We’ll start our day on the historic Appalachian Trail, the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, ranging from Georgia to Maine. On the AT, we’ll explore the Lemon Squeezer, an unusual rock formation where the hiker has to squeeze through a path that is three feet high, one foot wide, and angled 15 degrees. Having made our way through the Lemon Squeezer, we’ll continue on the rolling hills of the Ramapo-Dundenberg trail, while stopping to take in the magnificent views. As a final treat of the day, we’ll pass through Valley of the Boulders and see more unique rock formations, cracks, caves, and overhangs. Join us for a day of adventure!

• NY State Licensed and Wilderness First Responder Certified Guide
• Transportation to and from NYC (if you would like to meet us at the trailhead, please email info@adventureuntamed.com for a discount)
• Experience the Lemon Squeezer and the Valley of the Boulders

If we get enough snow, this will be a snowshoeing hike! Adventure Untamed will provide snowshoe rentals. If there isn’t enough snow, we will do a regular hike.

Would you like to try a hike in the rugged Catskill Mountains without having to start out with a challenging hike of a 3500 high peak? This hike in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest travels through level hardwoods on the way to Huckleberry Point, described by past participants as one of the nicest views in the Catskills. The rolling hills of this trail take us through a magical forest, and keen eyes may notice obscure signs of early Dutch settlements. We’ll enjoy lunch at a stunning overlook with breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley and a stop at Platte Clove Falls to end the day. If the weather cooperates, you will also get to try out snowshoeing on the snow-covered trails!

• NY State Licensed and Wilderness First Responder Certified Guide
• Transportation to and from NYC (if you would like to meet us at the trailhead, please email info@adventureuntamed.com for a discount)
• Hike to a waterfall and one of the nicest views in the Catskills
• Try snowshoeing (weather dependent)

Staying local this Christmas? Don’t celebrate? Or just want to have a unique holiday experience? This hike is for you. We are celebrating  AU style!

Join friends – old and new – on a beautiful hike that starts and ends at a pond and takes you over the summits of four mountains. Even with the multiple peaks, this is a moderate hike, and you will be able to spend the day enjoying views and conversation. We’ll, of course, have some surprise Christmas treats for everyone. And we are staying very close to NYC, so there is no long drive home.

Join us to ring in the holiday season with your favorite people, in your favorite setting!

This has become an annual tradition for Adventure Untamed. As we are about to enter a new year, we get together, drive to the heart of the largest park in the contiguous United States – Adirondacks, and climb a 46er. 46ers are 46 high peaks of the Adirondacks, each over 4,000 feet tall. We ring in the new year with mountain climbing, games, and great company!

So, how do you plan to say hello to 2023? How do you want to greet the new year? Join us on this beautiful adventure! Our journey will take us on a gorgeous hike of the Giant High Peak. It’s a steady, steep climb, and it will feel anywhere between INTERMEDIATE and CHALLENGING, depending on your experience and conditions. We’ll keep the pace at an intermediate level. We won’t rush and take time to enjoy the day. If you can do a Catskill 3500 mountain, you can do this peak. If you need more practice in the winter, we’ll have plenty of hikes in the Catskills in November and December. We’ll also provide crampons and/or snowshoes, so you don’t have to worry about traction.

When not hiking, we’ll spend our nights in front of the fireplace at the Adirondack Loj, relaxing and enjoying board games and great conversation.

Experience: Prior winter hiking experience strongly encouraged. Please contact us with any questions at info@adventureuntamed.com. This trip is rated INTERMEDIATE due to easier pace, but it may feel more challenging depending on conditions. This trip has CHALLENGING terrain and conditions.

For multi-day trips, as a precaution, we ask that you get a COVID-19 test 3-5 days prior to the trip, regardless of vaccination status. We will accept an at-home test.

Accomodations: Shared rooms at the ADK Loj. Limited private rooms available for an extra $100 per night. Please email us at info@adventureuntamed.com with questions and requests.

Day 1 (December 31st)

We’ll depart at 7:00 am, stopping for lunch on the road. After arriving at the Loj we’ll go for a short warm-up hike. We’ll also discuss winter hiking and layering techniques to set us up for success the next day. After a moderate scramble to the top, gorgeous views of the Adirondacks will open up right in front of us. That evening we’ll enjoy a tasty dinner and say goodbye to 2022.

Day 2 (January 1st)

After a hearty breakfast, we’ll start the summit attempt of Giant. We’ll take our time on the trail and make consistent, steady progress, admiring the ridge and summit views. That night, we’ll relax in front of the fire after a delicious dinner.

Day 3 (January 2nd)

After a good night’s rest, we’ll pack and relax for the leisurely drive back to New York City, stopping for lunch along the way. For those interested, a sunrise hike will be available.

Photo credit: John Campbell, Courtesy of Adirondack Mountain Club.

Whether 2022 has been great, challenging, or somewhere in between, say goodbye to it the proper way. Let’s go for one last hike together in 2022. Spend the end of the year in a company of good friends, or make new ones! Check out some mountain views! This hike is just right – not too hard, not too easy. You will encounter plenty of rolling hills to get your blood pumping, but it won’t be so hard you can’t keep the conversation going. And what AU hike would be complete without some NYE treats? We’ll end at Bear Mountain Inn, where you’ll be able to say goodbye to 2022 over some hot chocolate with your fellow hikers. Let’s do it!

And if you have NYE plans, not to worry, we are keeping this one close to home. No long drives means you will be back in time for evening plans!

What’s included:

Join us on a trailless adventure! Make your way through the woods using a map and compass, and learn how to identify and use ‘handrails’ – land features that help navigate the terrain. Hikers often find bushwhacking the Catskills’ precipitous slopes and rough terrain more difficult than hiking on marked trails, but the satisfaction of climbing a mountain in this manner is unparalleled. See if you can locate the 3500 Club’s summit canister on this unique outdoor adventure!

This mountain is a great introduction to bushwhacking!

This is a required peak for Catskill 3500 Club Membership and #21 Catskill High Peak (elevation 3,687′).

Note: Must have prior tall-peak hiking experience in the Catskill Mountains or Adirondack Mountains before joining a bushwhack. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to info@adventureuntamed.com.

What’s included:

We are off to Minnewaska – everyone’s favorite park for breathtaking views!

We’ll start our day at a gorgeous waterfall. Awosting Falls are created when Peters Kill (‘kill’ is the Dutch word for ‘creek’) plunges 70 feet off a cliff. We’ll follow Peters Kill, observing the cascades that form when the water meets river stones.

For the second half of the day, we’ll take a cliff trail studded with panoramic views. Maybe we’ll even spot a porcupine (while sightings are rare, Minnewaska is the only place I have seen them in the wild)!

Finally, after our hike, it’s off to a local farmstand for fresh produce, coffee, and delicious baked goods!

What’s included:

Fall in love with winter!

If rocks and walls are meant for climbing, then so are frozen waterfalls! Whether you have experienced the unbridled joy of climbing or are a first-timer, join us for a trip to the Catskill Mountains to climb water that has frozen solid running down vertical rocks. Our ice guides will set up multiple ropes, so you will get a chance to try routes of varying difficulty and climb as much as you want throughout the day. We will teach you the technique and give feedback and beta throughout the day. This amazing, unique winter experience is a must-try for every adventurer!

We will provide all the equipment that you need, including harnesses, helmets, mountaineering boots, and crampons. Please email us your shoe size.

What’s included:

Let’s go snowshoeing! You don’t need any prior experience to join us on this wonderful winter trip. We are going to the Catskill Mountains to play in the winter wonderland and try snowshoeing. We’ll provide the snowshoes and teach you the basics. Don’t worry, if you can hike, you can snowshoe. It’s day of fun in the snow you are not going to want to miss!

Note, the exact location of the hike may vary, depending on the best snow conditions. If weather does not cooperate and there is no snow, it will be a regular winter hike!

This trip is rated ACTIVE+.

What’s included:

“Here the works of man dwindle in the heart of the southern Catskills.” -John Burroughs

Spend Christmas Eve in good company, summiting the tallest peak in the Catskills.

Slide, the tallest mountain in the Catskill Mountains, is located in the region’s most popular wilderness area. This hike has a little bit of everything — bubbling brooks, historic trails, and spectacular views. Just below the summit is a plaque commemorating John Burroughs, who was born in the Catskills and devoted his life to writing. While there, see if you can spot Bicknell’s Thrush, a shy and reclusive bird known to reside (but rarely seen) on top of Slide Mountain. This is an excellent adventure for hikers looking for a gentler introduction to the Catskill tall peaks.

This is a required peak for Catskill 3500 Club Membership and #1 Catskill Tall Peak (elevation 4,184′). This is one of the four peaks that must be climbed twice, at least once in winter (December 21 – March 21).

What’s included:

NOTE, we are waiting for date confirmation with our cross country skiing partner. This trip is tentatively scheduled for January 28.

Try something new this winter! First, we’ll all take a lesson and learn what goes into being comfortable on the trail on skis. Then, it’s off to the trail! We’ll ski through the forest and enjoy our day in the woods. In the afternoon, we’ll stop at a local cafe for some warm beverages and reflect on our day.

Please note, skiing is very condition-dependant. If we have to reschedule due to weather, you always have the option to come on the new date or receive a refund or a trip credit.

What’s included:

Enjoy a day in the woods as we follow the winding trails to the serene shores of Bennett’s Pond. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and spend the day on quiet, wooded trails as we explore this hidden treasure.  It’s a lesser-known area, so we are likely to have the trails to ourselves. And remember to be on the lookout for wildlife! Bennett’s pond is home to a pair of nesting swans, a blue heron, and beavers, just to name a few. There is not a lot of elevation change, making this the perfect, relaxing winter hike.

• NY State Licensed and Wilderness First Responder Certified Guide
• Transportation to and from NYC (if you would like to meet us at the trailhead, please email info@adventureuntamed.com for a discount)
• Hike around a forest pond, teeming with wildlife
• Post-hike stop at a local cafe

Join us on a classic climb of the tallest mountain in the Northeast, with an extra challenge of doing it in precarious winter conditions. At 6,288 feet, boasting 4,000 feet of elevation gain over 4 miles, and harsh, unpredictable weather above treeline, this thrilling hike will challenge even experienced hikers.

Our adventure will take us up and down the classic Winter Lion’s Head Route, and we’ll experience everything from forest trails to the heart-pounding climbs up the steep, snow-covered slopes. Finally, we’ll make our way above the treeline and to the exposed summit cone.

If you are lucky enough to summit on a clear day,  you will enjoy gorgeous views of the White Mountains and be able to see as far as Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Canada, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Experience: This trip is for experienced hikers with prior winter hiking experience. Please contact us at info@adventureuntamed.com for more information.

Accommodations: 4-person bunk rooms at the Joe Dodge Lodge, 2 nights.

For multi-day trips, as a precaution, we ask that you get a COVID-19 PCR test 3-5 days prior to the trip, regardless of vaccination status.

Day 1 (February 11th)

We’ll depart at 7:00 am, stopping for lunch on the road. After arriving at the Joe Dodge Lodge, we’ll go for a short warm-up hike. We’ll test out our gear and learn crampon and ice axe use, as well as the skills to stay warm, dry, and safe in unpredictable winter conditions. After a moderate scramble to the top, gorgeous views of Mt. Washington will open up right in front of us, and you can trace the route you’ll be taking to the summit the next day. That evening we’ll enjoy dinner, do a gear check, and get a good night’s sleep before the summit attempt the following morning.

Day 2 (February 12th)

After a hearty breakfast, we’ll start the summit attempt of Mount Washington. The snowy terrain will get the blood pumping right away. Be prepared for steep ascents, especially as the day goes on and you enter the Alpine Zone and make your way up the summit cone. Once above the treeline, you may encounter extreme weather, but our guides will be there every step of the way to keep you safe. If the day is clear, winter-wonderland views of the White Mountains will open up at the top. The hike down, with its steep descents, can be just as challenging as the way up. Back at the lodge, we’ll unwind, relax, and have a delicious dinner to celebrate the day’s adventures.

Day 3 (February 13th)

After a good night’s rest, we’ll pack up, eat breakfast, and relax for the leisurely drive back to New York City, stopping for lunch along the way.