AMC Presents: AMC Huts Evening Program

Distance hikers Mike and Lori Innes provide an overview of life at AMC’s Backcountry Huts, with stories and photos of these 8 amazing backcountry places.

Highland Happenings Featured Evening Programs are FREE and OPEN to the public. For more information, please call (603) 278-4453.

AMC Presents: Tai Chi Walk Around the Lake

Instructor Ruth Inness will lead the group for a relaxing walk around Ammonoosuc Lake after dinner, where they will have a chance to connect with nature as they practice the movements of Tai Chi.

Highland Happenings Featured Evening Programs are FREE and OPEN to the public. For more information, please call (603) 278-4453.

AMC Presents: Mountains of Stars – Astronomy at Crawford Notch

Dr. Doug Arion will give a presentation on the intricate and fascinating connections between life on Earth and the history and phenomena of the Universe around us. You’ll have a chance to view stars through telescopes, or check out our new indoor planetarium.

Happenings Featured Evening Programs are FREE and OPEN to the public. For more information, please call (603) 278-4453.

AMC Presents: History of Crawford Notch

Historian Bill Moss shares stories of the unique characters, landscapes and events of the amazing history of this unique area.

Highland Happenings Featured Evening Programs are FREE and OPEN to the public. For more information, please call (603) 278-4453.

AMC Presents: The People’s Forest – The Story of the White Mountain National Forest

A Featured Film Screening. This is the dramatic story of how those unlikely allies saved the White Mountains and created over 50 new National Forests and Grasslands in 40 states, totaling more than 20 million acres of public land.

Highland Happenings Featured Evening Programs are FREE and OPEN to the public. For more information, please call (603) 278-4453.

AMC Presents: Adventures with a Wildlife Camera

Join Allison Bell, author of Field Guide to the New England Alpine Summits, as she shares her photography expertise in this engaging evening program. Learn basics of wildlife camera operation, explore strategies for set-up and locations, and discover possibilities for natural history observations.

Highland Happenings Featured Evening Programs are FREE and OPEN to the public. For more information, please call (603) 278-4453.

Earth Day Celebration at the AMC Highland Center

Join AMC for our celebration of Earth Day! On Saturday, April 22, at AMC’s Highland Center, we’ll have an open house all day from 10am-4pm, with an outdoor picnic lunch from 11am-4pm. We’ll have family friendly activities ongoing throughout the day, including Trailhead Trash pickup, Recycled Crafts, Litter Relay, Energy Savings, Citizen Science, and more. We’ll also have representation from local conservation advocates and businesses on hand throughout the day for Q&A. This is a great opportunity for both kids and adults to get involved in conservation. The event will take place rain or shine, with lots of indoor activities in case of rain. All activities are FREE and OPEN to the public!

Activity Stations: Ongoing, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — • Recycled Crafts • Earth’s Geology • Energy Savings • Green Technology • Leave No Trace • Citizen Science

Scheduled Activities:

10:30 a.m. – Trailhead Trash Pickup

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Earth Day Outdoor Picnic

12 p.m. – Kids’ Scavenger Hunt

2 p.m. – Litter Relay

3 p.m. – Dark Skies Talk

5 p.m. – Social Hour & Meet Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust’s Rebecca Brown

For more information, please call (603) 278-4453 or visit the event page on Facebook.

Mud Season Hiking Dos and Don’ts

Article by REBECCA M. FULLERTON

Mud season hiking etiquette calls for staying in the middle of the trail and stepping on rocks, when possible.

Mud season can be a challenge for hikers and trail maintainers alike. So if you want to hike in the spring, knowing how to safely enjoy soggy trails without destroying them is an essential outdoor skill.

Wet Trails are Fragile

“More and more people are hiking year-round, and while it is wonderful to have people enjoying the trails, [hikers] are also having an impact,” says Alex DeLucia, the manager of AMC’s trails volunteers and Leave No Trace programs.

According to DeLucia, the saturated surfaces following spring snowmelt are a trail maintainer’s nightmare. Each hiker’s step churns up mud and sets the stage for serious erosion. “Some maintainers would like to see most trails closed in mud season, but we prefer to ask people to hike responsibly in all seasons,” he says.

Early spring hiking etiquette requires always walking in the center of the treadway. Sticking to rocks wherever possible will preserve both the trail and your footwear, and stepping into water and mud when necessary will minimize trail damage. Although you may be tempted to walk along the sides of the trail to keep your feet dry, doing so loosens soil and makes the trail more susceptible to erosion.

Mud and Ice are Slippery

A muddy trail forces you to slow down and pay attention to each step. Lug-soled hiking boots caked with mud don’t provide much traction, and a slip could be embarrassing or, worse, lead to injury. Expect to hike slower than normal and plan a shorter hike than you would when trails are dry. Once you do hit the trail, proceed with caution.

Trekking poles are helpful on wet trails, both to keep you upright and to probe the depths of what you’re stepping into. But, DeLucia cautions, poles loosen soil and accelerate erosion, so minimize your impact by fitting them with rubber tips.

Trails at high altitudes or in shaded areas can pose an additional challenge, with rails of winter ice lingering down the center of the trail. Traction aids, such as MICROspikes, are essential in these conditions.

Choose your Hike Wisely

A trail you can hike in soggy spring conditions without causing irreparable damag is a rare and precious find. This is not the season for exploring lowlands or wetlands, nor is it the time to hike steep basins, such as the Great Gulf or Wild River wilderness areas in the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF), where crossing runoff-swollen streams is dangerous.

In the mountains, the best spring trails are well-constructed, well-traveled routes that have been hardened for heavy use; the lower half of the Tuckerman Ravine Trail in the WMNF is a perfect example. Or follow a south-facing, rocky ridgeline trail; Old Toll Road to White Cross on Mount Monadnock in southern New Hampshire is a personal favorite. You’ll still encounter mud and ice, just not as much.

If you want an absolutely clear conscience, hike a sandy coastal route, such as the Great Island Trail in Wellfleet, Mass., or a road that’s closed in the spring, such as those on Mount Greylock in western Massachusetts, or Pack Monadnock or Cathedral Ledge in New Hampshire. Mud season is also an opportune time to explore old railbeds, like the Presidential Rail Trail between Gorham and Whitefield, N.H., which were built with heavier traffic in mind.

Keep Feet Dry and Comfy

Choosing springtime footwear is a conundrum: 6-inch-high water-proof boots don’t suffice when you step in an 8-inch-deep puddle, but knee-high rubber boots don’t offer adequate cushion or support.

Wearing gaiters will help keep your feet dry in the cold spring mud. You also could invest in a pair of knee-high waterproof socks and rubber-soled wading or portage boots—popular with anglers and paddlers. Your feet stay warm, you get the traction you need for safety, and you can comfortably walk in the center of the trail to reduce your impact.


LEARN MORE

Mud season also means high water levels. Learn how to cross moving water safely here.