Survival in the White Mountains

We depart New York City on Saturday morning and drive into the heart of the White Mountains, the most majestic in the Northeast. Along the way, we will stop for lunch and bathroom breaks. Our journey begins at Crawford Notch, a narrow valley eroded by geologic forces over millions of years. The Crawford area 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 enjoy an afternoon trek exploring the Crawford Notch. Tonight we rest in the beautiful Highland Center Lodge as we rest up for an epic day on Sunday. A the lodge, you may read or play games by the fire, or just sit and enjoy the good company. If we’re lucky enough to have clear skies, the winter constellations will not disappoint.

After a warm breakfast at the lodge, we will distribute the food for the rest of the evening and backpack west to Zealand Falls. Everyone will be asked to carry a portion of the food to our lodge—so make sure you have a medium or large backpack. Don’t worry though, your guide will do all the cooking! The trek, 5.4 miles long, will take you through deep snow and significant elevation change as you hike to the Zealand Falls Hut. Along the way, we will investigate the plethora of animal tracks and listen to the spirited winter birds that brave the White Mountain winters.

Once at the hut, we will drop our loads at the hut and enjoy a hearty lunch. The main objective this afternoon is to build several Quigloos, or snowcaves. Prepare to shovel! Snowcave construction is tiring work, but offers endless creativity, playfulness and pure fun. You will become versed in snowcave site-selection, construction, safety and even have a chance to use your shelter tonight if you wish! Your Outdoor Bound guide will also demonstrate various tools to staying warm, making potable water, cooking and best of all, leaving no trace of our presence once we head home. 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 hut 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. If you wish, Outdoor Bound invites you to bunk up in your Quigloo for the night (quite comfortable, really).

Today, we pack up and head back to civilization via the Avalon Trail. Along the way, we’ll see Mount Tom, where from the top, you can see over the entire White Mountain region. Fear not, for you will be a seasoned snowshoer by day three of this mountain trip. After a final farewell to the White Mountains, we will load up and head back home, returning to Manhattan around 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.