Tag: Camping

Kick Back, Relax & Enjoy Summer at Along the River Campground, Cabins & Ice Cream

Along the River Campground & Cabins (plus Ice Cream) on Route 302 in Twin Mountain, ticks off all the boxes for visitors looking for a close-to-nature experience with terrific amenities. Whether you are tenting, looking forward to sleeping in a cabin, or bringing your own RV, you’ll appreciate the friendly staff, fresh mountain air, beautiful views, and the campground’s location on the Ammonoosuc River.

Come for the night, enjoy a weekend away, relax during your vacation, or book a site for the season. The campground is open May-November. Choose from six cabins, tent sites with or without amenities, and RV sites with water, sewer and electricity (30 amp or 50 amp). The small family campground features both wooded and grassy campsites, some located at high and dry spots along the river. All sites have a picnic table and fire ring.

In addition to its central location, close to all of the popular White Mountain attractions — the Mt. Washington Cog Railway, Omni Mt. Washington Resort, Bretton Woods Adventure Center, Santa’s Village, Franconia Notch, Storyland and outlet shopping in North Conway, and outstanding hiking, biking and fishing opportunities — the campground boasts clean restrooms, FREE hot showers, and FREE campground-wide Wi-Fi.

Kids will enjoy the playground and the whole family can cool off in the pool or gather round for board games, pool or foosball in the Rec Hall or a rousing game of basketball, volleyball or horseshoes outdoors.

The campground is pet-friendly, so bring along your favorite pooch to enjoy the camping experience with you. Fifteen flavors of delicious creamy ice cream are served up at the on-site Ice Cream Shack, and it’s open to the public, too. The campground store is stocked with everything you need to make your visit enjoyable, from firewood to toiletries to snacks, along with maps and brochures. Just across the street, the 302 Grille a tasty selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner favorites.

Camping is one of life’s simple pleasures. So the next time you want a chance to fall asleep in a tent under a canopy of sparkling stars, sit around a roaring campfire singing songs or telling scary stories, toast marshmallows on a stick, awaken to bird song, watch a moose walk through your campsite, and cook your meals over an open fire, book your spot at Along the River Campground & Cabins. Best of all, enjoy your time away from the hustle and bustle and stresses of daily life in the company of treasured family and friends.

AMC Highland Center Presents: The Hike that Helped Save the White Mountains

Join authors Allison Bell and Maida Goodwin for a talk on their new book which details the week-long Presidential Range camping trip of AMC members Harriet Freeman and Emma Cummings in 1902. Their mountain experience, at a moment when the Presidentials were under extreme threat from logging, inspired them to work for preservation of the White Mountains and to motivate influential associates to help pass the Weeks Act.

Highland Happenings programs are free and open to all, and begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Call to find out more or to be added to our monthly email list: (603) 278-4453 or outdoors.org/highlandhappenings.

Legends, Lore, Meals & More Await Hikers at AMC’s High Huts of the White Mountains

Northern New Hampshire is a hiker’s paradise, and the Appalachian Mountain Club’s High Huts of the White Mountains offer a unique brand of hospitality, including overnight accommodations with hearty home-cooked dinners and breakfasts. Each of the eight High Huts is spaced a day’s hike apart, with self-service and full-service seasonal options.

The Huts’ origins can be traced back to the 19th century, when lack of adequate shelter above treeline hampered early trampers’ alpine forays. In 1888, Appalachian Mountain Club members set about building the network of what’s known today as the High Huts, similar to those found across the European Alps.

Beginning at Lonesome Lake in Franconia Notch and traversing the highest peaks in New Hampshire, ending at Carter Notch in the Mount Washington Valley, the eight High Huts are spaced a day’s hike apart along a 56-mile-long stretch of the Appalachian Trail. Accessible from each other, the huts can also be reached from individual trail heads.

Whether you are an experienced mountaineer or taking your children on their first hike, all of the huts are renowned for their unique mountain hospitality. Along with providing home-cooked meals and overnight accommodations, Hut naturalists present programs on the legends and lore of the mountains, and share Hut history, from the changes in transporting supplies (think donkeys and helicopters!) to the recent use of green technologies. All of the Huts have always been off the grid.

Huts include:

The present-day Madison Spring Hut is constructed on the site of the AMC’s first high mountain hut, built in 1888. Madison Spring, located above Madison Gulf, has spectacular views of the Presidentials, Kilkenny, and Pilot ranges.

The Carter Notch Hut, built in 1914, is located between Wildcat Mountain and Carter Dome.

The highest, largest and most popular hut, Lakes of the Clouds Hut is situated on the southern shoulder of Mount Washington. Visitors enjoy expansive views and proximity to rare alpine flowers.

Mizpah Spring Hut is set on the southern flank of Mt. Pierce and overlooks Montalban Range, the Dry River Wilderness, and Crawford Notch.

Located in Zealand Notch, the four-season Zealand Falls Hut is located near waterfalls at the eastern edge of the Pemigewasset Wilderness.

The most remote hut, Galehead Hut offers spectacular views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness Area. It was completely rebuilt in 2000.

Greenleaf Hut, at treeline on the shoulder of Mount Lafayette, provides outstanding views of the Franconia Range.

The westernmost hut in the system, Lonesome Lake Hut, is located near Franconia Notch State Park and offers a spectacular view of the Franconia Range across a clear glacial tarn.

At ground level, the AMC maintains facilities at the Highland Center at the head of Crawford Notch in Bretton Woods and the Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch.

The Highland Center is an outdoor education center and four-season lodge with accommodations that range from private rooms with private baths to lodge bunkrooms with shared baths. The dining hall serves breakfast, lunch and dinner for lodge guests, through hikers, outdoor recreationalists and members of the public. Kids will want to tackle the outdoor mountain playscape on the Highland Center lawn.

Joe Dodge Lodge  is surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest and is the perfect jumping off point for a day hike on one of the many trails nearby. The Lodge features comfortable beds and bunks, and dinner and breakfast are included in your stay. Both locations offer a wide variety of free, walk-on programs for guests, from guided day hikes to evening talks on astronomy and other topics.

 

Navigating the Grand North with the Handled GPS as a Travel Companion

Contributed by Jess Walter, Freelance Writer 

New Hampshire’s Grand North is the perfect place for an adventurer. From fishing to off-roading and hiking, there are so many activities that allow you to become one with nature. However, the snowy mountains and icy patches can be dangerous. It is important to take caution and always bring a handheld GPS on your adventure in case of emergencies. These devices are lifesavers in dangerous situations.

Important Features to Have on Your Handheld GPS
Your GPS should be lightweight and small so that it can easily fit in your pocket. It should also be waterproof especially if you are fishing or traveling by rivers, and have an easy-to-read screen suitable for any weather condition. It is also great to have one with a distress beacon in the event of an emergency.

Top Three Handheld GPS Devices

· eTrex by Garmin: The device has a 65K color display with a 2.2”, 240×320 display screen, making it easily legible in sunlight. There is a microSD slot on the side which provides the ability to download maps. In addition to GPS, it also tracks GLONASS satellites which load 20% quicker than GPS, and has a barometric altimeter which records altitude for additional accuracy. This can come in handy when traversing the mountains of the Grand North. The device is also Bluetooth capable and waterproof for up to 30 minute immersions.

· Montana 680 Touchscreen GPS by Garmin: Another Garmin device, the Montana 680 is GLONASS and WAAS capable and with Hotfix prediction, can maintain your location regardless of the cover and canyons across New Hampshire’s Grand North. It has many additional, nice-to-have features such as a built-in 8-megapixel camera to take great shots of the wildlife and a touchscreen that is glove-friendly for the winter temperatures in New Hampshire.

· Rino 750 by Garmin: This model is a great device to have during an emergency. It has an easy-to-read 3” touchscreen with landscape and portrait views. It is Bluetooth-capable and even has updated current weather forecasts to help you plan your activities. Another special feature is its built-in 5 Watt 2-way radio. It has excellent range and comes in handy if you are ever in a dangerous situation. The Rino 750 also offers Active Weather Support with radar, position report, and emergency alerts, making the device