President’s Day Weekend: White Mountains, NH

We depart New York City on Saturday morning and drive into the heart of the White Mountains, the most awesome in the Northeast. Along the way, we will stop for lunch and bathroom breaks.

Our journey begins at Pinkham Notch, a narrow valley eroded by geologic forces over millions of years. This particular area of the White Mountains is home to countless lakes, high peaks, cascading waterfalls and wildlife of all kinds. After a brief introduction into winter travel, we will polish our snowshoeing techniques and begin the 1,000-foot ascent along the trail. After 3.8 miles, we arrive at our simple lodge in the notch beside Carter Dome. You will surely be impressed by the comforts and ease of backcountry living with hot drinks and a hearty dinner prepared by your Outdoor Bound guide. In the evening, you may read or play games by the fire, or just sit and enjoy our good company. If you’re lucky enough to have clear skies, the winter constellations will not disappoint.

Everyone will be asked to carry a portion of the food to our lodge—so make sure you have a large backpack to accommodate your personal gear as well as group necessities.

After a warm breakfast, we will will pack lightly and strap on our snowshoes again for a 7.6-mile round trip journey. The trail will lead us to 4,832-foot Carter Dome and Mount Height, which offer dramatic panoramic views of Mount Washington and the Presidential Mountain Range to the west. Along the way, we will investigate the plethora of animal tracks and listen to the spirited winter birds that brave the White Mountain winters. If the peace and quiet is just too much for your New York senses, why not shake it up with a snowball fight? Throughout the day, you can expect a high-calorie trail lunch and plenty of snacks to keep our bodies well-fuelled for the journey. Tonight, we return to the cozy lodge where we will dine, entertain, and relish over the accomplishments of the day. After dinner, you can hang by the fire while reading a good book, share the incredible company at the lodge or just hit the hay for the night.

Today, we once again enjoy a hearty breakfast before snowshoeing the short (0.9 mile) but steep Wildcat A Mountain- a “must climb” of the area given our proximity to this classic peak. Wildcat A is a recognized 4000-foot mountain, ensuring competitive bragging rights with your friends back in the city. The descent from Wildcat Mountain will bring us once again to Carter Hut, where we will pack up and head back to civilization. After a final farewell to the White Mountains, we will load up and head back home. Along the way we will stop for lunch and bathroom breaks before returning to the city by 8:00 PM.

We offer adventures for everyone, no matter what your skill level. This guide will help you decide which trip is right for you.

• Activity

  How long (in hours) you may be active every day during the trip.

• Distances

  You should feel confident that you would be able to complete these distances every day of your trip.

• Surfaces

  What types of terrain you may encounter and should be prepared for on your trip.

• Elevation Change

  The largest elevation change you may encounter on your trip.

• Altitude

  The highest elevation you may reach on your trip.

Welcome to the outdoors! These trips are designed to introduce you to new challenges and new adventurers. Take in the scenery, tackle moderate elevation, experience some local flavor, and enjoy your day out of the office.

• Activity

  You can expect to be active for one to three hours. Take a long walk around Central Park to make sure you’re comfortable being outdoors and active for at least a two-hour period.

• Distances

  For our Level 1 trips, you’ll be walking or hiking less than three miles. Think about this distance in terms of the width of Manhattan. Walking from the Hudson to the East River via 14th street is just under two miles.

• Surfaces

  You’ll be walking on flat terrain. This means there will be limited rocks and a few tree roots.

• Elevation Change

  There will be little or no elevation change on this trip. To simulate the change in elevation, trying walking three flights of stairs and back.

• Altitude

  Less than 3,000 feet.

Level 2 trips will give you a taste of what hiking is all about. Test yourself on intermediate terrain, including light rock scrambles and ascending multiple peaks. The trips will invigorate you and inspire you to continue strengthening your hiking skills.

• Activity

  You can expect to be active for four to six hours. Prepare for the trip by jogging three miles around Central Park.

• Distances

  Plan on getting starter miles under your belt. You’ll be doing up to six miles on this trip. You can imagine this distance in terms of the full Central Park loop, which is 6.1 miles.

• Surfaces

  You’ll be hiking on rolling terrain. You can expect rock surfaces, steeps, roots and small boulders.

• Elevation Change

  There could be up to an accumulative 1,500 feet per day.

• Altitude

  From sea level to 6,000 feet.

Level three hikes will challenge you with a faster pace and longer distances. This hard work allows you to see more terrain and higher vistas. You should expect to be tired and fulfilled on the van ride home.

• Activity

  We’ll be out on the trails for five to eight hours. Prepare for this trip by maintaining your daily fitness regime that includes both cardio and strength.

• Distances

  Be ready to cover some serious distance. We may hike up to ten miles today before heading back to the city. This is the distance between Battery Park and Washington Heights in Manhattan.

• Surfaces

  We’ll be walking on rolling or mountainous terrain. This will require navigating various rock faces and trail conditions including steep inclines and uneven ground.

• Elevation Change

  There could be up to 2,000 feet per day.

• Altitude

  From sea level to 10,000 feet.

Deep inside you is a desire to push past your limit. On these hikes you’ll be challenged by some of the steepest elevations and technical terrain available. These trips are for endurance athletes and those who wish to push their physical abilities.

• Activity

  You can expect to be active for six to nine hours. You can best prepare for a Level 4 trip by maintaining your intense fitness regiment, trying to get your mile time below 7 minutes, and hiking consistently on the weekends.

• Distances

  Level 4 hikes can be up to 16 miles. This is the distance between Wall Street and Yonkers.

• Surfaces

  These trails will be mountainous with exposed terrain, uneven trails and steep ascents/descents. Most hikes will require not only hiking boots but also additional gear like hiking poles and headlamps.

• Elevation Change

  There could be elevation change of up to 3,000 feet per day and possible altitude.

• Altitude

  From sea level to 14,000 feet.

Prepare yourself for the ultimate outdoor experience. If you yearn to touch the sky and think the rewards outweigh the risks and extreme conditions, this is what you’re looking for. Over the course of multiple days you will be called upon to prove you belong among the best.

• Activity

  You should be ready for at least ten hours a day of pain, challenge, and constant small victories.

• Distances

  You should expect to be hiking for at least twelve miles a day. Prepare for this by racing in triathlons, training for a marathon and up keeping your hiking skills.

• Surfaces

  On Level 5 trips you will be trekking in remote mountains with exposed terrain and loose features.

• Elevation Change

  There could be elevation change of 5,000 feet per day.

• Altitude

  Altitude change could also reach up to 14,000 feet.