The “Fourteener Initiative”, climb California’s 14,000′ peaks with a certified guide

Physical Conditioning:

Climbing 14,000 ft mountain is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. It requires both physical and mental toughness. Listed below are the minimum physical requirements we would expect for all of our clients before they show up to climb:

1. Be able to maintain 600 ft -700 ft feet per hr / 185 to 215 meters per hr climbing pace AND be able to maintain this pace for 1-hour increments.

2. Carry a 35 lbs - 45 lbs pack / 15 kg- 20 kg pack

3. Be able to move efficiently off of maintained trails on hard snow, soft snow, rocks and talus. Using large step ups and step-downs, and some movements requiring the whole body while carrying a pack.

4. A client who can do 750 feet per hr with a loaded pack (235 meters per hr) with 25-30 lb / 11-14 kg pack on a stair climber, stepper or stair running should have the fitness to climb most 14,000 ft peaks

5. Plus, Weekend training hikes 8-10 miles /12-16 kilometers with a loaded pack 25-30 lbs /11-14 kilos over the hilly terrain a client has access too is also recommend prior to your climb.

Note: Time to basecamp on most 14,000 ft peaks is 4-6 hours and time to the summit from basecamp is 5-10 hours depending on the peak.

We recommend 3-4 months before the climb if you have not been climbing or hiking extensively prior to your climb date.

You will need to bring your own sleeping bag, internal frame backpack, and mountaineering boots, and crampons (if needed) All are available for rent: Sleeping bags & Pad ($42.00 for 2-3 days), Backpacks ($42.00 for 2-3 days) and Boots ($45.00 for 2-3 days) Crampons ($25.00 for 2-3 days) We also have Gaitors, Down Jackets, Hard Shell Jackets, & trekking poles for rent

None on these climbs

Our guides will be providing hot water for hot drinks, instant cereal, freeze dried dinners and for filling water bottles for drinking. SWS Mountain Guides provides Tents while in the mountains.

Weather Credits and Rescheduled Climbs & Courses:

SWS Mountain Guides aka Sierra Wilderness Seminars Inc. reserves the right to reschedule seminars and courses due to severe weather conditions or other uncontrollable circumstances which make the course or climb unsafe to continue. Weather Credit or Weather Partial Credit will be given for courses or climbs during or within 24 hrs of the course start dates if severe weather conditions or other uncontrollable circumstances make the course or climb unsafe to continue. Our decision will be at the discretion of the climb leader and the Director(s) of SWS Mountain Guides.

We recommend trip cancellation insurance

1:2 or 1:3 guide to client ratio depending on the peak selected

Most 14,000 ft peaks are best climbed from May through September.

All 14,000 ft peak in the Fourteener Initiative are custom climbs with private 1:1 small groups of 2-3