A many-time returning guest and very knowledgeable hiker booked some time with us, wanting only a knowing companion, as per his usual, to accompany him on one of his GRID hikes. In ths case, bagging Middle and North Tripyramid for the month of April. For those who don’t know, the GRID is the pursuit of hiking all of New Hampshire’s 4000-footers, all 48 of them, in […]
You can’t tell anyone where we are… is this clear? The deal was I could share my discovery and describe what I saw in detail, but I was forbidden to supplement my dissertation with photos or video. Nor could I divulge — or even hint at — their general location. This deal was done on a handshake. A grimy but firm and trustworthy handshake. One that […]
As many past guests know, we are big on custom work, working closely with individuals and private groups, helping folks with specific goals in mind. Often times these focused classes are what we might call one-offs meaning that the course content or specialized instruction, while perfectly tailored for the guest it was meant for, might lack broad appeal. Occasionally, however, these custom courses can be shaped […]
A family wanted to attempt Mts Monroe and Washington and hired us to help them. The first time their day was scheduled, the wind forecast was so bad and the predicted temperatures so bone-chillingly low, our guests asked to postpone — which is good since the guides didn’t think it was a good day to go, either. This past weekend was their do-over. Sadly, our mountains […]
The clouds swirled in the mountains and gentle rains fell in the valley. But on Mt Washington, for once, the team caught a break on the weather, the clouds thinning then breaking as they ascended. The objective was a backcountry ski tour — to climb Hillman’s Highway, then ski it back down. Due to warm temperatures, ground conditions were great so the team had no troubles. […]
Our “Mt Baker Team” has been chomping at the bit, anxious for their May, 2021 attempt at Mt Baker in the North Cascades. While patiently waiting, while biding their time, they have been training hard, hiking harder, and expanding their technical knowledge. All together, as a team! This latest climbing tour of Dodge’s Drop on the north face of Boott Spur on Mt Washington, which was […]
One returning guest just spent the past couple of days realizing that a tremendous amount of work is required to complete certain tasks in the alpine environment, especially in winter, and that the land above the trees is a magical place where peril and delight may suddenly change places, but he got to experience it in a positive way, in the right way. This was thanks […]
Mt Washington is thought of as a short mountain. Another adjective sometimes used is small. And from the perspective of, say, a global geologist, these descriptors are quite succinct. Also ringing true is that this little mountain is situated close to the road — “it’s right there,” some will remark. (Easy access is one important reason why so many people run afoul on this infamous New […]
The 6288′ Mt Washington summit can often be a hard won prize, even for the very fit. With a previous winter attempt under their belts already, these guests had some unfinished business. At the time they were lacking the right gear and know-how, but they sought to have us help them change that. Everything was a go, but this was back in 2020… and boom, Covid […]
Our guest was fairly new to winter hiking and really wanted to get on a 4000-footer that would take him into the alpine zone. An indoctrination of sorts. He wanted a true winter hiking experience. The real deal. So days before his trip, hanging with his friends, checking out the forecast, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment in the way-too-stellar weather forecast. Technically […]
Sometimes numbers are important. The number of mountains remaining on our lists, how fast we hike, or how much we gain, but only sometimes do we care. Other times there are so many other, better things to focus on. Things that are more fun. Or more rewarding. This is the take of a many time returning guest working on her 48. We called to ask how […]
The temperatures were cold, the winds strong, and the resulting wind chill was -200F or something like that (math isn’t our thing). As a result, what started the day as a possible loop featuring the “needed” 4000-footer Mt Jackson (4052′) and the 52 With-A-View peak, Mt Webster (3910′), ended on this note: “Okay, I only need Jackson… let’s get out of here.” Redline Guide Ken Hodges, […]
