There is a time and a place for both an ice axe and trekking poles in the White Mountain National Forest. That said, if ever there were a default tool to rely on, surely trekking poles would earn that distinction. The ice axe’s role in the Northeast, in general, is pretty limited. In fact, with very few exceptions, a hiker wouldn’t even consider carrying an ice […]
The winds above treeline weren’t crazy by the AMC’s Lakes of the Clouds Hut — blowing 30-40 miles-per-hour or so at that location. The temperatures, on the other hand, were an attention-grabbing -20°F, or really close to that, anyway. We could have gone on, and maybe we could have made it if the winds on Mornoe’s summit were manageable. And we were going to try. We […]
Introducing, our latest offering: An intensive Glacier Skills Course. It’s perfect for anyone preparing for travel in glaciated terrain (get it while you can), especially if they will be a member of a roped mountaineering team. This course covers glacier travel, crevasse rescue techniques, and more, and is the next step in a natural progression for those already well-versed in the use of crampons, ice axe, […]
THIS work of fiction isn’t meant to be shocking or morbid. That said, some might find it disturbing on some level, or chilling. That isn’t, however, its purpose. Nor is it meant to point out any glaring errors or huge lapses in judgement. You’ll find, in fact, that this could really happen to anyone. It can creep up on us, one moment an innocuous experience, the […]
It’s been noted that venturing out alone on a hike, a winter one in particular, increases your risks. But just because you have a buddy with you doesn’t mean your risks are eliminated, or even diminished for that matter. Just as it takes work and a deliberateness to take care of yourself while hiking and climbing, it also requires something of each member of your party […]
Even more congratulations are in order, this time to Redline Guiding Mountain Guides Liz Wyman and Álvaro Marques for also completing their schooling and earning their Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certifications. As noted, since protecting our guests and others we may lead by being ready to meet their basic emergency medical needs in the mountains is critically important (and a requirement before leading), we are extremely […]
Congratulations to Redline Guiding Mountain Guides Arlette Laan and Ken Hodges for completing their schooling and earning their Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certifications. Since protecting our guests and others we may lead by being ready to meet their basic emergency medical needs in the mountains is critically important (and a requirement before leading), we are extremely pleased to be able to make this announcement. The schooling […]
At the urging of one of our guests, we sought the guidance of our insurer, hoping really for a quote on a rider to our existing policy — one allowing us to lead backcountry skiing tours on Alpine Touring or AT gear. We were under the impression this activity wasn’t one of our covered activities. As it turns out we cannot teach downhill skiing in the […]
Should people use snowshoes on snow-covered hiking trails in the White Mountain National Forest in the winter or do without? For those who aren’t aware of it, this subject is a hotly debated topic. Every year someone will innocently ask if they should wear snowshoes and, without fail, a firestorm will ensue. Every year, that is, that people have had access to a public forum where […]
Hoping to help you get to know our mountain guides just a little better, we’d like to offer the following: Ken’s Bio Introduction: Ken, of Amesbury MA, began hiking with the Boy Scouts, summitting Mt.Washington at age twelve. He has since hiked the New Hampshire 48 4000-footers a few times, the 52-With-A-View, the Terrifying 25, the Vermont 4000-footers as well as the Adirondack’s 46 4000-footers. He […]
Our mission: introduce a couple from Florida to the wonders of winter in New Hampshire and the amazing fun that can be had in snow. Even though one of them had never even seen the white stuff, we gladly accepted the mission. We had two days with them to work our magic. On day one we decided a nice snowshoe hike up South Moat Mountain would […]
To everyone who has generously shown their support to us as our wheels started turning two-thirds of the way through 2016, thank you. We really appreciate the love. Hopefully, we have returned some of this love through the articles we’ve produced that have informed or inspired you. To offer a recap, here are some of what we feel are the better titles for the year: September, […]
