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High School
High Sierra – Alpine Backpack & Rock Climb
Unlock core memories with new friends while you hike among the towering pines, climb some of the best granite around, and splash in the shimmering blue alpine lakes of the Sierra Nevada.
Scholarships
Savings Plan
Course is Full
Wait List
Almost Full 
Open 
California
About This Course
Activity
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Backpacking -
Rock Climbing
Setting & Location
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Mountains -
Course Start Location: Fresno Yosemite Airport -
Course End Location: Fresno Yosemite Airport
Students Can Earn
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College Credit
Session Details
4 sessions are available for this course
What You’ll Learn
Forge an epic adventure! On Outward Bound courses for high schoolers, you’ll make new friends and face exciting new challenges together while building communication and leadership skills that help your group soar to new heights!
What You'll Do
This course blends backpacking and rock climbing on world-class granite. Learn basic climbing skills, hike on and off trail, splash in cool alpine lakes, and take in awe-inspiring mountain views for a full adventure in the high country.
Where You'll Be
Hike through the Sierra Nevada—a premier destination with frequent sun, glacially carved valleys, lush meadows, alpine lakes, and starry night skies. An awe-inspiring landscape to explore, reflect, and connect with nature.
Why It Matters
High school is hard work – take a break and do something memorable! You’ll explore new places, make friends, and learn skills that will expand your belief in what’s possible. We are crew, not passengers which means you’ll share responsibility for your crew’s success through teamwork, communication, and leadership. Let’s go!
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Classic Courses for High School
What if you had space to feel more connected to yourself, to others, and to the challenging world around you?
Two Week Courses
You and your crew will participate in unique activities, forging skills to thrive! Sounding your own voice – and considering others’ – you’ll have time to try new ways of working together in a supportive environment. Connecting in moments of harmony and productive struggle, you and your crew will get to ask yourselves big questions like: “Who am I; who are YOU; and how can we best get along?”
Us. But Better.
You and your crew will learn how to support each other’s success, boldly tackling challenges and persevering together through epic adventures! Our skilled instructors protect the time and space students need to both recognize your strengths and consider the strengths of others.
Connection and Care
Focusing on building a connected group where each student’s unique personality is valued, you and your crew will practice the communication skills you need to feel safe, cared for, and pay forward that care for each other as you go adventuring!
Shared Success
You’ll start to learn how to be thoughtful about your own actions, your words, and the impact of both on other people. You will practice holding all of this at once while you just how magical facing challenges and succeeding as a team can be!
Life On Course
Hike among the towering pines, splash in blue alpine lakes, and rock climb on some of the best granite around with your crew of new friends.
Sierra Nevada courses offer stunning peaks, sunny weather, and world-class granite, making it ideal for backpacking and climbing. As you hike and your skills grow, the crew takes on more responsibility like navigating, setting camp, and supporting one another. Shared challenges, stories, and mountain views make this a fun and unforgettable adventure built on connection and teamwork.
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Sample Itineraries
Here’s an example of what your course itinerary might look like. The actual plan will depend on permits, weather, group skills, and instructor evaluation.
Swipe on table below to view more.
10-Day Course
| Day 1 | Course start – meet group/instructors, review gear, camp craft lessons |
| Day 2-3 | Rock section (climbing technique, belaying and rappelling and camp craft lessons) |
| Day 4 | Rappelling |
| Day 5 | Hike to base of alpine peak |
| Day 6 | Alpine peak attempt |
| Day 7 | Solo |
| Day 8 | Finals, hike out |
| Day 9 | Service, personal challenge event, clean gear and de-issue, graduation ceremony |
| Day 10 | Course end and transportation to airport |
14-Day Course
| Day 1 | Course start – review gear, meet and greet group/Instructors |
| Day 2-4 | Rock section (climbing technique, belaying and rappelling and camp craft lessons) |
| Day 5 | Front country resupply of food and gear and service |
| Day 6-10 | Main Expedition (backpacking, solo, and peak attempt) |
| Day 11-12 | Final expedition (backpacking) |
| Day 13 | Personal challenge event, clean and de-issue gear, graduation ceremony |
| Day 14 | Course end and transportation to airport |
FAQs
Do I need any prior backpacking or climbing experience?
No experience is necessary. Instructors will teach you everything you need to know—from setting up camp to reading maps to climbing safely. Just come ready to learn and be challenged.
What is the solo experience like?
Solo is a chance to rest, reflect, and recharge on your own in a designated area near your group. You’ll have shelter, food, water, and support nearby. It’s not about isolation—it’s about insight.
What kind of gear will I need to bring?
We provide most technical gear, including backpacks, sleeping bags, and climbing equipment. You’ll bring your own clothing and personal items. A detailed packing list is sent after enrollment.
What kind of food will we eat?
While on course you will be eating nutritious and portable food—grains, pasta, cheese, vegetables, fruit and nuts—designed to meet high-energy demands for your program. Typical meals include burritos, macaroni and cheese, and peanut butter and jelly. The diet may differ from what you are accustomed to at home. To prepare, we suggest you cut down on soft drinks, coffee and junk food.
Where is the Sierra Nevada? Where am I going?
The Sierra Nevada range is California’s backyard and wonderland of wilderness, waterfalls, lakes and peaks. It’s an enormous range – spanning more than 400 miles from north to south, and 70 miles east to west. Courses take place in the southern and western parts of the Sierra: Emigrant Wilderness, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Yosemite National Park and Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park.
What will the weather be like in the mountains?
Summer in the Sierra is mostly sunny, with occasional rain and cold evenings. Snowfall is unlikely, though June courses may traverse atop lingering winter and spring snow. Summer temperature tends towards the 70s to 80s during the day, dipping into the 30s to 50s in the evening and night.
