Author: AMC Staff

4 Ways Land Conservation Helps Fight Climate Change
The ambitious goal to protect 30 percent of the Earth’s lands and waters by 2030 comes with numerous benefits, most notably the resiliency against climate change. As a participant in this 30 by 30 initiative, the United States aims to safeguard its lands, waters, and wildlife habitats to promote biodiversity and provide more recreation […]

Three Season Hiking and Backpacking Gear List
All of us aspire to travel through the mountains unencumbered, but experienced backcountry travelers and outdoor professionals understand that you need to pack essential items to manage risks, be comfortable, and have fun while on the trails. To help you prepare for your next hiking or backpacking adventure, here’s a checklist of all the gear […]

Franconia Ridge Trail Loop Gets Boost In Federal Budget
$1.1 million appropriation will support needed trail repairs for one of the White Mountain’s busiest hiking destinations. BOSTON, MA, March 15 – The Franconia Ridge Trail Loop – an 11.4-mile trail that can see up to 1,000 hikers per day in peak season – will undergo much needed repair and realignment as the result of a […]

Trail Keepers: AMC’s Commitment to Resilient Footpaths in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
From Pennsylvania to the Canadian border, AMC develops, manages, and protects more than 1,800 miles of long-distance and regional trails, including trails easily accessible to urban and suburban populations. With your support, we work with countless land managers across ten states, support thousands of trails volunteers, and tackle everything from basic maintenance needs to […]

Black History Month: Sharing Personal Experiences in the Outdoors
As we share stories this Black History Month on the accomplishments and progress of the Black community, we also realize that there’s still much more work to be done. While we strive to share our love and excitement for the outdoors, it’s important to understand that the experiences of others aren’t always positive and acknowledge […]

Black History Month: Celebrating the Achievements of Black Explorers
The history of Black explorers spans centuries, but unfortunately many of their stories are omitted from the storylines we hear about today. Take, for example, Black American Matthew Henson, who was part of Robert Peary’s 1908-1909 expedition to reach the geographic North Pole. Following the team’s successful attempt, Peary, a white man, received credit as […]

How to Prepare for a Winter Stay at an AMC Hut
Staying overnight at an AMC hut is a fun and enjoyable way to experience the White Mountains. Of the eight huts, three (Lonesome Lake, Zealand Falls, and Carter Notch) are open during the winter months for a self-service option, providing a roof over your head and a bed to sleep on, albeit without the warm […]

Black History Month: Contemplating Inclusion in the Outdoors
Black History Month is meant to be a time of celebration and commemoration. We share stories of history, of art, of culture, of science, of standing up for equal rights and staring down adversity to help create a better, more inclusive world. It’s an important reminder that Black History contributes to every part of our […]

The Trail to Here: A Conversation with Susan Arnold
Last month, Susan Arnold was appointed Interim President and CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), marking the first time a woman has led the organization in its 145-year history. We talked to Susan about her history with the organization, what sets it apart from others, and what she envisions for its future. Tell us about […]

Best Backcountry Skiing at Mount Cardigan
This is an excerpt from the guide book Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast, Second Edition, by David Goodman. Check availability and book your stay at Cardigan. Every time skiers glide from a trailhead and vanish into a winter wilderness, we feel like explorers setting off for the New World. Laying first tracks […]

Susan Arnold Named Interim CEO of Appalachian Mountain Club
The Appalachian Mountain Club’s Board of Directors has appointed Susan Arnold, AMC’s Vice President of Conservation, as interim CEO. Susan will transition into the role of interim CEO on January 3, 2022, taking over for John Judge, who announced last month he would be stepping down from his position as President and CEO. This is […]

AMC President and CEO John Judge Accepts Role at Different Organization
After ten years as President and CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), John Judge announced that he is stepping down. He has accepted the position of President and CEO at the conservation non-profit organization, The Trustees, based in Massachusetts. Judge will continue in his role with AMC until late January. AMC’s Board of Directors […]

Track Alpine Plants Across the Northeast with iNaturalist
The Northeast Alpine Flower Watch tracks the effects of climate change by gathering flowering time data, using the iNaturalist app and platform, with the help of hikers in alpine areas. AMC has partnered with the Adirondack Mountain Club, Green Mountain Club, and Baxter State Park to achieve this goal in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. This study is an […]

Help track flowers and fauna along the Appalachian Trail with iNaturalist
The Appalachian Trail (AT) covers approximately 2,190 miles along the East Coast, bringing hikers as high as 6,600 feet in elevation. This landscape provides an excellent area for understanding how plant phenology—the timing of their life-cycle events like flowering and fruiting—is related to climate and how changes across the AT’s climate gradients could impact ecosystem resilience and biodiversity. […]

AMC Annual Volunteer Awards
Volunteers bring AMC’s mission to life from Maine to Virginia, often serving as the first point of contact for our outdoor experiences, learning opportunities, and conservation activities. They maintain trails, organize and lead trips, give naturalist programs, chair committees, manage facilities, maintain websites, edit newsletters, budget funds, train leaders, plan events, sit on the […]

Record Snow Observations with AMC Community Science
Help AMC expand the Community Snow Observations (CSO) network in the Eastern US. This community science effort engages winter recreationists in making snow measurements around the world and helps crowdsource mountain snow depth in the Appalachian Mountains filling in gaps where traditional measurements are scarce. Your measurements will help scientists improve snow cover estimates […]

Wyn Wiley/Pattie Gonia Part II: The Queen in All of Us
With an Instagram following of more than 360k, you might have heard of Pattie Gonia. But she is more than just an Instagram influencer posting elaborate photos in five-inch heels and full-blown makeup in the wilderness. This drag queen is building a community for queer people, allies & our planet. Today we talk with Wyn […]

Northeast Fall Foliage Tracker
Don’t miss out on peak colors this season! Get a head start on your autumn adventure plans by using our fall foliage tracker. Whether you’re headed out for a day trip, looking to join a guided adventure, or planning to set up basecamp at one of our huts or lodges, our tracker will help guide […]

Celebrate AMC’s Maine Dark Sky Designation
Join the Appalachian Mountain Club in celebrating the recent designation of AMC’s Maine Woods property as an International Dark Sky Park! Our virtual event will take place on November 11th at 6:30pm EST. The AMC Maine Woods International Dark Sky Park lies at the edge of the North Maine Woods, an expanse of more than […]

Wyn Wiley/ Pattie Gonia Part 1: The Queen in All of Us
Pattie Gonia is out to save the environment. Through the art of drag—defined by the National Center for Transgender Equality as a type of entertainment where people dress up and perform in highly stylized ways, typically including one gender dressing up as the opposite–Pattie Gonia advocates for LGBTQ rights as well as for the protection […]