A fellow came to us looking to book a backpacking trip, a simple overnight, for him and two of his friends. They didn’t have a great deal of experience so we created a sort of entry-level offering. Due to the Labor Day weekend we figured everything would be swamped with people, the trails busy, and parking a challenge. Inasmuch we started on Friday and tried to […]
Three younger fellows — one from NH, one from RI, and the third from MA — came to us looking for an outdoor rock climbing experience. All three were proficient gym climbers. Although none were lead certified (yet), all could climb and belay. None had climbed outdoors, yet, though, so we offered a Rock Intro course so they could learn while they got after it — […]
Booked through a travel company we work with, a couple from Ohio were looking to get out and see some on-trail sights. New to hiking, they selected a “Guided Nature Tour” which was perfect for their current level. When asked after the fact, the husband said he rather enjoyed the experience. They both did, even though the wife was very new to the whole idea. A […]
Guiding is awesome! We spend hours in the woods, on the mountains, doing what we love, serving people that want to be there; people having one of their best days possible, one that they’ll always remember. Unlike, by contrast, serving impatient, even angry people standing in a never-moving line at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In those hours we are able to have deep conversations […]
Not every experience is meant to challenge us. Sometimes the maximum appreciation is derived from simply slowing down — stopping to smell the flowers as they say. The summary below, written by Redline Guide Debra McCown, captures such a trip taking place in Zealand Notch. One where sweat was replaced with serenity. Enjoying the Experience On Wednesday I met a returning guest at Zealand Falls Hut […]
What follows is a summary of our New Moon on Franconia Ridge hike event. The hike was a success albeit with a smaller-than-hoped-for turnout of one person along with Redline Guide Debra McCown. For a more in-depth summary, the following words and photos are her’s. No Crowds On a nice day in the summertime, Franconia Ridge is known to get a bit crowded, with lots of […]
They — whoever “they” are — say the mountains will be there another day. This is good because people don’t always succeed on their hikes and some need to come back to finish what they started on another day. It’s a reality. For them the mountains need to be there when they return. This hike was one such endeavor. The ambitious plan was compete a one-day […]
This trip was a gift from girlfriend to boyfriend… a present for his birthday. It took a while for it to happen thanks to an unexpected delay, but they were finally able to make it so. Leading this educational trip with Redline Guide Ken Hodges. The destination was Church Pond off the Kanc. Thanks to two immediate water crossings, not many make this delightful nature tour, […]
A guest came to us wanting to trail run/fast pack the Presidential Range, but still hoping to utilize the hut system by stretching the thing out over three days. She would stay at the Madison Spring Hut and Lakes of the Clouds hut. With her on this exciting tour was Redline Guide Chase Hall. The summary and photos below are his. A Three Day Presidential Traverse […]
A family came to us wanting to do a half day hike. As it turned out the patriarch wanted to also go on a half-day gravel bike tour the day before the planned hike. No problem, it’s not a standard offering for us (yet), but insurance-wise we’re covered so we figured it’d be a cool add. On the bike tour we had Redline Guide Ken Hodges […]
The plan for our returning 85-year-old guest from Connecticut was to do some hiking over one-and-a-half days with some specific wants and needs thrown in. Day one was the half day portion and Redline Guide Tim Jones led him up Black Cap as a rewarding warm up. A few days later — the start delayed due to the heat and humidity — the plan involved… well, […]
Some trails are inviting, non-intimidating, and we daresay easy. Some others, however, simply are not. They’re not inviting, they are intimidating, and, at least in the eyes of some, they’re definitely not easy. Some of the Terrifying 25 trails earn these adjectives, for instance. Do bear in mind, though, that this may change for people over time and through experience. At first they are challenged, but […]
