White Mountain huts mark 120th year of backcountry mountain hospitality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2008
The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), 120 years after welcoming hikers to its first White Mountain hut, will continue the tradition of hut hiking and mountain hospitality with the opening of its full-service season on June 4.
Freshly prepared dinners and breakfasts, naturalist programs, and comfortable bunks offered during the full-service season at all eight AMC huts, located a day’s hike apart along the Appalachian Trail, take the “roughing it” out of overnights in the backcountry. Many of AMC’s huts are at or above tree-line in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, ideal vantage points for spectacular mountain views and sunsets, with opportunities to see rare alpine flowers. Lower elevation huts are easier hikes for families, with a waterfall or remote lake to explore nearby. Kids can stay busy at the huts earning their Jr. Naturalist patch.
This summer, hikers may mix or match any combination of AMC huts and White Mountain front-country lodges for stays of three or more nights and receive a discount of 10 to 20 percent Sunday through Friday. A special introductory rate of up to 12 percent savings is being offered at family-friendly Lonesome Lake Hut throughout the full-service season. Hut locations range from 2,700 to 5,050 feet, with the highest near the summit of Mt. Washington, and accommodate from 36 to 90 guests.
The start of the full-service season also marks the return of AMC’s hut crews, best known for entertaining guests with funny skits and serving up family-style meals to hungry hikers. Guests will recognize more than a few familiar faces this summer, with 75 percent of the entire hut crew returning from past seasons, some who have worked at the huts for up to eight seasons. One hut crew boasts 22 seasons between its six members. The eclectic mix of crew members often draw from their unique experiences, which have included doing research in Antarctica, teaching English in France, and working as a ship’s cook. Many hail from New England and study subjects such as science and the environment, bringing their knowledge of both the region and natural world to their conversations with guests and to evening naturalist programs at the huts.
The use of renewable energy and sustainable practices are also part of the hut experience. Retrofitted with green technologies such as solar, wind, and hydro power, AMC huts have earned “Environmental Champion” status from the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association’s Sustainable Lodging program.
The logistics of supplying tons of food and supplies and sustainably operating the “off-the-grid” huts to support over 50,000 guest overnights each year is a significant undertaking.
- Guests will consume more than 32 tons of food during the 14-weeks when all eights huts are open for full-service.
- Each crew member packs in approximately 45 pounds of fresh food and other supplies to the huts twice a week, covering 1.6 to 4.6 miles with a full pack every trip. This amounts to a total of 1,080 pounds carried per person between June and August.
- All crew members combined will hike in about three tons of fresh food and supplies to the huts over the course of three months.
All of the energy used by the eight huts to power lights, refrigeration, two-way radios, fire alarms, and well pumps is produced at the huts using green technologies. Some examples include:
- Each hour, between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, the solar panels at each AMC hut can potentially produce almost a kilowatt of electricity.
- Hydropower harnessed at Zealand Falls Hut to turn the well pump and an alternator that produces electricity exceeds hut usage.
- Solar energy heats hut well water to 60 degrees or more.
- Six of the eight huts use wind generators to produce up to 400 watts of energy in a 28 mph wind.
Rates and reservations
AMC’s full-service hut season runs June 4 through mid-October, with the highest elevation huts closing in mid-September. Stays at AMC’s full-service huts include shared bunkroom accommodations, family-style dinner and breakfast, and naturalist programs. For rates and reservations, call (603) 466-2727.
For full details of AMC’s discounted hut stays this summer, including mix or match stays at any combination of huts and White Mountain front-country lodges Sunday through Friday nights, plus special savings at Lonesome Lake Hut, visit www.outdoors.org/lodging/2008-open-reservations.cfm.
AMC's Summer Planning Guide highlights other AMC experiences at www.outdoors.org/summerguide.
For information on AMC’s commitment to sustainable operations and environmental stewardship in its huts, lodges, and sporting camps, see AMC's Green Promise statement at www.outdoors.org/lodging/green-promise.cfm.
AMC operates its huts in the White Mountain National Forest under special-use permits from the U.S. Forest Service. Lonesome Lake Hut is located in Franconia Notch State Park and is operated in partnership with the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Lands.
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.
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