International Alpine Guides - Mammoth Lakes, California

Blake G.

I did the intro to back country and 2 day avalanche 1 course. Instructors were fun, insightful and encouraging. It’s a challenging course and I wouldn’t take it lightly. Rest, hydration and do as much reading and homework as you can. Don’t slack on having your layers and equipment dialed or you’ll add stress to the process and hold your group back. 10 out of 10 rating

James R.

I took an 'Intro to ice climbing' course this week. I couldn't have loved it more. The first morning, we were climbing on ice. I was afraid it would be primarily theory.

I think the main reason I enjoyed it so much and felt so confident on the ice was my instructor, Tim. Honestly, he was 10/10. He was ridiculously attentive, a fountain of knowledge, and you could tell he genuinely wanted everyone in my group to continue climbing ice after the course.
If you're with him you're in great hands.

Lorrie P.

My daughter and I recently had an incredible experience booking an Intro to Backcountry course that exceeded all of our expectations. The entire booking process was seamless and straightforward, making it easy to secure our spot. We appreciated the email support provided, which included a wealth of resources that helped prepare us for the adventure ahead.

One standout feature was the access to educational videos that were linked in the pre-course materials. These videos were informative and built our excitement for the upcoming course. Additionally, we had the opportunity to have a call with our guide before the course day. While we didn’t feel this was necessary, it was nice to have the option to ask any lingering questions and feel more confident going into the experience.

The gear list provided was thorough, ensuring we were well-equipped for the journey. We felt incredibly safe with our guide, Ben Harclerode, who radiated a fun attitude and cool vibe throughout the day. His extensive knowledge shone through, and he tailored the experience perfectly to our group, which included participants with no backcountry experience. Ben met us exactly where we were, ensuring we felt comfortable and engaged.

All in all, we left the day wanting more—more skills, more practice, and definitely more time with Ben. I can’t wait to reserve more sessions with him in the future!

Henry W.

Had a great experience Ice Climbing with International Alpine Guides - Our instructor Tim was extremely professional and a great teacher. Was intimate enough that it allowed a lot of time climbing on the wall and safety was never a concern. Great experience!

Matt G.

Me and 5 friends took the intro to backcountry and avalanche 1 courses. Our guide Nick was awesome! Super knowledgeable, kept it fun, and showed us a great time overall. Highly recommended

Jamin H.

Did the March 18, 2023 6-day Ortler ski mountaineering tour (European Alps) with two other buddies and had the best time! The guide was awesome! He always found skiing that was a blast and great snow with a totally fun itinerary both in skiing and huts. The lodging in the Rifugio’s (mountain huts) was great, comfortable beds, showers, and one place had a sauna. Also they all have bars - skiing backcountry in the alps and ending up with a cold beer at the bottom is legit. IAG did say this tour had the best food and I’m pretty sure they were right - also a lot of the trip was in Italy so not too unexpected for the food to be awesome. I always felt safe thanks to the guide despite some avalanche danger (am from California so the Alps seem a bit sketchier comparatively). We also did some crevasse rescue training and avalanche rescue refreshers which was a great add on. Made some great friends also, as the people who sign up for these trips are probably pretty cool. If you haven’t skied in the alps I absolutely recommend this trip. We just came back and are already planning next years adventure.

hanqing Z.

Think four times before booking any trip with them. If they cancel your multi-day trip, they will not notify you until only three days before the trip (despite nowadays weather forecast is usually at least seven days ahead). And if they cancel your trip, they don't refund you, but just say they will give your credit.

And attached is the conversation we had before. I booked the trip months ahead because the last sentence they said. And I feel I was over promised now.

Marcus M.

Very professional operation. The guides were very informative and also very fun! The snow was fluffy, not the instructions...