Category: Outdoor Resources
This is an excerpt from the guide book Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast, Second Edition, by David Goodman. 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 into the snow, we sense that we are the […]
The following is excerpted from AMC’s Essential Guide to Winter Recreation, by Andrew Vietze. A comfortable camp can make all the difference on a winter backpacking trip. After a long, cold day on the trail, the comforts of “home” mean even more than they do in summer, and replicating elements in this setup will […]
AMC volunteers are the driving force that moves AMC toward its goals. AMC volunteers touch all corners of conservation, recreation, and outdoor education and leadership with the work they do daily. From Maine to Virginia, volunteers maintain public trails, lead trips, and participate in conservation advocacy and community science. Looking for a way to […]
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 […]
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 […]
Fall is a magic time for all of us, but is particularly magical for photographers as they try to capture this awesome but fleeting display. It is common for casual photographers to feel the urge to set out to capture the colors around them. It is also common to feel frustrated that the resulting […]
Herb Greenberg was an accomplished psychologist and a professional colleague who left an indelible impression on my life, not because he was blind, but because he had a “soft spot for those who have not been given an equal and fair shot due to prejudice,” as Patrick Sweeney describes in his 2015 biography, What […]
The White Mountain National Forest is one of New Hampshire’s most beloved outdoor playgrounds. Its world-class hiking, mountain biking, cycling, and fishing—not to mention Mount Washington, the Northeast’s tallest peak—draw visitors from around the world. But overuse and underpreparedness have both strained the White Mountain landscape and resulted in an increase in rescues in […]
You’re out in the backcountry, miles from the nearest AMC composting privy and without a toilet-in-a-bag, and nature is calling. It’s a bowel movement. Never fear: if you know how to dig a hole for your waste—known colloquially as a “cat hole”—that complies with Leave No Trace principles, you’re free to go whenever. Here’s […]
Trail running has experienced a boom in recent years. According to the American Trail Running Association, the number of Americans who tried trail running doubled between 2007 and 2017 to 3 million. Participation in ultramarathons—defined as any race longer than 26.2 miles, and usually on trails—has increased 1,676 percent in the past quarter-century to more […]
We’re a patient lot, outdoors people, putting in a morning’s work just for a mountaintop view of the miles trudged. But if mother nature offers a boost, a little speed, who’s going to turn her down? Biking, skiing, even snowshoeing a downhill stretch will have you effortlessly flying—literally. Canoeing and kayaking are no different, only […]
Excerpted and adapted from the newly updated Massachusetts Trail Guide and Map, 11th ed., out now from AMC Books. From the summits of the Berkshires to the sands of Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts is home to a multitude of natural areas and recreational opportunities. Massachusetts has a rich tradition in land conservation […]
Visitors to the northern forests of New England often have one wish: to see a moose. But even though an adult moose can weigh upwards of 1,000 pounds and stand over six feet tall, they tend to be elusive creatures. While wildlife is unpredictable, moose are more often seen in certain seasons and locations—intentionally […]
Excerpted and adapted from the newly updated Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide and Map, 5th ed., out now from AMC Books. The trails in southern New Hampshire offer great variety, from easy strolls along the seacoast to strenuous trips ascending the bare, rocky crests of Mount Monadnock and Mount Cardigan. Notable benefits […]
You love to hike, but do you know the names of different trail formats and the common components you’ll encounter on an outing? The following is excerpted and adapted from the newly updated AMC’s Complete Guide to Trail Building and Maintenance, 5th ed. The general trail format will most likely be determined by […]
This was adapted from an article that originally appeared in the spring issue of Footnotes, the quarterly newsletter of AMC’s Delaware Valley Chapter. Whether you’re a newly trained or veteran outdoor leader ready to cautiously start leading events again, consider planning a family-friendly event—even if you haven’t led one before. In doing so, you will be […]
People tend not to climb New Hampshire’s Owl’s Head Mountain on a whim. The remote mountain is deep in the heart of the Pemigewasset Wilderness, surrounded by some of the most popular summits in the White Mountains, and offers no view. But for those certain goal-setters, Owl’s Head is a vitally important summit. At 4,025 […]
Late last fall, Appalachian Mountain Club staff and volunteers celebrated the opening of a 3-mile rail trail that is an important link in a larger recreation initiative in eastern Pennsylvania. Taking nearly a decade to come to fruition, the conversion of this former commuter rail line into the Upper Bucks Rail Trail was a key […]
Many outdoor enthusiasts have long known that time outside makes you feel good. In fact, spending 120 minutes a week in green spaces boosts your well-being, according to a 2019 study published in the journal Nature. Whether you decide to walk around your neighborhood for 20 minutes a day, take up birdwatching in a local […]
There are many ways to get outdoors all year round, including winter. Amid the social, physical, and mental health challenges presented by COVID-19, spending time outdoors may be more important this winter than ever. (Check out our Winter Survival Guide for some great ideas you can do anywhere.) Knowing where to look for more organized […]