At Adventure Untamed she is known as the “Queen of the Catskills” and is arguably one of the most passionate guides when it comes to the 3500 Tall Peaks. Wendy Porter has an amazing wealth of knowledge of the region, having hiked 3500 peaks in the area over 200 times. She can also tell you some of the most spooky and haunted legends about every corner of the Catskill Mountains. January 23rd is Wendy’s birthday, and she is celebrating by guiding you to the summit of one of her favorite peaks. Join our amazing guide to celebrate her birthday (there will be sweet treats!).

Blackhead Mountain is on the northern end of the Catskill Mountains, and today we’ll climb the peak that gives the Blackhead Range its name. This rugged hike is more challenging than the distance leads you to believe and has a little bit of everything, including epic views! We’ll hike over twisted roots and scramble up steep jumbled rocks on our way to Blackhead’s fragrant summit, thick with spruce and fir trees.

This is a required peak for Catskill 3500 Club Membership and #6 Catskill Tall Peak (elevation 3,941’).

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.

Our adventure begins before we even leave the van, as we make our way to the trailhead via a single-lane old mining road. Appropriately named “Old Mine Road,” the road was a trail used by fur traders and Dutch settlers in the 1600’s. Once at the trailhead, we’ll pass another relic of Dutch explorations – an entrance to an old copper mine.

We’ll then climb along a magnificent gorge with a series of waterfalls before making our way up to the Raccoon Ridge and onto the historic Appalachian Trail. From there, we’ll enjoy panoramic views of the Delaware Water Gap, formed where the Delaware river cut through the Appalachian Mountains.

Join us for a day of exploration and epic views!

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

Accomodations: Shared (just within our group) rooms at the ADK Loj. You can stay in a private room (3 available) for an extra $70 per night. Please emails us with questions and requests.

Tackle three challenging peaks in The MacIntyre Range – one of the Adirondack Mountains’ most impressive and beautiful ranges – and be rewarded with panoramic winter-wonderland views. On this trip you’ll learn crampon, ice axe, and snowshoe techniques as well as the skills to stay warm and safe in harsh winter conditions. When not hiking in a winter wonderland, we’ll enjoy a stay at the historic Adirondack Loj and evenings in front of the fireplace with good food, good company, and board games!

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

Day 1 (January 30th)

We’ll depart at 7:00 am and stop for lunch en route to the Adirondack Loj in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. We’ll then test our gear for the next day and make adjustments as necessary during the warm-up hike up Mount Jo. Your guides will demonstrate how to adjust and secure crampons and snowshoes, and throughout the hike you will receive instructions on crampon and ice axe use, as well as tips for staying warm and dry in winter conditions. After a moderate scramble to the top, gorgeous views of the Adirondack Mountains will open up right in front of us.

After dinner at the Loj, the guides will go over route planning and decision making on challenging hikes, and you will break up into teams to try your hand at making a plan for the next day. That evening we’ll do individual gear checks and get a good night’s sleep before summit attempts the following morning.

Day 2 (January 31st)

We’ll start with breakfast at 4:30 in the morning and an Alpine start on the trail by 5:00 am. You’ll need your headlamp as we start on the trail before sunrise. You will experience the challenge of winter conditions in the mountains, navigating sheets of ice or deep snow to make your way to each of the three summits, but our guides will be there to help and keep you safe every step of the way. At the end of a long day, you’ll arrive back at the Loj to relax, enjoy a delicious 3-course dinner, and unwind with some post-dinner board games.

Day 3 (February 1st)

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.

Join us on an adventure through Black Rock Forest, a hidden treasure of the Hudson Valley. Black Rock Forest’s  location at the intersection of two ecological systems results in rich biological diversity of plants and animals. Shortly after we begin our hike, we’ll come across the cascading waterfalls known as  Mineral Springs Falls, then hike up to Jupiter’s Boulder to enjoy the unique rock formation. We’ll continue on to Sackett’s Ridge to take in the views before returning back to the City, refreshed after a day in the wild.

We’ll spend the first half of our day on the historic Appalachian Trail, the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, ranging from Georgia to Maine. As we climb West Mountain, we’ll pass through one of the most picturesque areas in northern Harriman State Park. We’ll spend the beginning of the day enjoying the views, then make our way back on the historic 1777 Trail, which marks the route the British troops took on October 6, 1777 to attack the American army in the Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery.

On this trip we’ll hike on the same ground the Mohican Native American tribe traveled while moving from their winter homes along the Hudson River to their summer hunting grounds high in the mountains. We’ll pass by stone walls made by early Dutch settlers and through what some of our guides call the ‘spooky’ forest, a rare patch of old-growth conifer forest. Windham High Peak is one of the few Catskill tall peaks with two summit markers. See if you are able to find both of them as you enjoy beautiful views from the top!

This is a required peak for Catskill 3500 Club Membership and #33 Catskill High Peak (elevation 3,525′).

Are you ready for a winter bushwhacking challenge? You’ll need to be prepared for a serious day. Both North Dome and Sherrill feature steep vertical climbs and rock ledges that we’ll carefully negotiate while traversing this beautiful, untouched area of Catskill wilderness. Today’s adventure is a true bushwhack.

These peaks are required for Catskill 3500 Club Membership and are #27 and #31 Catskill Tall Peaks (elevation 3,606’ and 3,558’).

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!

This hike will challenge you as you climb multiple mountains over a span of 11 miles, at last summiting Storm King Mountain, where you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Hudson River. The Hudson Highlands trail traverses the scenic and rugged Appalachian Hills of both Black Rock Forest and Storm King State Park. This area served as an important strategic point for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. If you hear any cannons today – don’t worry – it’s just the West Point Military Academy cadets practicing artillery!

Friday Mountain is a true Catskills bushwhack. You’ll need to be prepared for a serious day, as you hike this trail-less peak to reach the summit canister.  There are areas of steep rock faces and dense evergreens, and Friday Mountain features one of the steepest climbs in the Catskill Mountains. We’ll carefully negotiate Friday’s rock ledges during our hike in this beautiful, untouched area of wilderness.

This is a required peak for Catskill 3500 Club Membership and#20 Catskill Tall Peak (elevation 3,692’).

Join us on an adventure in the northern Hudson Highlands as we climb the Schunemunk mountain. The name “Schunemunk” means “excellent fireplace” in Lenape, and the Lenni Lenape had a village on the northern tip of the mountain. The land has several unique and striking features. Throughout the day, you’ll see beautiful, panoramic views from the top of the ridge. And we’ll take time to explore a unique rock formation – a cluster of giant rock slabs – known as the Megaliths.

Fall in love with winter! Whether solo, with a friend, or a partner, spend this Valentine’s Day on an adventure.

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.