Author: Matt Morris
It’s 5:30am. The sun hasn’t risen over Mount Washington, but AMC Hermit Lakes Winter Caretaker Eli Hanschka is already out in the cold, looking at snow. Each morning on the job begins this way for Hanschka, and for many of his fellow caretakers. From his cabin, Hanschka walks a short distance to his “snow plot,” […]
From the peaks of Katahdin to our favorite local footpaths, the lands we cherish are indigenous lands. As we spend time outdoors this Native American Heritage Month, it’s important to not only discuss the unjust and often violent history of outdoor spaces in the U.S., but to also celebrate Native American perseverance and contributions to […]
“This is a pathfinder, pure and simple. Therefore, it is about as colorful as a railroad timetable.” Ralph Larrabee, White Mountain Guide editor from 1917 to 1935, saw his publication in simple terms. But while the White Mountain Guide may be succinct, it has inspired more than a century of winding trails and colorful adventures. The […]
The 1986 New York Times headline about Harriman State Park still rings true today: “For Hispanic New Yorkers, Summer Oasis” There’s a lot to love about Harriman, New York’s second largest state park. It features 31 lakes, such as the popular Lake Welch, and about 200 miles of trails. Hundreds of thousands of people from […]
On June 10th, 2022, AMC staff met virtually with a group of middle and high school students from the cities of Lawrence and Lowell, Mass. While AMC staff often talk with young people, this time was a little different: The students were presenting their own work. For the past year, students at three local schools, […]
The last two years prompted some changes to the AMC lodging experience. Throughout this difficult time, we’re proud of the way we’ve adapted to circumstances, while still maintaining what makes a trip to an AMC location so special: Spending time in the outdoors with friends, both old and new. As we look forward to the […]
You hear it before you see it… once the boat’s motor stops. In the recreation hall, a group sits in a semi-circle of folding chairs, working through a folk standard on an array of guitars, mandolins, and banjos. After a few chord progressions, they pause and run it back. Behind them, people sunbathe on […]
For many hikers, the ideal trail is a remote trail; the farther from civilization the better. The New England National Scenic Trail (NET) is not that trail. The 215-mile footpath runs from the Long Island Sound in Connecticut to the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border, passing through some of the region’s most striking vistas and dense […]
Take a walk through the countryside or forests of New England and there’s a good chance you’ll come across a stone wall. Maybe even several stone walls. Sometimes they mark clear property lines that stand today, while other times they’re deep in the woods—a man-made oddity in a seemingly wild place. At one point in […]
Forest fire lookout towers are a common feature of mountain summits here in the Northeast. Made up of a cement base with a wooden compartment above it on stilts, with a ladder or stairs leading to the top, it provides 360-degree views of the surrounding area. Sometimes hikers can climb to the top and take […]
Planning a hike with a disability is no easy feat. Information on trail accessibility can be hard to come by or inaccurate, even in the age of the internet. What’s wheelchair accessible in one part of the year may also be impassable mere weeks later, whether because of snow, ice, or mud. So, what’s an […]