Highpoint Winter 2011 Summit Workshops

Continuing forward with our strong collaboration with the Highpointers organization and our commitment to helping its members acheive their summit goals, we've announced dates for three special Winter Workshops.  All are welcome on the Summit Workshops—Highpointer or otherwise—but we do encourage you to check out the organization.  Dates and details appear below--come join us!

Camp 10K+ & Washington Summit—January 28-30th, 2011

Getting ready to tackle America’s higher peaks or to take it international?  Take your hiking skills to a new level with the Camp 10K+ & Washington Summit.  Alpine travel and living strategies, efficient cramponing techniques, roped travel basics, crevasse rescue, snow/ice anchors, and other fundamental mountaineering skills will be covered in this 3-day workshop on the flanks of New Hampshire’s legendary winter test piece, Mt. Washington.  With three days of flexibility, we’ll save the most favorable day for a go at Mt. Washington’s summit.  On the climb and during all the mountain clinics and evening skills workshops, you’ll be acquiring the skills set necessary to tackle 10K+ objectives like Hood, Gannett, Rainier, and Denali.  Contact us for pricing details (dependent upon group size).

Winter Presidential Traverse—February 18-21st, 2011

What better weekend to visit New Hampshire’s Presidential Range than Presidents Day Weekend?  Home to the world’s highest land speed winds and frequented by Arctic blasts, an enchainment of the Presidential Range is a true test of one’s mountaineering mettle and the crown jewel of Northeastern mountaineering.  Spanning over 20 miles, the Presidential Traverse takes one past and—weather permitting—onto the summits of eight peaks.  During the traverse, we will travel above tree line in extreme conditions and camp in spectacular locations.  While the technical challenges are low in one sense—there is no roped travel or high-angle crampon terrain—it is technically challenging in another sense, forcing you to get your alpine travel and living skills dialed (i.e., tent set-up in high wind, stove use, melting snow-water, building wind barriers, etc--all in extreme conditions).  The crown jewel of Northeastern climbing in its own right, the Presidential Traverse is also an excellent training ground for those considering a Denali climb—in fact, many people who have done both think it’s the other way around! 

This experience demands a high level of physical fitness and it offers the opportunity to hone skills in efficient movement and camping in exposed alpine situations.  Given that the Presidential Range is well-known for the weather challenges, we’ll wisely allow one-day of flex time at the front or back-end.  Whether used at the front or back-end, the flex day will be filled with valuable instruction on topics such as snow and ice anchors, roped travel, steep cramponing techniques, and snow shelter building.  Contact us for pricing details (dependent upon group size).

The Winter Triple Crown—March 15-20th, 2011

Mansfield, Marcy, Washington…while these mountains are relatively tame summertime climbs, winter presents a special allure—and challenge.  During the summer months these summits are overrun with people and even cars, concessions, cotton candy, and the whole disaster.  But this is certainly not the case in winter!  Wintertime on these peaks is befitting of their austere and aesthetic majesty.  Come visit the Triple Crown of Northeastern Peaks this winter!

We’ll gather in Stowe on the first evening to prep for the next five days of summit adventures.  Come dawn, we’ll travel to the top of Mansfield’s craggy summit, building cramponing and efficient snow travel skills along the way.  After descending, we’ll depart for Mt. Washington’s Pinkham Notch, staying at the classic Joe Dodge Lodge.  Rising early, we’ll head up Lions Head toward the wind-whipped world of winter Mt. Washington, testing our alpine clothing and equipment systems all along the way.  That evening we’ll head toward the Adirondack’s High Peaks Region, stopping for a well-earned shower and sleep along the way.  Arriving at the Marcy trailhead the next morning, we’ll pack and head up the trail for an overnight and lots of cold-weather camp living skills-building.  After melting snow for our final summit push the following morning, we’ll leave camp headed toward Marcy’s peak.  After topping out, we’ll head back to camp, break it down, and depart for a final evening of relative luxury in Lake Placid.  Tired, accomplished, well-trained, and ready for the challenges of higher-altitude peaks, we’ll depart for the Burlington airport the next morning.

The Triple Crown will demand a high level of physical fitness and an aptitude and it offers the opportunity to hone skills in efficient alpine travel and living skills.  This six-day adventure includes ground transportation (with driver), field food, group camping and climbing equipment, and lodging when in town.  Contact us for pricing details (dependent upon group size).

Learn more about the Highpointers organization here.