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, […]
A many-time returning guest working on her NH 48 4000-footers had once again enlisted our help. This time for help with “the distant one,” Mt Cabot (4170′). Or as our guest knows it: #31/48. It was a good day. The team felt healthy and alive. There were no views, but it was a very enjoyable and fun day nonetheless with lots of stories and lots of […]
It seems like Redline Guide Ryan McGuire was just here. And he was, guiding a friend of his on his day off. One might think it’d be tedious to be back at it again so quickly, but Huntington Ravine and its gullies, e.g. Pinnacle, Central, Odells, etc., are pretty spectacular. Certainly worthy of a re-visit or two, or three, or a hundred. Ryan didn’t just jump […]
Referred from another guest, “Dr. Gadget” — an experienced hiker getting back to work on her winter list (after sustaining and hiking out on a tibial fracture from Mt Fort two years ago) — came to us hoping for a companion to hike the 4780-foot Mt Eisenhower with. A shakedown. Dr. Gadget, in case you’re wondering, is her nickname. You may also be wondering what bearing […]
The original plan was to do a three day, two night Presidential traverse. A backpack in an extreme environment. Only one problem, an extreme environment can be deadly when combined with extreme conditions. And extreme conditions were what we were faced with. So much for a weather window to get it done. Since there can be a fine line between being tough and being foolish, Redline […]
