About us

Built around one range, both sides of it

Sierra Crest Backcountry exists because the Sierra Nevada rewards local knowledge more than almost any range in the country — and that knowledge shouldn't require years of trial and error to access.

Our approach

We split our work into two tracks on purpose. Some trips need a guide's judgment on the ground — new terrain, off-trail travel, ski mountaineering. Others just need the planning done right: a realistic itinerary, a permit strategy that accounts for the lottery you'll actually lose sometimes, and someone to sanity-check the plan before you're three days from a trailhead.

Either way, the goal is the same: fewer surprises on trail, and a trip that matches the fitness and experience of the people actually walking it.

Founding guide

Placeholder Name

A working bio goes here — guiding background, years in the Sierra, notable routes, and what got them into backcountry travel in the first place. (This section is a placeholder on this example site.)

East Side basedWFRAIARE

What we value

Why work with us

Local, current knowledge

We're out in the Whitney Zone, the Bishop basins, and the Kings/Sequoia backcountry all season — conditions advice reflects this year, not a guidebook from 2012.

Small groups, on purpose

Tight guide-to-client ratios instead of van-loads. Slower decisions, more room to adjust the plan mid-trip.

Leave No Trace, not just a poster

Every guide is LNT-trained and it shows up in campsite choice, group size, and how we talk about the backcountry with clients.

Honest planning

If a route, date, or permit strategy is a bad idea, we'll say so before you book — not after.

Training & certifications

Safety is a qualification, not a vibe

Every guide leading a Sierra Crest trip carries current wilderness medicine and terrain-specific training. We're happy to share specifics for any guide before you book.

  • Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
  • AIARE Avalanche Level 1 & 2
  • Leave No Trace Trainer
  • Wilderness Permit & Land-Management Specialist
  • Swiftwater / river-crossing awareness

Want to talk before you book?

A short call is the fastest way to figure out if we're a good fit for your trip.