Client Reviews

Ed guided our family of 4 thru Devils Quarry, a rocky and hilly climb that led to an area with beautiful man-made stone formations. Ed was very professional and knowledgeable about the area, and came equipped with tools/safety protocol plus a mini stove for coffee and hot chocolate. Our 6 and 9 year old boys enjoyed chattering with Ed during the 3 hour hike! We would absolutely recommend Ed as a guide for any hiking/backpacking trip!

My husband and I were hiking down Overlook Mtn. when Trish (see next review) and Ed were came down behind us. We're retired, and while fit, not that fit. My husband was in a lot of pain, knees buckling, legs shaking, feeling faint. I knew I couldn't hold him up and had no idea how much further we had to go.
I called out to Ed - he's tall, very fit, and, it turned out, also a well-prepared first responder. Ed and Trish stopped; Ed was careful to assess the situation. We ended up walking, very, very slowly and carefully down the rest of the mountain. Once Ed took charge, I had no worries about my husband (and forgot about my own aching muscles). We would hire Ed in a heartbeat.

I decided that for my 40th birthday I wanted to go hiking in the Catskills. I always wanted to go but never went. As a Hiking beginner I decided to hire a guide. I was nervous about going with someone I never met before. As we live in the same area he agreed to meet with me before hand to talk about the trip. He planned everything out to ensure that I was able to do the things I really wanted to do. We hit some wet weather and he was able to change the schedule around so we could still hike. He even helped me find a hotel. In addition to all of this I learned a lot about hiking. I look forward to learning a lot more!

Ed is the best guide ever!! I have hiked many Adirondack peaks over the past 61 years and never needed or used a guide. However, for this trip I felt it was a necessity because of my age. I could not have chosen a better guide! My daughter, a friend and I, with our guide, Ed, backpacked into Skylight Brook at the base of Mt. Allen, climbed Allen with all its slides and red slime algae, and backpacked the 8 miles back out. Ed was a terrific guide and actually carried my pack, along with his own 50 pound pack when I had some difficulty the last half mile going in and again that same stretch ( uphill) on the way out! He was there every step I took climbing Allen, testing each wet section for slickness, offering a knee to stand on (!) as well as a strong hand grip over places where I felt unsteady. Although I was ready to quit and turn back 3 times before the summit, Ed and my daughter kept me going so that I was able to excitedly, at age 77, reach the summit of Allen on a gloriously beautiful day! It was a difficult trip back to camp because I slipped on the red slime and fell. (No major injuries but lost confidence and steadiness). The rest of the hike was long and in the dark with headlamps! We arrived at camp a little before 9:00 pm. Then Ed worked his magic with an awesome, hot, delicious stew. Ed is the Mountain Guide Gourmet, and his backpacking meals are made with fresh, healthy foods. They and his home- dehydrated trail snacks were fantastic! Ed was kind and patient. He adjusted his pace to mine and was always aware of what I needed. He was calm, confident and caring. He showed concern for our comfort. He had a good sense of humor and fun stories! I enjoyed the luxury of being well taken care of! Ed, you are the best! Thanks for helping make my Allen Adventure a peak experience!

After 3 challenging backpacks with Ed, I feel very confident planning a backpack of my own. Being uncertain of the gear, prep, cooking, water -all of it-in the beginning was why I booked trips with Ed What I didn't expect was to learn about the flora and fauna, a bit of history, and how to REALLY cook in the backcountry! This guy can cook! If you are looking to try out backpacking, this is the way to do it. It will build your confidence and skills. I've done the Sewards, Santanonis, and an EPIC trip covering Cliff, Redfield, Skylight, Marcy and Gray...what a trip. I am a better and more confident hiker. Thank you, Ed!

This summer I learned the basics of backpacking in the Adirondack's under Ed's guidance - what a wonderful way to hike the long and hard 4000' footer mountains! I did 4 trips with him from the Catskill beginner overnighter to 3 ADK high peak trips which included Mount Allen, The Santanoni Range and the "big 5" peaks of Marcy, Skylight, Gray, Cliff and Redfield.

I am an avid hiker but was a total newbie in terms of backpacking, and had to borrow most of the overnight gear from Ed initially. This taught me about what kind of gear I wanted to invest in, which I eventually did, (mostly ultralight). We had lots of discussion and I learned how to do everything including choose gear, distribute the weight in my pack, set up a tent, choose a safe and legal campsite, prepare and store food to protect from bears etc. Ed loves to cook up a good meal in the woods, and you will always have some fresh elements like vegetables from his garden, as well as delicious hot meals including his signature stew. It was nice not to have to think and plan while enjoying these backpack trips, as Ed is an expert guide who does all that for you.  I'm ready to go out on my own now, but what a great experience learning the ropes with Ed. Many, many thanks!

I had a great time with Ed from Eastern Outdoor Experiences. I am very happy I chose him to guide my first Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness Backpacking Trip. (June 2019)

Thanks Ed!! Your passion for the great outdoors along with your expertise and guidance made my first (newbie) snowshoe hike a fantastic experience that brought me great joy. I learned so much too. Looking forward to the next outdoor adventure!

Ed led us on an unmaintained trail from the LOJ to Mount Marshall, my longest ever ADK hike to date! We did almost 15 miles and 3,000' elevation gain with over 32 minor stream crossings and a hike-slog up Cold Brook Pass. Since the hurricane this trail is no longer maintained, has lots of blow down and clambering over boulders and downed trees was the slowest going part of the day. It's also easy to lose the trail here, since part of the pass is literally a river bed not a trail.



It was great to be guided by Ed who is very experienced in the woods and also in navigating with map and compass when needed. He's over prepared which makes for a relaxing outdoor experience for everyone else. On hikes that are difficult or have tricky route finding it's nice to be able to enjoy the journey and not worry about the logistics, Ed does that for you. All-in-all a great day in the ADK's with Ed and Eastern Outdoor Experiences!

I just completed my first guided backpacking vacation with licensed guide Ed Moran. I camped, and hiked up Table Mountain on my vacation. The views where amazing, the campsite was next to a babbling brook complete with a fire pit, and wooden seating. The lovely tent area was shaded which provided comfort, and quiet for a great night sleep. On top of all of that was the five star menu of grilled steaks, potatoes, with salad, home made omelets, and so much more. This was truly luxury backpacking. In addition to all of that Ed Moran provided detailed, and technical instructions on hiking up and down hills, campsite selection, camp fire starting, water filtration, and so much more. This was truly a vacation that exceeded all my expectations, and I would highly recommend Ed Moran to anyone considering a backpacking trip whether you are a beginner or seasoned pro.