booking, you will be provided an exact time and meeting location which will can be tailored to accommodate our guests.
Transportation
All transport to and from the trailhead will be in your personal vehicle. The group will caravan together from the meeting location to the trailhead.
Duration
The duration of the experience from leaving the trailhead is approximately 6-7 hours depending on pace of group, rest periods, and side adventures. The guide will adjust the experience throughout the day to provide the appropriate balance of pace and leisure appropriate to each group
Challenge and Terrain
Moderate – your guide will facilitate a moderate pace on uneven terrain and less traveled trails up to 10 miles with gradual elevation gains and descents. Prior hiking experience is recommended along with a healthy fitness level. You will start at a trailhead elevation of 7,800 feet with terrain variations less than +/- 600 feet throughout the hike.
Solitude
Less-Traveled - In these less-traveled areas, you may occasionally encounter other individuals or small groups, but you will have the trail to yourself for much of the experience.
Group Size
You may expect anywhere from two to eight other ‘adventurers’ on your shared experience. Private experiences are available.
Minimum Age
Generally, we encourage each participant to consider their ability in meeting the “challenge” level outlined in each experience rather than adhering to strict age limits. While we recommend a minimum age of 12 on this experience, we would consider younger ages with relevant hiking experience.
Trip Packet
Shortly before the scheduled day of the experience, a trip packet will be sent to the contact email who booked the experience. You will be provided trip details, trailhead information, weather forecast update, and reminders on what to pack and what to expect. You will also receive a liability waiver and a few other items to fill out prior to the day of the experience which will be returned via email or delivered in person to the guide at the meeting location.
Security
As with parking in any remote location, we encourage you to leave any valuables at home and lock anything remaining of value in your trunk or out of site. Due to wildlife considerations, we discourage leaving food or scented items in your vehicle. There are generally no bear boxes at the trailheads where we will be parking, so leave what you don’t need on the hike at your home, hotel or rental.
Park Entry Fees
Some experiences may take place within parks or recreational areas that require a personal entry fee. When traveling in your separate personal vehicle following the guide, you will be responsible for any park entry fees where appropriate (e.g. New Melones Lake – Glory Hole or Tuttletown, or Caltrans SNO-PARK fees when parking along Highway 4 in the winter.) Most trailheads in the Stanislaus National Forest do not require an entry fee or collect parking fees during non-winter seasons.
Lodging
Need recommendations for lodging before or after your experience? Don’t hesitate to call us and we can help provide information.
Terrain Profile
You will start at a trailhead elevation of 7,800 feet with terrain variations less than +/- 600 feet throughout the hike.
MAIN LOOP
RETURN TO TRAILHEAD
Pricing Details
This experience is open to the public and single participants will join a larger group.
Pricing per person (PP) based on number of people in booking party (not total group size).
Discounts provided to parties booking with 2 or more people.
“Solo” pricing option available on experiences that do not book multiple participants (it does not refer to a private experience).
Non-refundable deposit required upon booking. $25 per person for open trips or 20% of the total price for private trips.
Private group experience upgrade fee of $200 per group.
Call for details about private groups, corporate events and custom experiences
Cancellation Policy
Refunds offered up to 48-hours in advance of all day or half-day trips (7-days in advance of all multi-day trips) less the non-refundable deposit unless cancelled by MountainGeist in which a full refund or credit will be offered.
Single-participant, non-private experiences (public experiences that only book a single participant), will have the option to either upgrade to a “solo” price experience or cancel 48-hours in advance with a full refund. The “solo” option may be designated at time of booking as well.
Pricing
SOLO OPTION
$300
1 PERSON
$170 / PP
2-3 PEOPLE
$150 / PP
4+ PEOPLE
$120 / PP
UNDER 12
15% Discount