A glacier is analogue to a river of ice and snow. The “headwaters” of which are an area known as the “accumulation zone.” In this region snow piles up faster than it melts. Below this, nearing the “river delta,” so to speak, there is an area known as the “ablation zone.” In this lower region the snow melts faster than it accumulates. The demarcation of these […]
It was a cold morning but the sun quickly got into warming things up a bit to set the stage for an enjoyable half-day Mountaineering Skills Course. The members of the team — a dad headed to Rainier later in the year, a couple of sons, and some friends — came to us from all over the northeast: New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine. “As foretold […]
A person reached out to us about using their splitboard (a snowboard that can be formed into rudimentary skis for uphill travel, better known as skinning) in the backcountry. New to the sport, at least in the backcountry, a Backcountry Intro Course was recommended. Leading the charge on this educational adventure was Redline Guide Pat Ferland (welcome back). Pat offered an assortment of objectives to include […]
We have found that having a training day followed by an attempt on Mt Washington is an excellent strategy, one that leads to a lot of successful climbs. In doing this our guests have a opportunity to prepare themselves, their gear, and can carry themselves well on the mountain, and on busy trails like the Lion Head Winter Route, that ability and organization affects everyone in […]
A returning guest who recently had a mountaineering experience with us wanted more, once again ratcheting up the challenge. This time she wanted to test herself by taking an Ice Climbing intro course. This was led by Redline Guide Glenn Van Neil and he took her to some popular spots in Crawford Notch. As reported, she did great. Here are some photos… Great job, Glenn, and […]
A skier, an expert in the front country, wanted to get out in the backcountry to play while learning and bolstering her confidence in that realm. Our guest felt she was a novice in those environs and wanted an “entry level” experience. She signed up for our Intro to BC Skiing. Leading the day was Redline Guide Dominic Torro (which was awesome seeing him back out […]
People choose to hike, climb, and study with us for myriad reasons: For the joy of the sport, for the love of the mountains, to be safe and ready, for the feeling of accomplishment from the effort and, of course, sometimes just because it’s there. And sometimes it’s a test to 1) see if they like it before 2) going hog wild and taking on big […]
Having modern devices can really save us from peril while offering a richness and depth to our experiences. But it’s important that we monitor available power, lest said devices can become a brick. Modern devices also have a learning curve that needs to be flattened before one is able to take full advantage of what they can offer. That’s where we enter the picture by making […]
A couple reached out to us hoping to get in an early Mountaineering Skills training day in prep for an exciting season. At this time of year it can be a challenge due to lack of snow cover. This year, however, we were looking really good for it, two decent storms in the books giving us a nice base. Unfortunately rain came to the Mt Washington […]
We just wrapped up another Wilderness Navigation course for four fresh minds giving them the independence and confidence to venture between the red lines on our trail maps. Where and how they use this knowledge is now up to them. Leading this course were Redline Guides Mike Cherim and Rhonda Willette. What follows are a few class photos. Excellent job one and all. Congratulations to our […]
Great news for anyone seeking a SOLO Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and/or CPR/AED certification this coming year as our 2026 dates are now available and signups are now open. Check out our 2026 Added Notes: To learn more, get pricing, and to signup, check out our Wilderness First Aid (WFA) page. These classes may be used to re-certify your Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification. You are […]
Most of the educational requests that come our way are fairly standard: How do I hike? How do I cross a stream? How do I establish a campsite? How do I navigate with a map and compass? How do I navigate with digital devices? And then there are others that are atypical. For example: How do I navigate if it’s mandated to use outdated devices while […]
