Check out the following story ideas for inspiration or read AMC's winter press releases and winter multi-activity itineraries.
- Lodge-to-lodge skiing in the Maine Woods: 3- and 5-night itineraries in
Maine wilderness
- Outside your comfort zone: learning wilderness outdoor skills
- "Naturally" rejuvenating: great outdoors girlfriend getaway
- Snowshoeing by moonlight: winter from a different perspective
- Naturalist-led lodge-to-hut trips: snowshoe and cross-country ski overnight adventures in the White Mountains
- Rediscovering a historic ski lodge, with the conveniences of summer
- Navigating New England's winter wonderland: classic snowshoe, ski, and snowboard tours in New England
- Mt. Washington in winter: ten ways to explore the Northeast's highest peak
- Hiking the Appalachian Trail in winter: AT hiking and snowshoe loops in the Delaware Water Gap of New Jersey
- Winter Presidential Traverse: tackling New Hampshire's 4,000 footers
1. Lodge-to-lodge skiing in the Maine Woods: 3- and 5-night itineraries in Maine wilderness
AMC offers a unique opportunity to snowshoe and cross-country ski lodge-to-lodge on an expansive, protected natural landscape in the heart of Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness. Opt for the 3-day itinerary or build in extra days to explore the extensive local network of cross-country ski trails around AMC's lodges, mix in a few miles of snowshoeing, or simply enjoy some downtime to recharge. Each lodge features private cabins heated by wood stoves and freshly prepared meals, and a wood-fired sauna welcomes guests on the final leg of the trip.
Skiing between lodges, guests stay overnight at AMC's Medawisla Wilderness Lodge and Cabins, partner West Branch Pond Camps, and AMC's Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins -- all meals and gear shuttling are included, so travel is relatively light. The self-guided tour starts at Medawisla, with a choice of two routes to West Branch. The first is a nine-mile trip around Shaw Mountain, or long-distance skiers can traverse frozen Trout and Fourth Roach Ponds to reach the lodge. The most remote, narrow stretch of trail awaits the next day, while skiing down the Pleasant River Valley and past views of Baker, Hay, Gulf Hagas, and Indian Mountains en route to AMC’s Little Lyford, located about nine miles away.
2. Outside your comfort zone: learning wilderness outdoor skills
Learn winter outdoor skills as diverse as building snow shelters for overnights outdoors, building a personal sled for hauling gear, and honing cross-country ski techniques. The AMC this winter is introducing a new series of Maine Woods backcountry skills weekends led by Registered Maine Guides and offered at the AMC’s Maine Wilderness Lodges -- remote retreats for outdoor enthusiasts to explore the mountains and wilderness of the Moosehead Lake region with the comforts of woodstove-heated private cabins and home-cooked meals. The AMC’s
Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins and
Medawisla Wilderness Lodge and Cabins, both set within 66,500 acres of AMC conservation and recreation land, offer a unique opportunity to snowshoe and cross-country ski on an expansive, protected natural landscape in the heart of Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness.
For details, see press release >>
3. "Naturally" rejuvenating: great outdoors girlfriend getaway
Reconnect with friends and nature in beautiful Crawford Notch -- with doorstep access to an extensive trail network for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing and free use of L.L. Bean outdoor gear, plus a 50-minute spa treatment. The Appalachian Mountain Club's new “Great Outdoors” Girlfriend Getaway experience at Highland Lodge in New Hampshire’s White Mountains offers a wide range of self-guided hiking and snowshoeing possibilities for every ability level, from short lake loop trails to easier and moderately challenging hikes to a scenic outlook or lower-elevation summit with sweeping views of Crawford Notch. For experienced outdoor enthusiasts, trailheads for several of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks are within close reach, including Mt. Jackson, Mt. Tom, Mt. Field, and Mt. Willey. Cross-country skiers can also easily connect with the groomed Bretton Woods Nordic ski network using a trail from the lodge's backdoor. A spa treatment at the nearby Omni Mount Washington Resort awaits after a workout on the trails. Guests may also arrange free guided activities at the lodge, subject to guide availability, as part of the AMC's Outdoor Explorations program. For details, see press release >>
4. Snowshoeing by moonlight: winter from a different perspective
Moonlit snowshoeing is a sensory-rich experience, posing the challenge to rely not only on sight to navigate trails and also to listen for owl calls and other distinctive forest sounds for a deeper appreciation of the nocturnal natural world. The AMC this winter, on or around the full moon, is offering free, family-friendly full moon snowshoe tours each month to guests at the AMC’s
Joe Dodge Lodge in New Hampshire's White Mountains. The tours expand on the lodge's cross-country ski and tube for free deal. Start by fueling up with a hearty dinner at Joe Dodge Lodge, and then head out on snowshoes with an AMC naturalist for a couple of hours to explore the winter landscape in Pinkham Notch by the light of a full moon. The next day, get an early start on snowshoeing and cross-country skiing for free on the groomed network at nearby Great Glen Trails, making sure to leave time for the tubing hill.
For details, see press release >>
5. Naturalist-led lodge-to-hut trips: snowshoe and cross-country ski overnight adventures in the White Mountains
For a unique backcountry winter adventure, without having to camp, travel lodge-to-hut in New Hampshire's White Mountains. AMC’s naturalist-led lodge-to-hut overnight trips blend winter ecology with a guided snowshoe or cross-country ski tour to one of AMC’s backcountry winter huts. Explore less-traveled, snow-covered trails while following animal tracks and hearing about winter ecology from guide Nancy Ritger, an AMC naturalist for nearly 20 years. The first night is spent at AMC's Highland Lodge or Joe Dodge Lodge with the comforts of full-service.
6. Rediscovering a historic ski lodge, with the conveniences of summer
Ski back in time this winter on historic backcountry runs. Some of the first ski trails cut in the Northeast are on the slopes of Mt. Cardigan and Firescrew, only a two-hour drive from Boston in New Hampshire's Lakes Region. AMC's Cardigan Lodge at the base of the mountain is a convenient jumping off point for these famous trails. And with the lodge continuing to serve up freshly prepared meals on weekends this winter, a popular amenity carried over last year from the summer full-service season, snow conditions are all skiers will have to worry about.
With the added convenience, it is also easier for kids to sample a taste of winter at this lodge long popular with families during the summer. The sledding hill is a favorite for thrill rides, and easy to moderate snowshoe hikes in the lower valleys will round out the days.
7. Navigating New England's winter wonderland: classic snowshoe, ski, and snowboard tours in New England
Mountainous New England terrain in combination with long, snowy winters make for many classic snowshoe, ski, and snowboard tours - and also make sorting out the best routes for all ages and ability levels no small task. Just a few of the classic backcountry ski tours recommended by AMC Backcountry Skiing Adventures: Maine and New Hampshire, plus snowshoe treks, are:
- Moderate ski: Pinkham Notch, NH: Old Jackson Rd., down the Mt. Washington Auto Rd, and back on Connie's Way Ski Trail
- Moderate ski and snowboard: Mt. Cardigan, NH: Duke's Trail
- Moderate snowshoe: Crawford Notch, NH: Mt. Willard
- Moderate to more difficult snowshoe: Gulf Hagas, Maine: Rim Trail
- Most difficult ski and snowboard: Mt. Cardigan, NH: Alexandria Trail
AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center/Joe Dodge Lodge, Highland Lodge, Cardigan Lodge, and Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins are all ideal basecamps for many classic New England ski and snowboard runs and snowshoe excursions.
For more route recommendations, see AMC Destinations multi-activity itineraries.
8. Mt. Washington in winter: ten ways to explore the Northeast's highest peak
Enjoy the giant of the northeast in winter, whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or expert in the outdoors. Here are ten ways to explore Mt. Washington in winter, as recommended by AMC's member magazine, AMC Outdoors:
- Beginner: Snowshoe Glen Boulder Trail, explore Great Glen Trails, cross-country ski Old Jackson Road, hike the Tuckerman Ravine Trail
- Intermediate: Stay overnight at the Mt. Washington Observatory, hike/snowshoe 19-Mile Brook Trail to AMC Carter Notch Hut, ski/snowboard John Sherburne Trail
- Expert: Ice climb Pinnacle Gully, climb Mt. Washington, winter camp at Hermit Lake, learn about avalanche safety
Read the full story and details of all recommended activities.
9. Hiking the Appalachian Trail in winter: AT hiking and snowshoe loops in the Delaware Water Gap of New Jersey
The Appalachian Trail is well traveled by a mix of thru-hikers, section-hikers, and day-hikers during the warmer months, but with winter comes solitude on this famous trail. AMC Mohican Outdoor Center in the Delaware Water Gap area of New Jersey is an ideal jumping off point for a number of Appalachian Trail loop hikes or snowshoe excursions when the snow is flying.
- Easier, family friendly: For an easy, family-friendly hike past the local waterfalls down to the Delaware River, take the Coppermine Trail off of the AT. Go two miles past the Coppermine Falls and down to the river, where you can see the remains of abandoned mines that date back to the eighteenth century. The trek is four miles roundtrip with an elevation change of approximately 700 feet.
- Moderate to more difficult: For a more difficult hike, stay on the AT going south along the Kittatinny Ridge until you get to the famed Raccoon Ridge, a peak in the Kittatinny Mountains with outstanding views of the New Jersey Highlands to the east and the Delaware River and Pocono Mountains to the west. The round-trip is 5.8 miles with a 500-foot elevation gain.
- Moderate to more difficult: For those hiking north on the AT, take the 5.8-mile loop trail out past Catfish Fire Tower and make the trip back to Mohican on the Rattlesnake Swamp Trail, passing by Catfish Pond. Or, take the shorter 2.9-mile loop, if you’ve got less time.
10. Winter Presidential Traverse: tackling New Hampshire's 4,000 footers
Peak-bagging lists like New Hampshire's 48 4,000-Footers are great motivators that drive people to new heights...quite literally. But there's the added twist of tackling these lists in winter for those ready to conquer a new hiking milestone, and the allure of the Winter Presidential Traverse is the possibility of bagging a few of the Presidents on this list in a single push for these summits, all while contending with some of the worst weather in the world on Mt. Washington.
The AMC Four Thousand Footer Club formed in the 1950s to recognize hikers who have climbed all 48 peaks of the White Mountain Four Thousand Footers. To date, more than 8,000 hikers have applied for membership.
This winter, AMC will offer a multi-day Intro to Winter Mountaineering program as part of AMC Outdoor Explorations.
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