Best Mount Whitney Climbing Guides 2025

Went with SWS and had Matt as a Guide (Mount Whitney). I can't say enough good things about the experience. Matt didn't rush us through and was really there to help everyone have a safe and successful trip. I think he could do this blindfolded he was that knowledgeable and talented. This is something you really can't put a price on. It was also great being able to use their equipment (tent, crampons, ice-axe). There is a lot of investing if you're a first timer like myself. This was my first experience with climbing or alpine skills. I would recommend SWS as a guide if this is something you are interested in doing. It is worth it, just do it!! Matt helped me through the climb and also helped me learn skills so that I can grow in my climbing journey to one day be self-sufficient. Going on this climb has given me the confidence to continue my climbing journey and given me a sense of personal satisfaction for accomplishing something I have always wanted to do but wasn't sure I could.

We used SWS for climb of Mount Whitney via the Mountaineers Route. Tim M and Spencer D were our guides. SWS prepared us very well for the climb in terms of training, gear, and expectations. They answered all of our questions promptly before the climb. Tim and Spencer made the climb fun, enjoyable, and a great learning experience. We had complete trust in their capabilities and skills. They were supportive and pushed us at all the right times. It was due to their help and guidance that were were able to summit and return to the trailhead safely. We also enjoyed their company. I would definitely do another trip/climb with SWS and Tim/Spencer again.

My climb of Mount Whitney with Neil from SWS mountain guides was fantastic. Felt cared for, felt safe and enjoyed every minute. Neil took care of my tent arrangement and was a great cook. loved it.

Zoe Ward and Nikki Beck are excellent guides! They are professional, knowledgeable, kind, friendly, and cheerful. They genuinely care about our safety, happiness, health, and well being. They do everything they could to make our journey easier and enjoyable while reaching our goal to climb to the top of Mount Whitney and back. Mount Whitney Backpack trip is a very strenuous and challenging in many ways. At some places, we have to walk on snow patches, do creek cross and rock scrambling. Zoe and Nikki always went ahead and tested the condition first before guiding us going through it. During the rock scrambling, one of them always went just one or few steps ahead of me and guided me one step at a time to reach the normal trail. Since I walked slower than the rest of the group, one of them got up early in the morning and started to walk with me before the rest of the group got up. This means that they will get less sleep and longer hours on their feet. But they did not complain and were always happy and chatty. They both have a sweet and caring heart. They are passionate for what they are doing, very inspiring, and encouraging They are great guides and companions. During the 5 1/2 days hike, I feel that they are my friends in addition to be my guides. I trust hem to keep me safe and help me to reach our destinations whatever they might be. They also cooked fresh meals every day so we had warm breakfasts and dinners along with hot tea. They even made fresh cheese cake for dessert on the last night. They are fabulous people and work together very well with each other and with the group. We had a great trip and feel very blessed to climb to the top of Mount Whitney with these guides. Thank you, Zoe and Nikki and keep up the good work! I will deficiently take more trips with IAG within US as well as in foreign countries. I have recommended the IAG to my friends and highly recommended it to everyone who likes outdoor adventures.

Zoe Ward and Nikki Beck are excellent guides! They are professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and cheerful. They genuinely care about our safety, happiness, health, and well being. They do everything they could to make our journey easier and enjoyable while reaching our goal to climb to the top of Mount Whitney. Mount Whitney Backpack trip is a very strenuous and we encountered various obstacles. They always went ahead of us to test the condition before guiding us. When we had to scramble rocks to go around the snow patches, they went ahead of me just one for few steps further and guide me step by step to reach the trail. Since I am slower than the rest of the group, one of them will get up early with me and got early start. They cooked fresh meals every day and we had warm breakfast and dinner. They are passionate for what they do and encouraging and cheerful! During the 5 days hike, I feel that they are my friends and family instead of business relationship. They are fabulous people and work together well. We had a great trip and feel so good to climb to the top of Mount Whitney with these guides. Thank you Zoe and Nikki! Keep up the good job. I will take more trip with IAG within US and international. I highly recommend this company

My original booking to climb Mount Whitney was shut down due to fire, but IAG was able to secure a permit for another spot - Temple Crag - the day before and I had a great trip. My guide Connor was knowledgeable and supportive, and I learned a ton and had a really positive experience.