Are you ready? We are... Meet the Ready Pack: It's everything you need!

Author Archives: Mike Cherim

Glen Ellis Falls Wedding

It’s not the first time we’ve had a wedding at Glen Ellis Falls, but we think the foliage this time was completely out of control. And we mean that in the best way possible. The scene was an absolute riot of color — dazzling reds, oranges, and yellows brilliant in the sunshine amid the greens. The skies so blue offering a nice backdrop to it all. […]

Read More

Marry Us… Now

The call came in this morning, much like they often do. This one from the groom. “My fiancé and I want to get married and were wondering if you’re available,” he asked. “Yes. Maybe. When are you thinking?” we asked in reply, breaking out the calendar as we spoke. “Now!” said the groom. We looked out the window, the rain coming down and asked where they […]

Read More

Forever Flannel

The title will have meaning to the couple, since the rehearsal was held on what they deemed “Flannel Friday” — the day before their Saturday wedding. And during the Friday rehearsal, flannel was indeed all the rage. Redline Guide and Justice of the Peace Mike Cherim didn’t get the memo on this, however, but almost grabbed a flannel shirt out of his closet before heading over […]

Read More

Shoulder Season Rockpile

Oh, sure, the sun may be out, and some folks might be seen scurrying about town wearing shorts still, but in the mountains, the tide is turning fast. Up there the air is starting to hurt. The wind machine is cycling up, the temperatures are swirling downward in an irrevocable cycle. Winter is coming! Hypothermia — a perilous dropping of your body’s core temperature — is […]

Read More

Winter Camping Clinic

On December 21st and 22nd, 2019, we are offering an overnight Camp Craft-inspired Backpacking event providing detailed instruction to participants on how to successfully camp out in the winter months while staying reasonably comfortable. Backpacking is not about suffering. Quite the contrary, actually. Even in winter. But why, you might ask. Well, due to road closures limiting access to certain parts of the National Forest in […]

Read More

No Fort in Sight

[…] maybe Fort would come into view. The same private guest we recently led to the Rangely area in Maine came back to finish what she started, working on the New England Hundred Highest list. Still in the lead was Redline Guide Ken Hodges. There’s not a lot to tell. She needed Coe (3795′), North Brother (4151′), and Fort Mountain (3867′). South Brother she had gotten […]

Read More

Backpack Porter Service

Flexibility in business is a positive thing. Whenever we and our guests are able, we will often work around the weather or anything that might lessen the enjoyment of the day. This isn’t policy, per se, but it is how it is. Policies are designed to protect us when we can’t, but if we can… well, flexibility in business is a positive thing so we try […]

Read More

Needed Jefferson

“Of the seventeen peaks I have left, only the hard ones remain,” she said as she booked our services for a guided ascent of the 5712-foot Mount Jefferson (third tallest of the 4000-footers). This trip, however, would be atypical. Instead of hiking with our guest from trailhead to summit then coming back down as we normally would, this time our guest would be headed up on […]

Read More

My Maine Companion

Having a close friend or family member who is a strong, skilled hiker with myriad related outdoor skills and specialized gear at the ready just in case things don’t go as planned is awesome. Literally a would-be life-saver. But if you don’t, you still have us. More and more we find ourselves being that close friend. Obviously we do this professionally so we can’t settle for […]

Read More

Conquer the Beast

That’s the title we came up with. We tossed around other ideas with our guest but ultimately the one above is the one she liked best while still being rated PG. Other PG titles that were considered: “One Last Hurrah” and “Why I Hated Ryan.” The rest can’t be printed here without marring our reputation for posting family-friendly content. So, with that said, now on to […]

Read More

Laughing All The Way

A marriage ceremony is a solemn event, a serious thing… so please refrain from laughter. Unless, that is, you’re the bride and groom who even on your wedding day spark lively with your irreverence. To you, dear couple, you may carry on. For you, dear couple, you will be unstoppable. That’s what we saw at Frank and Jennifer’s wedding atop Square Ledge in Pinkham’s Grant (Pinkham […]

Read More

Nevertheless She Persisted

This is a very simple story with a very happy ending. Our recent guest who hiked with us to Owl’s Head had come back to us for one more peak (for now). Owl’s Head, you see, was her 47th mountain toward the completion of the NH 48 4000-footers list. Thus, she had one more: Mount Isolation. Like Owl’s Head, Isolation is as its name implies, out […]

Read More

Don't Wait Too Long!

Book today to begin your outdoor experience. Use the button to the right to go to our booking form page...