Every winter the San Francisco Bay chapter of the Sierra Club teaches 100+ outdoor enthusiasts how to snowcamp. 

Training includes a full-day orientation January 9, 2027 in Emeryville, followed by a one-night trip, then a two-night trip, both starting from trailheads near Tahoe. Participants need to apply at www.snowcamping.org; there's a fee ($145-$170) that’s returned if you’re not accepted. (The application is to make sure that candidates have appropriate backpacking experience and are currently active-enough to snowshoe a few miles, then dig a shelter.)

I signed-up for this in 2020, and have been snowcamping every winter since then. From learning about cold weather gear and navigation to actually sleeping in snow trenches and snow caves - I really think this is valuable training.

Note: I am not an official spokesperson for the Sierra Club or the Snowcamping group; just someone who feels very lucky to have learned about this. 

One of my family members is moving into lone pine and we just realized T mobile is basically non existent there as he has an iPhone 12 … what the best cell provider in the area ?

I recently wrote a piece connected to my travels through the Eastern Sierras - backpacking, camping, hiking and exploring. It's very short. Feel free to read here.