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| SWS Mountain Guides Winter Newsletter | November/ December 2010 |
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From all of us at SWS Mountain Guides we wish you & your family a Happy Thanksgiving
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Mt. Lassen Winter Mountaineering
Our most popular winter seminar, offering instruction in the skills needed to safely climb non-technical winter peaks, snow camping, and travel over winter terrain. Conducted in Lassen National Park,culminating with an attempt of Lassen Peak (10,462 feet). Open to all levels of skiers, climbers, and backpackers.
Dec. 17-19, 2010
Jan. 7-9, 2011
Jan. 19-21, 2011
Feb. 19-21, 2011
$595.00
More info here! |
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SWS Mountain Guides
has been teaching Ice Climbing for over
25 years in
Lee Vining, CA.
SWS Mountain Guides has Technical Ice Climbing courses designed for beginning to advanced climbers who have basic rock climbing (rock
gym experience ok) or snow climbing skills (call us if you have questions). These two-day course are for climbers wishing to
learn the basics or Advanced aspects of technical ice climbing techniques. Technical tools, harnesses, technical crampons provided
Basic Tech Ice: $335.00
January 8-9, 15-16, 20-21*,
February 5-6, 19-20, 24-25*,
March 3-4*, 12-13.
Advanced Tech Ice:$360.00
January 15-6, 22-23, February 3-4*, 21-22, March 5-6, 10-11*
More info here
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 La Nina predicts a Wet Winter in N. California and Dry Winter in S. California.
By David Cressman
In the wake of the 2009-2010 El Nino it appears that La Nina conditions have been developing in the equatorial Pacific Ocean where sea surface temperatures are below the historical average. This phenomenon typically oscillates every 3 - 5 years with the La Nina displaying below average sea surface temperatures and El Nino displaying above average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. These fluctuations in turn have an effect on the atmosphere which in turn causes an El Nino or La Nina to affect the atmospheric circulations.
What does this mean for the mountains of California?? Typically El Nino years are characterized by a more consistent southern storm tracks into California resulting in above normal temperatures and increased wind and precipitation from the south. This usually results in above normal snowfall for Mount Shasta and the Sierra's with areas north of Mount Shasta being left out. La Ninas, on the other hand, tend to have storm tracks which come from the west and northwest resulting in an increased chance of above normal precipitation and below normal temperatures for the Mount Shasta area and points north into Oregon. This can, however, result in the middle and southern parts of California getting left out thereby resulting in a lower than normal snowpack for the Sierra's.
The Mount Shasta area typically seems to be either on the northern end of the storm tracks in El Nino years and on the southern end of the storm tracks in La Nina years. Sometimes we get slammed and at other times we miss the storms entirely!!
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 Extend Your Backpacking Season with SWS Mountain Guides
Summer is over and Winter is on its way. Most folks will have already put away there backpacking gear for the year and more than likely will not break it out again until next summer. If you are one of those who is impatient to be outside once again why not go backpacking during the winter months?? If you are already a backpacker then you already have quite a bit of the gear you already need! All that is needed is a bit more training. SWS Mountain Guides has just the course for you! Basic Winter Mountaineering in either Lassen National Park or Sequoia National Park. This course is designed to give you the skills you need to go out in the winter environment and feel confident that you can do so without getting yourself into trouble. An emphasis will be placed on developing an awareness of avalanche prone terrain, route and camp selection, staying warm and dry, and using snowshoes with a heavy pack. We have developed this course with beginning backpackers in mind, but the skills we cover will help even experienced backpackers! |
 Ice Climbing Survey!Hey climbers! My name is Kathrin. I am a medical student in Germany and at the moment I am working on my diploma thesis with the topic "Ice Climbing". I really need your help to complete my work. In order to successfully conduct the study I need as many ice climbers as possible. What is it all about? The aim of my study is to analyze injury patterns which are characteristic for ice climbing. I hope that I can draw some conclusions on how one can make ice climbing a safer sport. What has to be done? What I ask you to do for me is, to fill out a questionnaire on amount of hours spent climbing, experience, equipment, potential injuries etc. The first questionnaire will be sent out by the end of November and the study takes place until April, so there will be on the whole 6 questionnaires to be filled out per month. This would mean 5 minutes expenditure of time for you. Everything is carried out via mail (saving time, easy to do) and is done anonymously. Who can take part? Absolutely EVERYBODY can take part in this project, there are no limitations concerning proficiency, experience, or frequency of climbing. I would be very glad if many interested and motivated ice climbers send me their email-address to my email below and thereby make it possible for me contact you with my survey and questionaires. THANK YOU in advance for taking the time to help a student interested in sports J!! Best wishes, Kathrin Lampl E -mail: kathrin.lampl@pmu.ac.at Mobile: 0043676/4655999 |
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SWS Mountain Guides Cho O uy Expedition 26,901 ft.
Confirmed Departure - $16,950.00
September 1st -October 14th, 2011
Join SWS Mountain Guides for an expedition to Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world, at 8188 meters ( 26,901 ft.). It is located on the border of Tibet (China) and Nepal about 20 km to the west of Mount Everest.
Some climbers claim that Cho Oyu is the easiest 8000 meter peak, if any 8000 meter peak can be called easy! There are limited technical sections presenting challenges to some climbers: a short ice wall and the Yellow Band at 24,600'. Both are not huge issues but at this high altitude any technical climbing takes its toll on the body. Objective dangers are limited as well, but climbing at this altitude can always be dangerous.
Its relatively easy access makes it an attractive 8,000 meter expedition for someone with limited time, as it can be attempted in roughly 6 weeks round trip. Give us a call for all the details and experience needed to climb sixth highest peak in the world!
Contact Tim at 888.797.6867 or JB at 307.333.3223 for details and an expedition application.
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Jump on Board with SWS Mountain Guides!
Ecuador High Altitude Mountaineering Expedition Confirmed Departure!
November 28th -December 11th, 14 days $3,150.00 - includes all in country travel.
Our 14-day High Altitude Mountaineering course allows for the for the opportunity to learning high altitude mountaineering techniques while experiencing great climbing, high mountain huts, big mountains, cloud forests, Andean villages, and the South American culture. Attempt two to three Ecuador Volcanoes; Cayambe 18,997 ft., Cotopaxi 19,348 ft. and Chimborazo 20,703 ft. (new route) with Expedition extention option. (Extention: December 12-17, 2011 -- $875.00)
More information here!
SAVE 5% if booked before January 1st, 2011-- Give a gift certificate to your favorite climber!
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Save 5% on a Holiday Gift Certificates
on SWS Mountain Guides Gift Certificates if purchased before December 15th, 2010 --
SAVE 5% and.....
Receive a "FREE" SWS Mountain Guides Mug
Offer Expires: December 15th, 2010
Cannot be combined with any other offer, minimum gift certificate is $125.00 |
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