This exciting adventure can accommodate the entire family or diverse groups with different adventure challenges in mind. It can combine an easy hike to a breathtaking high country meadow or alpine lake where you may enjoy a few hours of relaxation or even paddling while the more adventurous continue on to ascend up steeper slopes to a spectacular mountain top! No experience or special climbing experience is necessary.
We have several locations that can be tailored to your group’s desires. From a straight forward 2-mile round trip along well established trails to a 5-mile round trip where you will negotiate more advanced and exposed trails with your guide to grand vistas with a view across the High Sierra!
You will be escorted by an experienced adventure guide with advanced knowledge of the terrain, mountain weather and wilderness first aid.
CALL TO BOOK NOW!
EXPERIENCE
High Sierra Alpine Peak Adveture
ACTIVITY
Hiking and Peak Bagging
DESTINATION
Stanislaus National Forest, High Sierra
SEASON
Summer - Fall
DURATION
Full-Day - approximately 8 hours
CHALLENGE
Easy to 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
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. One of the trailheads is accessed over rough forest roads and we recommend high clearance vehicles such as Subarus or SUVs. Please let us know what type of vehicle you plan on driving and we may adjust the location.
Duration
The duration of the experience from leaving the trailhead is approximately 4-5 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. The drive from Murphys to the High Country Trail Head is approximately 1.5 hours (one-way).
Challenge and Terrain
Easy to Moderate – Those opting for the easy challenge will follow a well-established trail to a high country meadow where you can relax, enjoy the views and explore the meadow. Those wishing to “peak bag” will continue with the guide up steeper slopes and more exposed trails and scramble up to a grand vista with spectacular views across the High Sierra! A healthy fitness level and sure footedness is recommend for the peak bagging option. Trailhead elevations vary from 7,700 to 8,600 feet with summits averaging 9,600 feet in elevation.
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 10 on this experience (12 for peak bagging), 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.
Terrain Profile
Hike 1: You will start at a trailhead elevation of 7,700 feet with the meadow at 8,200’ (+500 feet) at one mile in and the summit at 9,500’ (+1,800 feet) at 2.2 miles in.
Hike 2: You will start at a trailhead elevation of 8,600 feet with a summit elevation at 9,700’ (+1,200 feet) and 1.1. miles (one-way).
Lodging
Need recommendations for lodging before or after your experience? Don’t hesitate to call us and we can help provide information.
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
$1 70 / PP
2-3 PEOPLE
$150 / PP
4+ PEOPLE
$120 / PP
UNDER 12
15% Discount