Our Services

It's Time to Start Your Adventures

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent
working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” – Jack Kerouac

Guide services

Mike is an experienced hiker, backpacker, and paddler. He is a Winter Adirondack 46er and Catskill 3500er. As a whitewater raft guide and wilderness guide, he has lead 100’s of people on adventures in backcountry.

Mike is an insured New York State Licensed Guide (#8040), certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR/AED. He strives to make every experience educational, enjoyable, and safe.

Our trips are tailored to match the goals, skills, and abilities of the group while gently nudging people outside of their comfort zone. You will be summiting mountains and pooping in the woods in no time.

Day Hikes

Day Hikes
Full Moon Hikes
Corporate Wellness Hikes
Private Hikes

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Backpacking Trips

Overnight Trips
Multi-day Trips
Winter Trips

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Adirondack Mountains

Ready to tackle the Adirondack High Peaks, Saranac 6, or Lake Placid 9er, but don’t want to do it alone? Join one of our guided trips or schedule a private trip.

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Paddling Trips

Overnight Trips
Multi-day Trips

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Trip Planning & Advice

Let us help you plan out your next adventure. We will help you plan routes, produce paper and digital maps, and make sure you have the proper gear and training. Let us know how we can help!

Education

Learn how to escalate your adventures and do it safely. Our workshops will teach you the skills you need to be confident and safe in the outdoors. Whether you are a first time hiker or an experienced hiker looking to re-certify your WFA, our classes are fun, affordable, and we guarantee the you will learn something new you can apply immediately in the field.

Hiking Workshops

10 Essentials
Adirondack High Peaks Workshop
Hiking 101
Winter Hiking 101

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Backpacking Workshops

Backpacking Workshop
Winter Backpacking Workshop
Fire Building & Water Safety Workshop
Backpack Shakedown Hike

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Essential Outdoor Skills

Basic Land Navigation with a Map & Compass
Essential Knots Workshop
Trip Planning Workshop

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Safety

ECSI Wilderness First Aid
ECSI Standard First Aid
ECSI CPR/AED for Adults, Children, & Infants

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Scouting Merit Badges

We provide workshops to help scouts complete merit badges. Mike (ID: 12914056) is a merit badge councilor with up to date Youth Protection Training. We can help with the following merit badges:

Backpacking
Camping
Canoeing
Environmental Science
First Aid
Fishing/Fly Fishing
Soil & Water Conservation
Whitewater (via Adventure Calls Outfitter)
Wilderness Survival

Why Outside Chronicles

We love and respect the outdoors. We want you to have the skills, fitness, and confidence to tackle any outdoor adventure.

What You Get

Enthusiastic and motivating guides that are occasionally funny. We are NYS licensed, insured, and trained. We work hard to make every adventure memorable and safe.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 137 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Emily Hayden 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. So far Ive completed the winter hiking challenge and the waterfall challenge. These challenges are super-fun, self -paced, with easy-intermediate-hard levels (you pick) there's always a finishers party somewhere cool, AND you contribute to a great donation: for waterfall challenge OC donated 10K to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeepers! Get off the couch and enjoy! Highly recommend!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jack Sternberg 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mike was a great and knowledgeable instructor. The class was very educational and fun. 10/10
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Breton Sloan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The wilderness first aid class is one of the best first aid classes I have participated in. I have taken the class twice now. I highly recomend this class to anyone who is interested in first aid or spending time in the backwoods.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Susan Young 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The writing class was very helpful. I enjoyed the combination of outside inspirational hiking and indoor class work.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Maryann griffin 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Beautiful hike. Great guides . Would highly recommend it .
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Penny Muniak 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An amazing trip to the High Peaks. Mike and Leah are awesome guides with an amazing plan for setting up the High Peak Hikes. You want to have an unforgettable experience, have Mike and Leah as your guide!!!!!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mary Holler 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 08/07/2025 Update: Group hike in the Adirondacks with Outside Chronicles last weekend:  It was an amazing trip and probably our best weekend in the ADK yet. My husband and I joined a group hike led by Mike from Outside Chronicles. We started with a 3.5-mile backpack to John’s Brook Lodge. Each day we tackled some very challenging rock scrambles and the teamwork and comradery to help each other navigate some steep slides and cliffs was truly bonding. We all successfully completed Mt. Haystack, Basic, and Saddleback Cliffs and then the next day we completed the cable route on Gothics, Armstrong, Upper Wolf jaw and even had enough steam to do Lower Wolf jaw. I doubt I could have accomplished without Mike and the team. We've been on a few of Mike's trip to the Adirondacks since my first review below. His offerings of classes really helped prepare us for this and the group hikes have all been super fun. They continue to get harder and more technical but following Mike's PEAK training and advice, I've been able to continue to get stronger and become a better hiker. 2023:  I haven’t hiked any of the high peaks in the ADK’s yet so I wanted to learn about them, the trails, rules/regulations, where to park, etc. I’m a bit nervous but know the more educated I am and the better prepared, the greater my opportunities for success (not to mention a boost to my confidence). Mike’s workshop was very educational and covered not only info about the peaks and the area but also covered what gear is needed, how to check the weather, how to train ahead of time, and lots of other things that I didn’t even think about.  Very informative and enjoyable!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Brianna L 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have taken a few classes and trips with Mike and it is always a good time. I have learned a lot from him and his courses, they have overall helped me become more confident in my outdoor adventures.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Amanda McCowen 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Recently went on the Minister Creek guided backpacking trip with Mike and Leah.  I had a wonderful time, and both of them were very helpful and knowledgeable.  They were patient with everyone's capabilities, and ensured we all had a great time.  The area was also beautiful, and it was a great way to tryout my gear and get into backpacking.