Category: Features
From the peaks of Katahdin to our favorite local footpaths, the lands we cherish are indigenous lands. As we spend time outdoors this Native American Heritage Month, it’s important to not only discuss the unjust and often violent history of outdoor spaces in the U.S., but to also celebrate Native American perseverance and contributions to […]
A 24-Mile Journey with a 1-Year-Old Suggests a Quieter Mountain Way This story was originally published in the Summer/Fall 2022 issue of Appalachia Journal. My son was asleep on my back, head craned sideways as he slouched in a child carrier, oblivious to the marathon journey in front of us. We were hiking up the […]
Earlier this month, a group of outdoor enthusiasts gathered at AMC’s Medawisla Lodge for the inaugural See the Dark Festival – a weeklong celebration of the ecological, recreational, and cultural benefits of the night sky. Held just before the new moon for optimal star visibility, the event featured expert speakers, artists, and opportunities for stargazing. […]
The outdoor recreation and conservation industries play a significant role in advancing social justice principles to foster a more inclusive environment for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities, as well as those from other marginalized groups. Recognizing this reality, the organizers of the Rumney Together climbing festival dove headfirst into bringing important conversations to […]
The 1986 New York Times headline about Harriman State Park still rings true today: “For Hispanic New Yorkers, Summer Oasis” There’s a lot to love about Harriman, New York’s second largest state park. It features 31 lakes, such as the popular Lake Welch, and about 200 miles of trails. Hundreds of thousands of people from […]
On a busy Friday morning in New York City, a taxi ride from the Upper West Side to the Financial District can take nearly an hour, the entire journey enmeshed in the sounds and smells of the city: car horns, exhaust, yesterday’s trash, and the unfiltered greetings of other New Yorkers. But head just […]
You hear it before you see it… once the boat’s motor stops. In the recreation hall, a group sits in a semi-circle of folding chairs, working through a folk standard on an array of guitars, mandolins, and banjos. After a few chord progressions, they pause and run it back. Behind them, people sunbathe on […]
Since their first date hiking Mount Algonquin in the Adirondacks, Rachel and Marshall Rowe have spent the past 40 years trekking some of New England’s—and the world’s—most awe-inspiring trails. And as long-time members of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), the couple has experienced the best the organization has to offer. That’s why they launched this […]
National Trails Day® is an annual event hosted by the American Hiking Society that encourages support of our nation’s public trails. Taking place on the first Saturday in June, National Trails Day® is made up of public events across the U.S. aimed at advocacy, trail service, and celebrating the footpaths we love. There are plenty […]
Jason Strauss, MD, is Chair and Chief of Psychiatry at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston. As part of his medical practice, Dr. Strauss helps patients struggling with stress and anxiety. Here Dr. Strauss explains how getting outdoors can sometimes be the best medicine. May is mental health awareness month, and between lingering concerns […]
“The air just feels so good because it’s not in the city.” “It always feels like a much-needed breath of fresh air. I always feel better after.” “I met some new students that I had never talked to before.” These are just a few of the comments that school social worker Erin McNiff hears […]
This article was originally published in the Winter/Spring 2022 issue of Appalachia. For Thomas E. Musselman A European starling alights on the cedarwood nesting box. It starts to peck at the small round entrance hole as if trying to widen it. “Get away,” I scream, rushing down the steps of my front deck and across […]
It seems appropriate to share our annual Photo Contest winners just as winter gives way to spring. As the views we see outside our windows and along the trail begin to change, we’re excited to look back at the last year’s vistas and adventures. So excited, that we’re sharing six extra entries that didn’t win […]
Julia Khorana can remember a time when the Deerfield River in Western Massachusetts was nearly unusable by paddlers and whitewater lovers. The problem, back in the early 1990s, was that the old hydroelectric dam that held back water in the summer months resulted in an unpredictable schedule of when water would be released into […]
On January 22, Yvette Austin Smith became the new Chair of AMC’s Board of Directors, accepting the baton from outgoing Chair Elizabeth Ehrenfeld, who has led in that capacity since 2018. We recently connected with Yvette, who first joined AMC’s Board as a Director in 2016 and served as Vice Chair of the Board […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 following is the prologue of Andrew Vietze’s This Wild Land: Two Decades of Adventure as a Park Ranger in the Shadow of Katahdin, available for purchase now from AMC Books. Justine looks like a diver in a Jacques Cousteau special, scrambling from one rock to the next above me, climbing into the cloud. […]
Some people come into our lives to rekindle our spirits, motivate, and inspire us. A dozen years ago, Alison Darbee, Joe Murphy, and I—three strangers in whom an interest in hiking and mountain climbing had blossomed—found ourselves at a trailhead in the Adirondack Mountains at dawn preparing to hike the Santanoni Range. It is […]