Mount Washington, N.H., $425
The Mount Washington Winter Climb package includes a two-night weekend stay with continental breakfast at the Red Roof Inn in Plymouth, N.H., located minutes from the Tenne Mountain Ski Area. Group climbing equipment, permits, and professional instruction and guiding are part of the package. Your guides will teach you essential mountain-climbing skills, from navigating to using the crampon and ice ax to prepare you for a guided ascent of the 6,288-foot Mount Washington peak via Tuckerman Ravine. The activity level is rated vigorous; groups are limited to 2-10 people. Rates start from $425 per person.
When: Dec. 14-16, 28-30, 2007, Jan. 19-21, Feb. 1-3, 16-18, Feb. 29-Mar. 2, 2008.
Details: Taxes are included. Meals, transportation to the meeting point, guide gratuities, and snacks are not included. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $100. Nonmember price is $465. Extra nights start from $80 per room.
Getting there: According to a recent search on SideStep, the lowest round-trip fares to Manchester, N.H., about 65 miles from your hotel, in mid December are $121 from Philadelphia (US Airways), $232 from L.A. (Continental), $255 from Miami (US Airways), and $353 from New York (US Airways). Because the package doesn't include transportation to the meeting point, renting a car at the airport might be your best option. Expect to pay $40 for the weekend (or $20 a day) for an economy-size automatic rental car (Thrifty).
Sequoia National Park, Calif., $645
Sequoia Winter Mountaineering package includes a two-night stay at the camp base in the national park, three breakfasts, two dinners, and hot drinks. Group gear for camping, climbing, and cooking; a group first-aid kit; avalanche equipment; and permits are also part of the package. Once you meet your guides at the Lodgepole Visitor Center, you'll ski or snowshoe into the park to your camp base. Your guides will teach you basic rope-team travel skills, avalanche awareness, and how to use the ice ax and crampon before your journey up Alta Peak. The activity level is rated vigorous; group size is limited to 4-8 people. Rates start from $645 per person.
When: Dec. 27-29, 2007, Jan. 19-21, Feb. 16-18, Mar. 1-3, Apr. 6-8, 2008.
Details: Taxes are included. Airfare, transportation to the meeting point, alcoholic beverages (not allowed), snack foods, lunches, and gratuities for guides are not included. Nonmembers pay $690.
Getting there: According to a recent SideStep search, the lowest round-trip fare to the closest airport, the Fresno Yosemite International Airport, for travel on the last weekend in December are $259 from L.A. (Alaska Airlines), $484 from Miami (multiple carriers) and $575 from New York (multiple carriers). Again, because transfers are not provided, your best bet would be renting a car to drive to your meeting point. Car rentals, available at the airport, start from $20 a day in late December for an economy-size vehicle (Dollar), according to rentalcars.com.
Yosemite National Park, Calif., $745
The Yosemite Snowshoe package includes a two-night stay at the 104-room Victorian-style historic Wawona Hotel located on park grounds, plus two breakfasts and two lunches/trail snacks. Professional instruction and guides, snowshoes, snowshoe poles, and an evening lecture with a slide show are part of the package. You'll receive training on safety and equipment use before snowshoeing through the backcountry of Yosemite National Park. The activity level is rated moderate; groups are limited to 6-10 individuals. Rates start from $745 per person.
When: Jan. 19-21, Feb. 8-10, 16-18, Feb. 29-Mar. 2, 2008.
Details: Taxes are included. Airfare, airport-hotel transfers, dinners, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, gratuities for guides, and a $20 per vehicle entrance fee to the national park are not included. Extra nights are $140-$210 per room. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $250.
Getting there: According to a recent SideStep search, the lowest round-trip fares to the closest airport, the Fresno Yosemite International Airport, for the last weekend in December are $259 from L.A. (Alaska Airlines), $484 from Miami (multiple carriers), and $575 from New York (multiple carriers). Car rentals, available at the airport, start from $20 a day in late December for an economy-size vehicle (Dollar), according to rentalcars.com.
Contact: REI Adventures, 800/622-2236, rei.com.
Note: The lowest price is valid for REI members. There's a flat fee of $15 per person to join. Airfare is not included. Contact REI before making your flight arrangements to confirm that the minimum number of participants has been met so that the tour will operate.
Read these guidelines before booking any Real Deal.