After a while the snow, rocks, and ice no longer look all the same. After a while every minor nuance on the mountain is a known thing, an old friend we recognize by their shape. We become very, very familiar. This is good, during a whiteout this familiarity can be super useful. The recognition of a lowly ice-encrusted mass of talus can keep us on the […]
We figured it would take about eight miles of extension cord to run space heaters at the shelter located at Ethan Pond — and that’s assuming the AMC would even let us plug in at the Highland Center. So, we just knew in our hearts there had to be a better way. And certainly, with our expertise we could come up with something. Perhaps by way […]
We had trained two teams and led them on a hike toward the summit of the frosty “Rock Pile” named Mt Washington this past weekend. This stout 6288′ (4000-foot-plus) mountain is known for its extreme weather, and that’s what the weekend offered. Inset you can see the MWOBS forecast for the Sunday attempt. Note the winds and wind chills. The mountain was earning its reputation. The […]
SOLD OUT — SOLD OUT — SOLD OUT — SOLD OUT Our last team effort went so well, we decided to do it again for 2020 — two times! We’re pleased to announce another cooperative effort between ourselves here at Redline Guiding and Rockhopper Races LLC. Again, for those who don’t know them, they’re the ones bringing professionally-organized mountain racing to the White Mountain National Forest. […]
Trying something different, we have decided to offer a low-cost starlight snowshoe hike on December 26th, 2019 — date of December’s new moon. Get to know us a little better and join us for a fun time. This will not be a high intensity, or high speed hike. We will, in fact, probably keep it simple marking the 2800′ Mt Willard summit ledges as our goal […]
[…] views are secondary, hiking the Whites is sublime. Our returning guest, a former student, wanted a 4000-footer, something on her list — after all, she is working on hiking the 48 recognized 4000-footers in NH. She also wanted to keep the mileage down being that this would be a full-on winter hike during full-on winter conditions, and a winter shakedown hike at that. Given this, […]
This weekend sort of started the ball rolling for us, so to speak. It began Saturday with a Winter Skills course followed by a Mountaineering Skills course. And this was followed the next day with a successful ascent of Mt Washington — the tallest most badass peak in the Northeast and the crown jewel of the White Mountain National Forest. Atypical of its badassness, however, the […]
Back in the day, the last century, people wanted stuff for the holidays. Big piles of expensive, opulent stuff. Stuff that quickly broke or became lost. Stuff that people lost interest in or ended up forgetting all about. People were into stuff. This isn’t the case nowadays. Today people crave experiences. Unlike stuff that fades in time, experiences stick with us. They help us learn and […]
So, you want to hike in the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF), right? Great. You will reap rich rewards. You already know this part, though. You’ve seen the photos others have posted online or read materials on the subject. You’ve noted the gorgeous Wilderness areas, the rich northern mixed forests, the lush and mysterious boreal zone thick with aromatic conifers, the stunted fir and spruce of […]
“The bears were really active. We followed one up the mountain the entire way, then again on our way down. Probably the same bear — maybe peak-bagging. We never laid eyes on him but we knew he was very close. And likewise to be sure.” This was reported to us by Redline Guide Ken Hodges. Ken was in Vermont guiding a returning guest who opts for […]
In the Valley the leaves have mostly dropped. For days there has been frost on surfaces in the morning. We had a dusting of snow the other day which remains in shady places. The seasons are changing. Here in the Mount Washington Valley, it’s clear winter is stepping up ready to take Autumn’s place. That’s here in the Valley. And from here in the Valley, one […]
With water levels too high to comfortably execute their Plan A, the team’s hope of exploring the ledges of Popple Mountain would have to wait. And, thus a Plan B was formed. Redline Guide Mike Cherim motioned with a thumb over his left shoulder toward the lovely Jackson, NH, and suggested another local “trailless” peak: Thorn Mountain. It was back to the drawing board for our […]
