Thank you. We learned a lot and had fun doing it! Two people came to us, repeats visiting us again, in fact. They a young-at-heart couple married for a whopping 45 years, and with big things on their joint to-do list. Stuff like the Long Trail (LT) as a warm up, then the Appalachian Trail (AT) as thing one. Need more? Well, we’ll ask them after […]
Viewing streams and waterfalls when we hike is just one of the many perks of the sport. Hiking trails will often follow the gentle meander established by nature keeping hikers close to the action. Close but separate — which is best in the interests of convenience and safety. Eventually the combining of waterways and trails, however, will cause hikers to have to cross over or walk […]
Catching the edge of the backcountry ski season, we mean. That’s what Redline Guide Phoebe Seltzer did with one returning guest with an east side objective (Tux, of course). We mean “edge of the season” loosely as we have skied through May and into June before utilizing the Eastern Snow Fields, Airplane Gully, and more. But the reality is the things are changing. Traffic is slowing […]
Critical thinking while simplifying complexity, and discovering a usefulness for the skills learned, better allows our students to keep them fresh (plus we give supported homework that is meant to help). These are some of what we strive for in our Wilderness Navigation course. We want our students to be able to think on their feet. Redline Guide Mike Cherim just taught two individuals, each with […]
We noted in our last blog post that the team ventured to the edge of the mist, everything above it obscured, but didn’t really venture too far beyond that point. Meanwhile, one returning experienced backcountry ski guest also on the mountain, enjoying his own tour with Redline Guide Phoebe Seltzer, pushed further. They entered VertigoLand where ground meets sky at some ill-defined point. Just like a […]
Humans will often fear the unknown. Our imaginations can run wild. New places with new challenges will often equate to new mental foes with which we do battle. There’s no shame in this. It’s completely normal. Especially given some circumstances, it’s entirely expected. To not feel trepidation, in fact, might be a cause for concern in some cases. So, within the context of this blog posting, […]
As the team powered up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail the day felt like summer. Not only was it fairly warm to begin with, coupled with the exertion of going up with heavy gear, it ended up feeling pretty hot. A sweat-inducing hot. As they rose in elevation, however, spring took over, the heat breezily whisked away. And by the time they landed in the alpine, it […]
This post is another weekend re-cap, albeit for a fairly slow weekend. We just lack material — one guest opting out of photos — so we decided to consolidate the events. Up first was Redline Guide Howard Aronson teaching a full-day Hiking Intro course. Having been out there on the trails for more than a decade, we know he has lots to offer. Next up was […]
Working on her 52 With A View list, taking on the Doubleheads in Jackson brought here two peaks (albeit just one spot) closer to the finish line for our oft-returning guest. It was a gorgeous day, sunny, clear, and unseasonably warm, almost too warm to hike. Yet, despite appearances, the deep snows on the ground told the true story: it’s spring. The team, led by Redline […]
Spring backcountry skiing is upon us. Even though snow depths are reducing in the brilliant April sunshine, there’s a ways to go. People know this, and seeing that the whole Presidential Range is in the green (denoting a low danger of avalanches at the time of this writing… see image inset (dated 4/11)), and observations of cracking or avalanching are also reducing, folks are getting after […]
For some hikers it’s Owl’s Head or Isolation. For others it’s Hale or Zealand. Seems like in almost every case there are mountains on the 4000-footers list that people simply aren’t fond of — not their favorites. In the case of Redline Guide Mike Maciel it’s the Carters: Middle, South, and the big one, Carter Dome. They’re all “The Effing Carters” to him. So, long story […]
More and more people come to us every year looking for backcountry skiing instruction and backcountry ski tours — often with teachable moments taking center stage. Many we find just want to get up there and check it out with no agenda in mind. They seek a knowing companion. With respect to avalanche, hangfire, and sliding fall hazards, we’re that companion. As backcountry skiing looks to […]
