Parts of Maine just seem far away and mysterious. Take for instance the Rangeley area. From the arm chair it could very well be another planet. Until you get there and realize it is justified to feel that way, but people also live there, it’s not all woods and logging roads. There are places to stay, places to eat, things to do besides hike. Moreover, there […]
The title of this post along with the content below was penned by Redline Guide Mike Maciel (followed by his photos). With him on this varied adventure, a many-time returning guest. So, without further ado, take it away, Mike, and tell the tale. These are three key functions of our jobs as mountain guides: We work with our guests to put together a plan that makes […]
There’s a saying about the weather in New Hampshire that goes like this: “If you don’t like it, wait a minute.” We suspect this is spoken in other parts of the country, too, but we’ll claim it as our own. Throw the mountains into the mix and it really gets wild. The forecast for this Mt Washington hike called for a slight chance of showers, cooler […]
People often seek us out when they are prepping for bigger things. The come looking for relevant classes, or some mountain time, or both. Case in point: a recent testimonial from a couple thanked us for helping them prepare to take on Gran Paradiso in Italy and Mt Blanc in France. And it’s not the first time, to be sure. Being just a tiny part of […]
You know what’s better than finishing your 48 4000-footers list? Doing it with someone you love. Case in point: two sisters crushing it to completion on Mt Isolation (4004′). On point for this trip was Redline Guide Chase Hall. Aside from enjoying the company of his guests and sharing in their celebration, they also saw a moose on trail! Gotta love that. Here’s Chase’s summary. Today […]
These are the precise words used by Redline Guide Arlette Laan to describe the intro-style women’s-only backpacking adventure that occurred this past weekend. It’s a mere five words, true, but it was a solid declaration. It stood in its own. This trip was the second-to-last Hiking Buddies trip of the season. The next one is to be held on August 24th-25th. The reason we’re being so […]
The title doesn’t speak of one looking for solitude, but rather it refers to a squat 4000-footer called Mt Isolation (4004′) located on the Montalban Ridge which stretches southward from Mt Washington. It’s a popular mountain to those who have hiked to its summit before. And for others who haven’t yet been, it’s a necessary mountain. In some cases, both adjectives — popular and necessary — […]
For a quite a while Redline Guide Mike Maciel has been the guide (read: friend/coach/companion) on demand for guidance and oversight on one older gentleman’s quest to complete New Hampshire’s 48 4000-footers. In this post we will cover two more mountains from that list: Owls Head Mtn (4029′) and Mt Carrigain (4680′) — numbers 46 and 47, respectfully. Yes, he’s almost done. One peak remains, Mt […]
Most hiking lists in this region are satisfied by summiting something, but not all. Some lists are all about the trails — either hiking all the trails, or just the terrifying ones — or all about the views. Case-in-point: The 52 With-A-View list. While most of the objectives covered by this list are indeed mountain summits, some only require one make it to the primary viewpoint. […]
While we had a presence in Franconia Notch — a team climbing to The Watcher — and a Presidential Traverse was in the making, Redline Guide Chase Hall was also leading a trip. This one to the summit of Mt Washington — the tallest peak in the northeast. All of these luckily (and unplanned) taking advantage of some sublime mountain weather. What follows is Chase’s recap […]
One of our guests had signed up for this past winter’s overnight adventure at the Mt Washington Observatory (MWOBS), but something came up that interrupted these plans and our guest was given a credit to use later. Fast forward to later — to now — and the credit was applied to something just as cool and perhaps a bit more personal. A self-challenge: a one-day Presidential […]
That hike up the slide is worthy of anything on the Terrifying 25 list! —Ken Hodges A returning guest reached out hoping to climb The Watcher and asked for Redline Guide Ken Hodges with whom she’d hiked with on earlier guided trips. For those who don’t know, The Watcher, also known as the “Old Lady of the Mountain” — which lives on the east side of […]
