We sometimes joke that we will ask for a return fee from our hiking guests when standing on a summit somewhere. It’s only a joke, though, as payment for our tours are bi-directional: we bring you up, and we bring you back — fully back. Safe and sound, and in one piece. This is an industry standard and is a given in our eyes, but on some days it is more challenging than on others to accomplish this. Sometimes poor visibility, strong winds, and icy temps make safety a bit more elusive. Risks do come standard with the sports of winter hiking and mountaineering, though. Even in the White Mountain National Forest.
On our last trip Redline Guide Michael Scire led two people up into the alpine. Our guests, U-Mass Amherst students from China, wanted to get a taste of the alpine environment, gain knowledge in addition to some experience, to be safe, and to get “fully back.” The objective was the summit of Mt Monroe, but summiting this 4000-footer was off the table even before the team left the trailhead. The hut was the new goal. The temps were brutally cold and the winds were cranking. And visibility, as they would learn, was going to be very limited. But in terms of having a true alpine experience in the winter — to stand inside that snow globe, so to speak — the conditions were fairly awesome. When adjectives like “otherworldly,” “crazy,” and “off-the-hook” are used to describe an experience, you know it’ll be a type-two adventure and long-remembered.
Here are a few photos Michael was able to grab.
