Anything goes in the backcountry. Especially as it concerns backcountry skiing. Barring avalanche dangers — which should be avoided plain and simple — one has the embrace the variability to survive. Acceptance. The snowpack and ground conditions can be variable ranging from Champagne powder to hardpacked snow and ice. And this can all occur on the same line so being prepared for whatever the mountain throws […]
Our Grid-Gettin-Guest is still out there doing his thing, hiking those 48 4000-footers every month of the year (over a period of years) collecting those 576 peaks. And helping out on a lot of them is Redline Guide Chase Hall. On this leisure-weather hike the team took on Mt Jefferson, Mt Washington, and Mt Monroe, in that order. Thanks to rare, stellar weather, they were able […]
A returning father-daughter team came to us looking to up their game, and up it they did. The request was founded by the 13-year-old daughter. She had had her sights set on topping out on the notorious Huntington Ravine for a while. The initial plan was to take on Central Gully if the ice bulge was mostly snow covered, which it was not. Plan B was […]
Though unspecified on our booking form, pre-trip conversation revealed that a returning guest really wanted to hike the classic Franconia Ridge loop in winter and she finally pulled the trigger, so-to-speak. They had to start early due to our guest having an afternoon commitment, but Redline Guide Chase Hall was happy to accommodate her needs. But it wasn’t necessarily easy. Near whiteout conditions required that the […]
This is what one new guest wanted, specifically asking for Redline Guide Dominic Torro to show him some new terrain. He had a gift certificate from his wife, she knowing his passion for the mountains and trying new things. In this case he wanted some new backcountry lines to ski. Initially he hoped for an east-facing line off of Franconia Ridge (think: Lincoln Slide), but after […]
A Connecticut family reached out looking to book a trip up Mt Washington (for father and son). Since they opted out of our training day, the event was considered hike and we led them up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to treeline. Leading this trip was Redline Guide Jaime Leahy. Here are some photos of the day — a day with amazingly mild weather. They had a […]
In the last exciting episode of this Two-Day Winter Mt Washington (times two) Program we told you about the responsibility shifting from one person to another, in this episode that responsibility shifted back. Leading this second round was Redline Guide Debra McCown and on this part mother nature took a breath for a moment and offered our guest the summit with low winds and delightfully mild […]
A couple of repeat guests signed up for some ice climbing. Having done some training with us in the past, it was time to ratchet up the experience even more. And Redline Guide Glenn Van Neil was ready to make that so at the Texaco Amphitheater. In doing so he saw the transformation occur before his very eyes. Our guests were trading in trepidation for confidence […]
A returning couple came to us hoping to partake in our two day Winter Mt Washington Program, but there was a twist. Due to child care considerations they would have to do this over a period of four days. One member would do it the 13th and 14th, while the other person watched the kids, then the two would switch roles. Leading the first two days […]
A guest reached out to us hoping to do a little snowshoeing in the mountains. After a short conversation and some due consideration the choice was made to stick to flatter trails. There are many options but we suggested taking our adventure to the Nanamocomuck Ski Trail along the Swift River. It’s such a pretty area, flat, and we knew it was broken out. Plus parking […]
Our returning guest is casually working on her 48 4000-footers in the company of family and friends. She’s not driven to complete, not in a rush, and her priority is to experience the enjoyment of it all. Another thing she could do without are any serious scrambles, at least in winter. Since Whiteface and Passaconaway were in the crosshairs, so to speak, this exposed a challenge: […]
For people wanting to broaden their hiking horizons to include winter adventures, our Hiking Intro Course (when taken in the winter season) can really help fill in the knowledge gaps. Teaching this course on this occasion was our resident Gridder Redline Guide Chase Hall. What follows are a handful of photos taken by Chase. Normally he provides more images, but occupying the role of teacher he […]
