The clouds formed a sea of white all around and below us. It was as if the 6288′ (1917m) Mount Washington summit on which we stood was an island. The thick clouds all around us figuratively lapping at our shores like water. Peering outward from our place a few islands were visible. 4000-footers like Carter Dome and Mount Lafayette rose above the clouds. The phenomenon described, […]
While most the people visiting the White Mountain National Forest could spot patches of snow on the distant mountains over this Memorial Day weekend, very few of them set foot on them. Most, probably — aside from the backcountry and slackcountry skiers — couldn’t care less about the snow wanting nothing to do with the white stuff until next Christmas. Not even the hikers who have […]
This location is Hart’s Location. It is situated at the northwestern corner of Carroll County. Where three counties — Carroll, Coös, and Grafton — collide. There, at the very extreme, rests an elephant. He hides unsuccessfully in the trees. We see him and recognize his features coming from the north. His head is prominent and distinctive by its shape. You can’t miss it. It’s Elephant Head. […]
During the middle of the spring season and through most of the fall — meaning the time of year when the vast majority of hikers are hitting the trails — a “three-season” or “summer” hiking pack will be used. This said, we’re reluctant to use the term “three-season” because a true “three-season” pack needs to include winter hiking essentials such as heavy layers, traction devices (like […]
When Redline Guide Ken Hodges reported that this hike was the toughest he had ever done, our hearts immediately went out to both he and our guest. We empathized with them all day starting that morning knowing they were setting out to do what is already respected as one of the tougher bushwhacks in the state — Scar Ridge (one of the New England Hundred Highest) […]
What do hikers and climbers do to celebrate their wedding? Well, the latest couple we married won’t be caught lounging on some cruise ship, they plan to begin a 14-day Direttissima. For those unfamiliar with that term it means, translated from Italian, “the most direct way.” To climbers this means straight up the shortest route to the top (which will be the steepest). In hiker terms, […]
Franconia Ridge, that is, and assigned with hiking it was Redline Guide Ryan Mcguire. His goal was to lead one young lady from Massachusetts around the classic loop — bagging four mountains, two of which count as 4000-footers — going up Falling Waters trail to Little Haystack (elv. 4760′), across the ridge hitting Lincoln (elv. 5089′), North Lincoln (a.k.a. Truman, elv. 5020′), then finally Mt Lafayette […]
“First Class” is used in two ways in the title of this post. First it means that quite literally this was the first class held at our new location. The second way we mean it is in that the members of the New Hampshire Women’s Hiking Group — the “Purple Army” who served as our students, were a first class group. We rarely post about our […]
Both sides of Mt Washington had Redline Guides doing their thing. On the west side was Jeffrey Shutak who was leading two fellows from Connecticut on a hiking tour with Rachel Ryan shadowing. On the east side Ryan Mcguire was leading two fellows from Massachusetts on a backcountry (AT) ski tour, earning their turns and testing their mettle in Tuckerman Ravine. The west side team hiked […]
A long-returning guest of Mike’s who had climbed with him on Mt Washington on two prior occasions had come back for more. But this time was going to be different. On previous trips, he said, he always had an agenda, some hard rules and objectives. This time he wanted to simply relax. Not to embrace lethargy over the course, not by a long shot, but to […]
May first is just a day, randomly drawn and primed for some occasion. For us it was a to-be-done-by date as we moved in and prepped our new digs for the likes of our guests and our team of guides. Yes, you read it right. We finally have a place! For two-and-a-half years we have worked out of our van, Mike’s condo, and from amazing places […]
