Gordon DuBois
January 2, 2006
In September 2006, I retired from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and I am now able to devote more time than ever to my passion, winter mountaineering. I worked for 40 years in the disability field in Maine and New Hampshire and most recently for the NH Bureau of Developmental Services. I have also been an adjunct faculty at the University of Southern Maine, University of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Technical College System. I live with my wife Nancy in New Hampton, NH. I volunteer for the AMC as an INFO Volunteer and I'm program chair for the New Hampton, NH Historical Society.
I grew up in up-state New York, and spent many summers as a young boy with my aunt and uncle who lived in the Adirondack Mountains. It was here that I learned to love the outdoors and I spent many hours hiking, swimming and fishing near their home in Raquette Lake, NY. After graduating from College, SUNY at Cortland, I landed my first full time job as a special education teacher/recreation director at a residential facility for people with disabilities in Pownal, Maine. In 1977 with my wife Nancy and our four children we moved to Laconia, NH. However, it wasn't until 1980 that I climbed my first 4,000 ft. mountain, Mt Washington. I climbed it with my son Matthew, who was 9 at the time. From that point forward hiking in the White Mountains became a regular activity for our family.
It wasn't until 1990 that I first experienced the mountains in winter. In February a friend invited me to hike with him into Zealand Hut. It sounded very risky but I was up for the challenge. The trip was most memorable and it got me started on the winter quest. We climbed Mt. Hale on a crisp, clear day and the view was overwhelming. The sky was cobalt blue and the mountains all around us were glistening in white. From that point forward I knew I wanted to spend more time hiking the White Mountains in the winter. A few years later I met Bob and I invited him on one of our hut excursions. He became 'hooked" and since that point most of our hiking has been in the winter. It has become my passion and I continually look forward to the winter solstice as the start of the hiking season.
With my retirement have come increased opportunities to spend more time on the trail. On October 8 I began a thru hike of the Long Trail, VT, starting in Canada, hoping to end in North Adams, MA. However, due to early season cold, snow, and extremely wet trails I had to abort the hike on Oct 20 at the 1/2 waypoint, 130 miles from Canada. In August 2007 I will finish the Long Trail, starting from N. Adams, MA and finishing at Lincoln Gap, VT I will then continue on the AT through VT, NH and ME and finish this section of the AT in October on Mt. Katahdin, ME.
In March 2004 Bob and I had climbed all New Hampshire's 48-4,000 foot mountains in winter (Winter Solstice-Vernal Equinox) and we are continuing our quest to hike the highest 100 in New England in winter. As of this date we have summited 60 in winter and we plan to summit 10 more this winter season. If you would like to join us please check our hiking schedule listed on this web site and get in touch with us. We are always looking for winter hiking partners. We are also available as speakers to present on our experiences and winter hiking wisdom. We have presented programs to the New Hampshire Chapter of the AMC, The New Hampton and Gilford Historical Societies and the Boy Scouts, Epsom Troop.
I can be reached at forestpd@metrocast.net