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Flume & Liberty in April

A returning guest, working on his GRID, was again paired up with Redline Guide Chase Hall. Chase can relate to all things GRID. For those who have no idea what the GRID is, well, you know those 4000-footers, right? Try doing them in every month of the year (usually taking years to complete). Boom, that’s the GRID. 48×12. “Needed” today was Mts Liberty and Flume. Chase supplied the following…

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Left and Right Gullies

Most of the photos revealed a bit of an overcast, but in a video we were given (see below), blue skies and sunshine did grace the day. Also present in the video was what looked and sounded like some decent ground conditions and some fun skiing. On lead for this one-on-one backcountry ski tour on Left and Right Gullies in Tuckerman Ravine (on Mt Washington) was Redline Guide Will Murphy. And…

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Freedom of the Hill

A young couple, eager for adventure, wisely chose the get trained before heading out and risking life and limb. They came to us for a full day Mountaineering Skills course to begin this process. There’s lots to know and a ways to go, but the info learned this day laid a solid foundation upon which to build. Now the repetition starts, the objective to have it all become muscle memory. On duty for…

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Two-Day Navigoodness

From our half-day brush-up to our full two-day advanced session, our Wilderness Navigation course is all that. As it should be. It was built on a solid foundation and we’ve been tweaking it for over 12 years striving all the while to make it practical and usable here in the White Mountain National Forest. The one-day offering is our default and it’s what we recommend when people inquire about…

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Hope Springs Eternal

It is human nature always to find fresh cause for optimism. We open the door letting in some fresh air kissed by the sun. Winter ebbs like a tide, receding and becoming less of a threat or concern. It’s not even cold today, and in the sun it’s actually warm — hot if you’re doing something in it. True to the words of Robin Williams: “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!'” And we’re…

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Intro to Backcountry Skiing

This backcountry skiing intro class took a little while to come together but finally it did, and it was held on a gorgeous day telling us it was probably worth the wait. The last attempt to make it happen didn’t go as planned. Not sure what the issue was, but probably weather — it’s a theme around these parts. Originally Redline Guide Pat Ferland was going to take the class into Tuckerman Ravine…

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Cannon Mtn Stunt Hiker

It was a last minute thing. The message came in, a hiking companion had to bail (the daughter), and going it alone in winter conditions just wasn’t going to happen because, quite simply, it’s more dangerous. A companion was needed! We answered the call. Redline Guide Chase Hall was available and ready to take the lead. Stunt Hiker, at your service! Our guest, actually returning to us after a few…

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Backcountry Ski Checklist

Are you ready to ski in the backcountry this spring? Mother Nature has been signaling to us that the time is here. New snow in the mountains as of late is being measured in feet. So, if you’re sitting at home right now, the brown grass starting to green up, it may be a mental challenge to get into ski mode, but in gullies and ravines the best time is upon us and should last through the month of…

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Still Wintery

A couple of climbers, trained and tried once, were stopped at Mt Washington’s door (probably due to weather). They were back, and after it again. Or that was the plan. The next date selected for it ended up being what would have been a great summit day but one that sounded bad enough beforehand that they opted to pass on the date and move it to a new one. This is where Redline Guide Erik Samia…

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Cathedral Ledge Glacier

We had couple of fellows reach out looking to salvage their day. They had planned on coming up to do some ice climbing with a group but it ended up getting canceled as climbable ice is limited right now (that may change briefly, now with snow on its way — cross your fingers). Instead of ice climbing they opted for a Glacier Skills Course. This, we knew we could do. Where exactly was up in the…

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Safety Switch

Flexing our flexibility is sometimes what we have to do. Flipping the safety switch, as needed. Here’s what happened: A returning guest reached out, so stoked about her recent winter hiking experience with us that she wanted to do it all again. This time, though, she also wanted to introduce her husband to the sport. Since Redline Guide Chase Hall led her last time, he was a natural for this…

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Ups and Downs at Willey Slide

A returning father/son came back to complete their mountaineering adventure with us. We’re not sure how long the ice will be around in lower elevation spots like this, but the team did get the goods on this visit. Not only did they climb up and rappel down Willey’s Slide, Redline Guide Pat Ferland also showed some of the tricks of the trade, so to speak. Pat grabbed these photos of their…

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Safety, Help, & Guidance

You’ve probably heard of the New Hampshire 4000-footers. There are 48 of them. We’ve mentioned them a time or two. Hiking them in the three seasons (spring, summer, and fall) is an insanely popular activity nowadays. Taking on those peaks in the winter is also gaining traction — see what we did there? There are no bugs, you still sweat but you also cool down faster, and the trails smooth right…

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Until Their Arms Gave Out

A father and son team from New York came to us hoping to do some ice climbing, to take an intro course, but also asked that they get exposed to mountaineering skills such as studying the use of crampons and ice axe. These skills, the father mentioned, will ultimately be more useful in the short term. If we can give someone a cake and let them eat it, too, our guests win, and so do we. Spending…

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Goldilocks Experience

It’s not too hard, it’s not too soft, it’s not too hot, it’s not too cold… it’s all juuust right! A couple from New Brunswick, Canada, came to us hoping to do some winter hiking or snowshoeing. They were newer than new to the sport having no experience at all. While we do formally train people to hike, this couple opted to just get out there with a guide and do something that would take them…

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Having an Impact

Every now and then the impact we have on others reminds us our importance. There are stories re-told on our testimonials page that credit us in part for people getting themselves back on trail or for stopping themselves with an ice axe during a long, sliding fall. In these reminders we see how the training we offer has really done some good. Maybe saved a life or two. Sometimes, however, our…

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Quitting's Not an Option

An oft-returning guest came to us wanting to get the pendulum moving in a full arc once again, so to speak. Apparently it had slowed, or at least it seemed that way, and it wasn’t quite reaching the ends of its swing, a couple times now coming up short. Maybe it was quitting time. The idea was floated. But, no: “No way,” spoke the many voices. With the right support, the ends of that swing will…

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