AMC’s Best Backpacking in New England: A Guide to Thirty-Three of the Best Multi-Day Trips from Maine to Connecticut
By Matt Heid
Paperback • $18.95
320 pgs • 6 x 9 • ISBN 978-192917374-7
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2008
AMC’s Best Backpacking in New England leads you through some of the wildest, least-touched trails on over 30 trips that take you into the most spectacular and remote areas in the region. This new guide from the publisher of the
Best Day Hikes series provides a comprehensive look at what you’ll need to plan a memorable backpacking trip in areas known for rugged terrain, majestic forests, and exhilarating mountaintop views.
Explore places like the Pachaug State Forest in Connecticut, where you’ll find more than 50 miles of trails and roads, plus a pleasantly remote shelter for overnight accommodations. Families can explore Sandy Neck Beach, a 6-mile-long spit of dunes that lines the south shore of Cape Cod. The sandy beach extends along the northern edge of the 1,500-acre peninsula and features a small backcountry camping area.
There are numerous options for more experienced backpackers looking for a challenging trip. Lye Brook Wilderness in the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont shines in the autumn, its 18,000-acre parcel of woodlands providing rocky terrain, a bold stream crossing, and bog-hopping. A side-trip to Lye Brook Falls—the state’s highest waterfall—is not to be missed.
Ready for an epic backpacking adventure? Try backpacking in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness. This is the longest section of the Appalachian Trail that is not crossed by a paved road, so be prepared for a physically-demanding journey through a range of elevations and landscape that reward with ever-changing, spectacular scenery.
Trips are rated by difficulty—from Easy to Epic—and each description includes photos and regional locator and trip maps. Many trips are loop hikes, simplifying travel planning. Overnight options—including campsites and lean-tos—are also listed, as well as tips on safety and gear to better prepare you for a challenging and rewarding backcountry experience.
Whether you’re new to backpacking and are looking for a two-day trip, or you’re an enthusiast seeking the most remote trails for an extended journey, this guide will become your essential reference for choosing exciting multi-day backpacking trips.
AMC’s Best Backpacking in New England is available at local bookstores and outdoor retailers, as well as online at www.outdoors.org/amcstore.
Special Features - Locator and trip maps for easy planning
- Detailed trip descriptions including trip highlights, a list of nearby campsites and lean-tos, and recommended maps to bring along.
- Summaries of distance in mileage, total elevation, difficulty level, and number of days to complete the trip
- Trips listed by theme, including Best Waterfalls, Sweeping Vistas, and Good for Kids
- Helpful information on safety, gear, and wilderness ethics
- Notes on New England geography, seasonal weather, and natural history
About the Author Matt Heid holds a degree in Earth & Planetary Science from Harvard University and is a former senior editor of AMC Outdoors, the member magazine of the Appalachian Mountain Club. He has worked for REI for more than nine years, and leads trips and teaches classes in outdoor photography, natural history, and navigation. This is his third book.
About the Appalachian Mountain Club Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the U.S. With 90,000 members throughout the Northeast, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and wise use of the mountains, rivers, and trails of the Appalachian region. To find out more about AMC Books, visit www.outdoors.org/publications
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