About Sierra Mountaineering International
Sierra Mountaineering International (SMI) is one of the longest-established guide services in the Eastern Sierra, operating from 236 North Main Street in Bishop. For decades the company has led climbers and mountaineers to the summits of the High Sierra, including frequent guided ascents of Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States.
SMI offers a broad slate of guided trips and courses: rock climbing for all levels, snow and ice mountaineering, glacier travel, peak-bagging expeditions, and progression-based mountaineering schools that teach the skills needed to climb safely on technical terrain. Programs range from one-day private guiding and group classes to multi-day backcountry expeditions deep into the John Muir and Sequoia-Kings Canyon wilderness, with porter services available for bigger objectives.
The company's strength is its experienced, certified guide staff and a teaching-first philosophy that has earned strong reviews from generations of clients. Whether someone wants their first taste of roped climbing, a guided Whitney summit, or a serious alpine objective, SMI tailors the experience and shares the local knowledge that only comes from guiding the same ranges year after year. It is a cornerstone of Bishop's climbing community.
