“We woke up really early to hike to Dog’s Tooth, where we planned to rock climb. We hiked all the way to the top and then lightning came, so we couldn’t rock climb. We had to return back to camp and on our way, we stopped at an alpine lake near Courtright Reservoir. The clouds were hiding the sun – so we waited until the sun came out, and then we jumped in! The water was freezing cold! Then this big cloud came over us and it started to hail. We all remember that day – it bonded us. Nature is unpredictable, but that unpredictability brought us together.” – Summer Stewart, Alumna on Outward Bound California course
Explore the granite peaks and mountain lakes of the Sierra Nevada with Outward Bound.
On this rock climbing and backpacking course, you’ll hike among the towering pines, along glassy, blue alpine lakes and rock climb on granite. As a beginner rock climber or if you’re advancing your skills, the western side of the Sierra Nevada has some of the best climbing granite around.
The Sierra Nevada is considered one of the United States' premier backpacking and rock climbing locations because of its high-quality granite and stable, frequent sunny summer weather. With sweeping views of jagged, mountain peaks, freezing dips in alpine lakes and bright star flecked skies, you’ll be inspired to push yourself and succeed with your group.
As your technical and leadership skills advance along with the group, you’ll gradually take on more decision making for navigation, route finding, sharing of duties and setting-up camp. This is the group's opportunity to make the course its own unique experience.
NOTE: For the health and safety of students and staff in the COVID-19 pandemic, students may be required to travel to course start by private transportation. Please work directly with your Course Advisor for your course for the most up-to-date and regionally-focused travel options. All students and staff must provide a current negative COVID-19 viral test result before arrival to course and/or consent to having a COVID-19 test administered at course start. Outward Bound requires students and staff to follow COVID-19 protocols for 14 days prior to course start and while traveling including physical distancing, wearing a mask in public, and frequent and thorough handwashing. For complete “Health and Safety Practices for Outward Bound Expeditions,” click here.
This course starts within the next week. Please call us at 866-467-7651 to assess the possibility of applying for this course!
Classic Courses
Are you ready to take a journey that will change your life? You won’t look at day-to-day drama the same way after you’ve conquered a high mountain ridge, heard the echoes at the edge of a vast canyon, or slept under the stars watching bats swoop overhead. Joining an Outward Bound expedition changes you. Your crew, your Instructor, your route and your adventures will have a profound and lasting impact on you as you rise to meet exhilarating natural challenges in some of the country’s wildest places.
Build skills, form connections: Learn and practice wilderness, teamwork and leadership skills. Find connections with your crewmates based on support and respect (and fun too!), and in the thick of challenges, discover there is more in you than you know.
Value strengths and strengthen values: Uncover your unique character strengths, develop your leadership abilities and learn how to let compassion into everyday life by pushing your own limits and working alongside your peers.
Demonstrate mastery: As you gain confidence in new skills, take on more decision-making responsibilities. Work together to achieve team goals, solve problems and succeed both as individuals and as a group.
What you’ll learn: For High School students, the opportunities to carry more weight (literally and figuratively) and make impactful decisions with accompanying consequences fills the expedition as you go through numerous trials and triumphs. It’s all about independence.
After you come home, many of the character, leadership and service traits you uncovered on your expedition stay with you, helping you navigate your daily life with more resilience and success.
Rock Climbing
The course starts with several days of rock climbing where students will learn the basics of climbing technique, belaying and knots, while building trust with team members and confidence in themselves. During this section, students challenge themselves physically on solid rock cliffs, and push their mental strength with a free hanging rappel with stunning views of the surrounding granite domes.
Backpacking
Following the climbing portion, students will begin a backpacking expedition that takes them into the heart of the Sierra Nevada range. Here students will learn Leave No Trace camping and travel skills, outdoor cooking techniques, map and compass use, route finding, and how to set up shelters in the backcountry. They will spend time hiking on and off-trail, both in forested areas and in the micro-climates of an alpine environment high above tree line, often camping next to icy alpine lakes that offer the opportunity to swim and rinse off after days of hiking.
In addition to technical skills, Instructors will teach and facilitate the interpersonal skills needed for students to function effectively as a team, accomplish goals and tackle new challenges every day. Challenges on course are designed to impel students toward taking risks, drawing upon inner resources and developing trust in one another. One example is the peak attempt. With lighter packs, students start before the sun rises to summit a mountain and are rewarded with 360-degree views and an incredible sense of accomplishment.
Service
Service to others and to the environment is a core value of Outward Bound and is integrated into each course. Students follow Leave No Trace ethics and do acts of service while leading and supporting fellow participants. When possible, service projects are coordinated with land managers like the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service to collaborate on land restoration projects. Students develop a value of service, see the impact of their actions, firsthand, and transfer this desire to serve their communities at home.
Solo
Outward Bound believes, in order for profound learning to take place, there must be time to reflect on the experience. During course, the Solo is that opportunity. It is a chance to experience solitude in the wilderness without distraction while also taking a break from the physical rigors of course. Students are separated from their group for a period of time which depends on course length and Instructor assessment of group capability. Solo sites are chosen to provide solitude. Students have all necessary equipment, food and water. Solo on this course is typically 24-48 hours, with age being a consideration for determining the appropriate length.
Outcomes
Our courses vary in length from 4 to 85 days. On shorter courses, students receive an intro to leadership skills, strength of character and a desire to serve. On longer courses, the same outcomes and benefits are achieved with the ability to reach a more profound level of mastery as there are more opportunities to develop technical skills, receive and implement feedback and further personal development.
Course Area
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: Ansel Adams Wilderness, Yosemite National Park and Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park.
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. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Northern Paiute, Western Mono/Monache, Me-Wuk (Central Sierra Miwok), Eastern Mono/Monache, and Tübatulabal nations.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
22-Day Course
14-Day Course
12-Day Course
10-Day Course
DAY 1
Course start – review gear, meet and greet group/Instructors
DAY 2-5
Rock section (climbing technique, belaying and rappelling and camp craft lessons)
DAY 6
Front country resupply of food and gear
DAY 7-13
Main expedition (backpacking section and peak attempt)
DAY 14-15
Solo
DAY 16
Backcountry resupply and service project
DAY 17-19
Final expedition (backpacking)
DAY 20
Service project
DAY 21
Personal Challenge Event, clean and de-issue gear, graduation ceremony
DAY 22
Course end and transportation to airport
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
DAY 1
Course start
DAY 2-5
Hike into backcountry climbing sites. Introductory lessons (rock climbing, rappelling and camp craft intro lessons)
DAY 6
Backcountry resupply and service
DAY 7-9
Main expedition (backpacking, solo, and peak attempt)
DAY 10
Final expedition (backpacking)
DAY 11
Personal Challenge Event, clean and de-issue gear, graduation ceremony
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
Student Testimonial
“We woke up really early to hike to Dog’s Tooth, where we planned to rock climb. We hiked all the way to the top and then lightning came, so we couldn’t rock climb. We had to return back to camp and on our way, we stopped at an alpine lake near Courtright Reservoir. The clouds were hiding the sun – so we waited until the sun came out, and then we jumped in! The water was freezing cold! Then this big cloud came over us and it started to hail. We all remember that day – it bonded us. Nature is unpredictable, but that unpredictability brought us together.” – Summer Stewart, Alumna on Outward Bound California course
If you are ready to enroll on a course click the enroll button next to the course you wish to select or you can enroll over the phone by speaking with one of our Admissions Advisors (toll-free) at 866-467-7651.
To secure your spot on a course you must submit an enrollment form and $500 deposit that is applied toward the total cost of the course and includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee.