If you’ve ever fantasized about doing yoga on the top of a mountain, or wished somehow you could combine snowtubing with burgers and beer, but don’t have a car or a clue, help is on the way. This past weekend, we joined Brooklyn Outfitters on a Mount Washington climbing expedition, and discovered the company offers a range of awesome, affordable getaways to New Yorkers looking to escape the city and revel in the outdoors—steely skylines not included.
We loaded into the van early on Saturday morning and headed towards North Conway, New Hampshire. The six-hour ride provided the perfect time to get to know each other, Stetson Hundgen, co-founder of the company, assistant guide Anh Yu, and four fellow New Yorkers, before even beginning the climb.
Upon arriving to the archetypical New England resort town, the Brooklyn Outfitters crew rented technical gear, then we had lunch and headed to Joe Dodge Lodge at Pinkham Notch for a good night’s rest. But first, we would have a hearty three-course meal and a team pow-wow, which provided us with the fuel and mental ease to feel prepared for Sunday’s challenge.
Stetson and Anh briefed us on possible dangers and checked over our packs and clothing. The final meeting served to remind us of the importance of staying together and knowing our limits. Anh eased any apprehensions, “We are only as fast as our slowest hiker. We like to keep everybody together and keep the level where it’s satisfying for everybody. If someone is struggling, we don’t keep pushing forward.”
This ethos proved highly valuable during our climb. After a hearty 6:30am breakfast with Stetson harking, “Eat lots of fats! Fats are key to staying warm on the mountain,” we began our ascent. We stayed together as a group, stopping to drink water, eat snacks or adjust layers and then continuing once we were all ready. The sun was out and the day, while crisp and windy, was exactly what I had been craving after New York’s mild winter.
As the trail steepened, we fastened on our crampons and used the front spikes to dig into the mountain. Besides one small portion that required some technical maneuvering and a rope, the climb was manageable for almost everyone. Adrenaline rushing, feeling the height of the adventure, we knew there was little room for error. Stetson and Anh made the executive decision that today was not the day to summit and having already hiked a considerable portion, we all agreed that the best decision was to turn around.
We didn’t reach the summit, but we had enjoyed the day, become a real team, and recovered with a sense of accomplishment over delicious wood-fired pizza and beer. Fellow climber and seasoned mountaineer Brad Alter explained, “I knew what the weather could be like. I was really surprised at just how beautiful it was… The climates and the different environments were very impressive.”
If Mount Washington still seems a bit on the extreme side, be sure to check out the variety of options offered by Brooklyn Outfitters, including canoe trips down the Delaware, climbing adventures with Brooklyn Boulders, yoga in the Catskills, and many more.
When asked what inspired the launch of the company, Stetson cited, “The passion for the outdoors and sharing that with others. Anything worth having is worth sharing.” Martin Stankiewicz and Stetson Hundgen are creating well-organized, budget-friendly solutions that continue to successfully satisfy the New Yorker’s cravings for an adrenaline-pumping city break. Be sure to check back on the calendar for their winter trips; we hear awesome outings like Snowshoe to Echo Lake, Breakneck Ridge at Sunset, Cross Country Skiing in Clarence Fahnestock State Park are in store.
Photos: Brooklyn Outfitters, Amanda Coen
KPICASA_GALLERY(BrooklynOutfitters)
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram