High Sierra Topix

Pyramid peak form desolation wilderness

Second the Mt. Tallac suggestion. From the peak, you look almost straight down on all of Lake Tahoe. Hike to Lake Gilmore to camp. Day 2, climb Tallac and return to camp. You can either exit on Day 2, or spend one more night and exit on Day 3. Since these are newbies, you might want to combine this with some fun tourist activities at the Lake.

If you do this after the snow is gone (with newbies, you really need to) there will be lots of other people on the trail. That means this will not be a solitary wilderness experience, but with the fact that you have all these novices, there will be other people who can assist if you have an emergency. You also will have cell reception for portions of the climb, especially at the top.

With all this year's snow, it will be late season before all of it is gone. Climbing in snow requires certain skills as well as being in very good shape, particularly if your group is a bunch of flatlanders not acclimated to altitude. If you try climbing this peak in snow with people who have no experience, they won't make it very far and most will be turned off to hiking.

You did not mention, but because it will be a fund raiser, does it help to climb a well known peak? How do you get the donations? Do you make a video and then have people donate, or do the pledge money for miles? Some of the peaks mentioned are great climbs but do not have much name recognition. Does that matter?

Tenaya Peak in Tuolumne is very nice to hike from the west. You are on a broad ridge and can get views north of Tenaya Lake and south to the Yosemite backcountry. There are really cool, featured rock outcrops near the top.