I've been asking around lately to find out how everyone got into winter hiking/mountaineering. As an avid backpacker, skier and endurance junkie my whole life, winter after winter I find myself craving backcountry skiing and hiking. Pictures of snowy summits just gets my heart racing. Problem is...I've never done it anywhere other than small, low elevation climbs in my hometown of Lake Isabella. I've broken out the snowshoes and crampons, taught myself basic self-arrest with an ice ax, and skied chest-deep powder, but I've never had the privilege of backpacking, skiing, and experiencing the winter sierras (other than skiing mammoth I suppose). I've thru-hiked the JMT in 8 days, explore as much of the Sierras that I possibly can every year, and think about the mountains daily. I have the will and the fitness, I just can't find the group of people willing to teach a newbie. I'm young, only 21 years old, and it seems most people my age are not even remotely interested or experienced. How did you all get into winter trekking? Was it later on in life? Did you take mountaineering courses or did you fall into some experienced friends? Any recommendations to a newbie for a thirst for some winter excitement?
