05/2/2012 - 05/13/2012 : Advanced Mountaineering Course, Alaska

Winslow Passey will be guiding this trip.  She has years of experience climbing and playing in Alaska having guided 9 trips on Denali and many mountaineering courses and personal trips in the area. If you have some climbing experience and want more fun & training in the gorgeous Alaska Range come on this trip! We will be out for 12 days refining your climbing and glacier travel skills with the option for a variety of fun climbing objectives.  The trip is in the Alaska range near Denali focusing on alpine climbing, glacier travel, rock climbing, etc. This trip will be a blast!  And of course with Winslow you can expect to do some yoga as well.  

May 2-13th $3100.  This trip is run through Alaska Mountaineering School!

05/3/2012 - 05/17/2012 : Alaska Ruth Gorge Adventure

This is going to be a cool trip. This is a 12 day journey with 7 days at the Mountain House hut in the Ruth Gorge Amphitheater, and 5 days in the middle we will get a bump to a different spot such as to Little Switzerland, the root canal below the Mooses Tooth, or over to Mt. Huntington. This area is completely astonishing with rock walls that rise up 5000' above the glacier ice. There are options for skiing, rock climbing, alpine climbing, and steep snow climbs and long glacier treks. We can take 2-3 more people! Sign up soon!

This trip is permitted through Alaska Mountain Guides!

06/1/2012 - 09/30/2012 : Alps Classics!

Alp classic week 

We will be in Europe all summer! Inquire with us at info@inthecompanyofguides.com for booking. So often we are asked ‘ I want a week long Alps classic… a little snow, a little rock, huts, trams… get an idea of the whole area and have a great adventure!  What are the possibilities?’ 

Love that! Are you in for a treat. With flexibility like that you are sure to be thrilled and we can orchestrate an excellent adventure that suits your desires, skill range and time. 

Based out of Chamonix we have easy access to the heart of the Alps where a quick tram ride brings you to such rock and alpine classics that dreams are made and realized on. 

Alpine classics examples: 

Cosmique arête .(5.5 rock, snow, exposure)

Midi/ Plan traverse (5.5 rock, snow/ ice, exposure)

W ridge Rochfort  (exposed ridge traverse, fantastic) 

Dente de Giante   (5.9, without using the fixed lines – uber classic!) 

Briethorn half traverse (mixed rock and snow to Altitude)

Pollux and Castor (steep rock on one and steep snow on the other --- perfect twins)

Monta Rosa (A five summated massif bordering Switzerland and Italy, sure to have something to ‘peak’ your interest) 

Dente Blanche (a remote pyramidal peak, classic of the Alps)

Price: $600 per day: 1-1 ratio OR $400 per day: 2-1 ratio

The Trilogy 

Of all the classic Alps trips that we have been asked about it is the trilogy of Mt Blanc, the Matterhorn and the Eiger.  Three great peaks steeped in history and mountaineering fascination. A dream of many an Alpinist to challenge oneself upon each of these peaks in ones lifetime and a great achievement to have at least tried let alone stand upon all three summits.

If one is ready and the weather and conditions are favorable we have many times been able to climb all three in a ten day period including acclimatization and traveling. It has been done and will be done again but giving a few extra days for weather and rest certainly ups the chances of success and so we feel that a full 13 day trip will give you the best chance possible to complete this audacious trilogy.

Time is precious, think about what you want to do and ask us for any advise. This will truly be an outstanding feather in the cap of any alpinist. 

Price: 10 day trilogy:  $7000 OR 13 day trilogy:   $8500

07/1/2012 - 08/31/2012 : Tetons 2012

Todd and Winslow will be back in the Tetons next summer as it is so nice up there.  There are many fun climbing adventures!  The Grand Teton is a must if you have not done that one, and if you have I will mention a few other good ones such as Irene's arete or Open book on Disappointment Peak, Symmetry Spire, and Mt. Moran - CMC route, a fun two day adventure.  

These trips are permitted through Exum Mountain Guides!

08/1/2012 - 08/31/2012 : Wind River Range 2012!

 Did I tell you how amazing the Wind River Range is for climbing, camping, fishing and yoga!  Yeah!  It's phenonminal!  I did two trips last summer and loved it so much I can't wait to go back!  It is a 10 mi. hike into the Cirque of Towers where you can settle in with the high mountain lakes and wildflowers surrounded by towering granite peaks!  The climbing is exhilerating and fun, with a variety of different climbing objectives for all levels.  It is nice to hire a porter and spend 4 nights or so playing and climbing out there.  If you have someone who is not a climber, they would also love the hiking and scenery in there.  From our camp it is a short approach to the climbs.  

Cost:  $1750.00  Includes price of porter, food and camping (rate based on 2 people), does not include rental car fee! 

Dates:  August 

Schedule:

Day 0: Arrive in Salt Lake, drive to the trailhead. Depending on the time of arrival, we will make the 5hr. drive to the trailhead this evening. 

Day 1: Hike into the Cirque of the Towers.  It is about a 6hr hike into camp passing many lakes and streams along the way.  (10mi, 6km)

Day 2-4: We will climb peaks such as Pingora, Wolf’s head, Overhanging tower, and Shark’s nose depending on the weather and individual desires!  Lots of great granite peaks to keep us entertained!  The fishing is also really good, and yoga in the wildflowers is fun too!

Day 5: Hike out (3.5-4.5hr), and drive back to Salt Lake City.

Day 6:Fly home or enjoy a day in Salt Lake touring around or rock climbing in the Wasatch!

08/11/2012 - 08/15/2012 : Wind River Range, Climbing & Yoga

Hike into the beautiful Wind River Range where we camp amist the high mountain lakes and abundant wild flowers situated beneath towering granite peaks.  There are a variety of climbs close to camp and we top off the day with yoga (optional) and hanging out by a campfire watching the sunset.  This is one of my favorite places on the planet! Other dates available as well.  Please inquire!

10/17/2012 - 10/21/2012 : Rock climbing & Yoga in Red Rocks Canyon, NV

Red Rocks is such a fun place for climbing and yoga!  You will love this trip.  We will spend 3 days playing on the unique red rock formations and doing yoga daily.  You do not need any experience in climbing or yoga to participate.  We can accomodate a variety of skill levels! 

04/2/2012 - 04/16/2012 : Carstensz Pyramid

Carstensz Pyramid (16,024 ft, 4,884 m) is the highest peak in the oceanic continent and one of the seven summits.  This expedition in West Papua a providence of Indonesia, is possible the most exotic of the seven summits, and a unforgettable adventure even for those not seeking the seven summits.   It is located on the island of New Guinea, and is the highest peak between the Himalayas and the Andes, as well as, the highest island peak in the world.  This peak was first climbed in 1926 on an expedition led by Heinrich Harrer an Austrian mountaineer.  

We begin this trip in Bali, Indonesia a fun place to relax and celebrate on its beautiful beaches.  From Bali, we take a commercial flight to Timeka on the West Papuan Island followed by a flight on a twin Otter to Pinapa.  Here we will enjoy an evening in the chiefs house and meet our local porters from the Dani tribe for the trip.  Some of which still wear the traditional penis gourds. (see photo)

The next five days are spent trekking in through the jungle most of which is above 10,000ft with unique and incredible scenery.   On day five we arrive at our base camp situated by a high mountain lake and the 4000ft limestone walls.   

Our route ascends the limestone face with the crux moves at 5.6 rock climbing up to the ridge where we will traverse the ridge, using a Tyrollean traverse on a fixed cable at one point, then continuing on snow and mixed terrain to the summit.

From the summit we can see the Freeport mine one of the world’s largest producers of gold and copper with private roads reaching very near.  Though these roads are off limits to all but those who work there.  

The morning after our summit we retrace our tracks back to Pinapa, continuing to Bali the next morning.

03/14/2012 - 03/16/2012 : Backcountry Ski Retreat @ the Alta Lodge with Yoga

Learn to Backcountry Ski and to do Yoga!  No experience needed!  Stay at the beautiful Alta Lodge, eat amazing meals, soak in the hot tub, and learn a ton!  You must be an intermediate to advanced skier able to ski off piste at the resort.  We will go out of the resort using the lifts to gain altitude and then head out of bounds.  One day we will do a bi-canyonal tour skiing up an over the ridge into Big Cottonwood Canyon where we will take a shuttle back around!

You will learn how to find do beacon searches, used backcountry ski gear, avalanche awareness, as well as alignment techniques for uphill and downhill skiing.  We do yoga in the morning in the bar as we watch the sunrise over Mt. Superior.  In the afternoon we do yoga in the Our Lady of the Snow's chuch perhaps watching the snow falling through large windows facing the resort.  Yoga classes are optional!

This trip is permitted through Utah Mountain Adventures!

Plan Your Trip For April 2012

This classic ski traverse begins below Mont Blanc in the beautiful Chamonix Valley.  Traveling through the heart of the Alps, each day we are treated to spectacular scenery and great skiing, ascending high mountain passes and crossing beautiful glaciers.  Each night we will stay in a comfortable mountain hut and will be served a hot meal in a social, international atmosphere. On our last day we traverse below the majestic Matterhorn and descend into the idyllic Swiss village of Zermatt.  This famous ski tour is a must for any backcountry skiing enthusiast. 

We have found that an 8 day trip gives us the best chance for success on completing the Haute route taking into account the weathers variability and participants differing skill level. With this in mind our itinerary has, does and will change but below you will find one that has worked countless times for us. On a private group basis we have also run trips from 6 to 10 days; we have your needs in mind, just talk to us. 

Who:

The Haute Route is suitable for strong intermediate to advanced skiers with some backcountry skiing experience.  All participants need to show up  fit enough to climb up to 4500 (1400 meters)feet per day, on back to back days.

03/19/2012 - 03/23/2012 : Valdez, Alaska Backcountry & Heli Ski Trip

We will spend three days backcountry ski touring, one day heli skiing, and one day with a single heli ride into the backcountry.  The Chugach mountains near Valdes offer a some amazing skiing on maganificiently beautiful peaks!