Fall savings of $25 offered at New Hampshire and Maine lodges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2008

The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) this fall is adding to the benefits of carpooling by offering a $25 coupon to guests traveling together. As part of its “Green Promise” environmental commitment, AMC is encouraging energy efficiency while also offering special savings to further ease the rising cost of travel. Guests carpooling to one of AMC’s New Hampshire or Maine lodges this fall can apply the discount toward their next stay through May 31, 2009.

With a choice of five AMC lodges in Northern New England, leaf peepers and outdoor enthusiasts will find themselves immersed in the vibrant oranges, yellows, and reds of the foliage season as the region is blanketed in color throughout September and October.

Once guests arrive, there is little reason to carry the car keys with so many outdoor activities within walking distance. All of the lodges are located in or near National Forests, State Parks, and other forestland, with doorstep access to many miles of hiking trails; ponds and lakes for canoeing, kayaking, and fly fishing; diverse natural habitats for wildlife watching; and backcountry skiing trails.

Carpoolers can stay at AMC’s Highland Lodge and Joe Dodge Lodge in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, as well as Cardigan Lodge in the Lakes Region. In the Moosehead Lake Region, AMC’s Little Lyford Pond Camps and Medawisla Wilderness Camps offer a more remote setting.

In the White Mountains, AMC’s Hiker Shuttle runs on fall weekends between the Highland Lodge, Joe Dodge Lodge, and major trailheads to give guests additional group transportation options, plus greater convenience in planning lodge-to-hut or multi-day backcountry hiking trips. AMC’s rideshare bulletin board at www.outdoors.org also facilitates guest carpooling.

AMC’s Green Promise represents a long-standing commitment to using AMC’s lodges and huts as models for sustainable operations and environmental stewardship. These policies are designed to both reduce environmental impact and provide an opportunity for guests to learn how to practice conservation at home. In addition to energy conservation through practices such as carpooling, the Green Promise extends to water conservation, waste reduction and recycling, green purchasing, guest education, and minimizing backcountry impact.

Rates and reservations
To participate in AMC’s “Save Green for Fall” promotion, carpools should include at least any three adults (over 12 years old) or two families who travel in one vehicle for an overnight stay at AMC’s Highland Lodge, Joe Dodge Lodge, Cardigan Lodge, Little Lyford Pond Camps, or Medawisla Wilderness Camps. For reservations, call (603) 466-2727.

The discount coupon will be distributed starting August 25 through December 31, 2008. Each carpooling party will receive one $25 coupon. Holiday blackout periods apply when redeeming the coupon.

Starting August 15, visit AMC’s Fall Planning Guide at www.outdoors.org/fallguide for more details about fall family weekends, scenic fall foliage deals and packages, and 50+ adventures.

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the nation. With 90,000 members in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and wise use of the mountains, rivers and trails of the Appalachian region. The AMC supports natural resource conservation while encouraging responsible recreation, based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends upon first-hand enjoyment of the natural environment.