She came to us looking to take on the notorious, the infamous, the fantastic and amazing Huntington Ravine on the east side of Mt Washington. For us, this is a fairly common request. And it’s one we love to be sure. Been there for ages, but really it just never gets old. For our guests it’s a must-see rite-of-passage. But it’s one many don’t want to […]
We get a lot of satisfaction helping our guests meet their hiking/climbing goals. We make friends along the way, to the point of becoming invested in the quests offering everything from pep talks to useful distractions, we’ve become accustomed to helping out when and where needed. One many-time returning guest came to us as he does yearly looking to check off some boxes and bag some […]
We’re sort of like the Educational partner for the Hiking Buddies group. With them/for them, we teach, we train, we do, we love it, and some fun is had along the way. It’s cool to be part of this. This past weekend yielded yet another fun Hiking Buddies educational backpacking trip adventure. This time the group ventured to Shoal Pond for some very legitimate Pemi Wilderness […]
Sometimes we require rope and other gear to get ourselves up the mountain. This stuff, we know, helps protect us. Usually, however, it’s not needed, we realize, but knowing it is there is a huge relief lending confidence as well as covering the what-ifs. And having confidence is a huge boost that sends us toward completing our goals without failing or falling, without actually needing the […]
And quickly if we can. Like the following week. Friday, please. The forecast did appear to enter a stable period around the time, so it was a go. It being an attempt on Mt Washington (FAQs). On lead with it was Redline Guide Chase Hall. The how-to was also specified. Our guest had climbed the mountain within the past year on the western approach using the […]
There is a test of courage and sanity on Elephant Mountain in Maine (one of the New England Hundred Highest). And by that we don’t mean the act of summiting — or figuring out where to start this bushwhack for that matter. The real test is whether or not to don the brittle plastic/rubber elephant trunk mask found at the summit. It’s nasty, mice chew it, […]
All of our famed NH 4000-footer peaks may be accessed by different trails (or from different directions) affording hikers a change of pace if taking them on more than once. This also affords them an opportunity to go the short/easy way, the long/hard way, or in some cases, the scary/technical way. For example, two peaks on the Franconia Ridge, Mts. Flume and Liberty (4329′ and 4457′, […]
With us again, returning from last year, are two youth groups, this time both opting for Wednesday, July 10th, coincidentally (and giving us the opportunity to lead the largest number of guests ever in a single day). These youth groups were Camp Tel Noar and Forever Friends International. It was a terrific time for both groups. Read about last year here (CTN), and here (FFI). Now, […]
As we did in 2022 and 2023, we have again received the Travelers’ Choice Award from Trip Advisor (TA) — this one for the 2024 award season. The selection is based on positive reviews putting us in the “top 10% worldwide” according to TA. We’re equal parts stoked and grateful. The gratitude extending out to two important groups: our guests and our guides. The former for […]
A “wonderful hike” were the words used by our guest to summarize her ascent of Mt Washington with Redline Guide Arlette Laan. This hike was on the good day, meaning Friday in this case. There’s not a big story here to tell, we received a short-notice request we were able to accommodate. Boom. Here are a few photos of the day, revealing some of its wonderful […]
Huntington Ravine was on the table, but the air was so wet, the clouds coming and going, and morning sprinkles added to the soggy problem. A little wetness is okay, but the more of it there is, the more dangerous the hike becomes, especially if Huntington is on the agenda. Tuckerman Ravine was Plan B and that is the plan Redline Guides Chase Hall and Gregg […]
As much as we like variety, the number of options is indeed finite. Thus, for those working on their GRID of all the 4000-footers in every month, repeats are inevitable. And that’s okay. Many of the trails are worth repeating several times anyway — and just stick with that mindset to protect your sanity. Leading this oft-returning guest on Mt Isolation — again — is Redline […]
