Join us for a three-day weekend of L's Choice day hikes in scenic Berkshire Hills and the Taconic Range of western Massachusetts (hike on Mount Greylock massif is a likely trip). Cost is $198-228/pp and includes three nights lodging, three breakfasts, two dinners*, and happy hour on Saturday and Sunday with a relaxing atmosphere at a converted barn (LOF). Call/email for more information. Register with CL. *We've been told we shouldn't be so modest and go ahead and call it gourmet. OK, so we just did!
Activity Category: Hiking, HikingJoin us for a weekend of day-hiking in Maine over Labor Day weekend, where we'll topple Sugarloaf, the Crockers, Reddington, Saddleback, the Horn, Spaulding, and Abraham. We'll drive up Friday night after work (just over 4 hours), hike Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and drive home Monday evening. The Crockers and Reddington one day, Sugarloaf, Spaulding and Abraham another, and Saddleback and the Horn on the third. Not really a beginner's hike, and you must be of mild disposition with humorous inclinations. This trip is part of a larger series this fall (and maybe winter) to complete all of the 4000' peaks outside of New Hampshire, although please feel free to do this trip and leave it at that. We will be staying in two campsites at a very nice state park with showers and restrooms, a lake for swimming, picnic tables and fire rings for a campfire. We'll split the costs of the campsites evenly, and cook group food in small groups. To begin registration process, follow the link below to our new trip registration system. Note: It is still in beta form. Do not provide your street address or time leaving under the carpooling question, but do complete all of the other questions as thoroughly as possible). Great set of hikes for a long weekend! Do come and join us.
Activity Category: Hiking, CampingFrom 9/8-9/10, hike northern 50 miles of the AT in Maine, staying in lodges along the way. Then, from 9/10-9/17, day-hike in Baxter State Park and lodge in cabins at Daicey Pond. Will include climbing Katahdin's Knife's Edge and other two 4000'ers in Baxter. Strenuous trip with 3000' elevation gain on most day hikes. Will accept registration for 100 Mile Wilderness Trip, Baxter hiking trip, or both. Please get back to L for a more detailed trip plan and to sign up.
Activity Category: Hiking, BackpackingMeet at the bus stop outside JFK/UMass Red Line T station at 6:30pm to hop the free shuttle to UMass Boston, then walk along the beautiful boardwalk to South Station passing the JFK Library, Carson Beach, and the Southie bath houses before we arrive at Fort Independence. We'll then take a bus to the Broadway Red Line T station (also option of walking to South Station). Bring comfortable shoes and bus fare. This part of Boston is a somewhat hidden gem, so join us for a rather nice beach walk on a long summer's night! (This trip was previously listed but postponed due to rain).
Activity Category: Walks, HikingDay hike up Cannon Mountain-twice! Partake in a rare double summit hike of Cannon Mountain. First ascent on Kinsman Ridge Trail (from Tram Parking Lot) to summit (2.2 miles), descend on Hi Cannon Trail to Lafayette Campground for lunch (2.6 miles). Second ascent up Lonesome Lake/Kinsman back to summit with possible stop at Lonesome Lake Hut if time/desire allows (2.9 miles). Hike finishes after second summit with $11 Tram Ride down back to lot (pay yourself). Total distance is 8 miles (potential 9 miles with Hut visit). Afterward, swim at Echo Lake! No dogs. Registration required.
Activity Category: Hiking, HikingTrip will begin unassumingly enough, with standard 5-mile hike from Sawyer River Road to Mount Carrigain summit (4700'), with its renowned views. However, the rest of the trip will take on a definite edge as we use map and compass skills to force our way northeastward (mostly down, thankfully) through a mile of thick spruce, circumnavigating blowdowns as needed, to reach Vose Spur (3862'), a trailless New England 100 Highest peak. We'll then descend steep slopes to intercept the Carrigain Notch Trail for our exit. Expect great views across Carrigain Notch to Mounts Nancy and Anderson, and most of all, the steep, rocky face of Mount Lowell. Hike is approximately 9 trail miles, 1.5 miles of challenging bushwhacking, and almost 4000' of elevation gain. We'll hike at a moderate pace where possible, but due to the bushwhacking component, expect this strenuous hike to take several hours longer than the 6-7 hours the stats would normally imply. We plan to get an early start.
Activity Category: HikingGrab five Maine 4000'ers as we cruise along some of the best ridgewalks on the Appalachian Trail, covering about 26 miles in two days. We'll drive up on Friday and car camp near Rangeley, ME. Saturday, we'll hike up the ski slopes of Saddleback to the AT and spend one night at an AT shelter. Be prepared for two full days of hiking with full packs, participants should have experience backpacking and 10+ mile days. Carpooling strongly encouraged; there will be a small cost for car camping.
Activity Category: Backpacking, HikingJoin us for a slideshow on Silvia's first trip to her native Bulgaria as a CL for AMC Major Excursions. View photos of ancient monasteries, remote peaks, and beautiful landscapes. Founded in 681, Bulgaria is one of the oldest states in Europe. It is a small country of 7.5 million inhabitants, located on the Balkan Peninsula, the crossroad between Europe and Asia. It is the home of several UNESCO World heritage sites and it boasts the highest peak on the Balkans. It is also an up-and-coming vacation destination, offering outstanding opportunities to ski or visit the beach at a fraction of the cost of other European destinations. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to AMCBostonSlideshows@gmail.com. For those who wish to participate in the potluck at 6:30pm, feel free to use the following guidelines: last names beginning with A-J, bring an appetizer or a side dish, K-S, bring a main dish, and T-Z, bring drinks/dessert. Homemade dishes are welcome, store-bought goodies and takeout are equally welcome. Plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, napkins and drink pitchers will be supplied. Auditorium has a kitchen if any re-warming or prep is needed (with stovetop, oven, microwave, sink, fridge, etc).
Activity Category: Photography, Social EventsHike a mountain you've probably done a dozen times before during the day, at dusk. Summit in time to watch the sunset over the valley. Relax and enjoy a snack while shortly thereafter watching the FULL moon rise! Hike down and be back to the lot and on your way home by 9:00pm. No dogs. Registration required.
Activity Category: HikingPart of a series to hike ME and VT 4000'ers. Two day hikes with a stay in tents at a VT State Park on Saturday night, and an early departure from Boston on Saturday morning. On Saturday, we'll hike over Mount Abraham (4006') and Mount Ellen (4083'). Approximately 11.6 miles with 2500' elevation gain. Sunday we'll conquer Camel's Hump (also 4083') via a nice 8-mile loop with 2600' elevation gain, and still be back in Boston at a very civilized hour (it's a quick hike). To register, see our new trip registration program at the link below and answer all questions thoroughly (but do not enter street address).
Activity Category: Hiking, CampingIntermediate climb to 4700' open summit. Possible return via Mount Pierce, Mizpah Hut. Including driving, trip takes all day. Carpooling facilitated, strongly encouraged.
Activity Category: HikingWeekend Map and Compass course held at Harvard Cabin in Pinkham Notch. If you've always wanted to learn how to use a compass, this is the course for you. We'll cover maps, compass, navigation and intentional bushwhacking. Cost is $70/pp for AMC members.
Activity Category: Instruction (Skills), MeetingsHike up to Mount Hale via Hale Brook Trail then over the Lend-a-Hand Trail and up to Zealand. Back down past the hut. Views from Zeacliff are stunning, and loop makes for a nice hike over two 4000'ers. Relatively long day (approximately 12 miles), but pleasant. To register, see our new trip registration system at the link below and answer all questions thoroughly (but do not enter street address).
Activity Category: Hiking, HikingJoin us on a classic fall hike in the Whites. We'll go up Slippery Brook, over to Eagle Crag, and down Bicknell Ridge. With roughly 4 miles of open or semi-open ledges we'll have amazing 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains covered in brilliant foliage colors. Plan on 11.3 miles with 3800' elevation gain. Optional dinner at a local restaurant afterward.
Activity Category: Hiking, HikingJoin us for a weekend of car camping at peak foliage. On Saturday we'll do the Baldface Loop, which has above-treeline views like Franconia, minus the crowds. Sunday will be L's Choice. Cost is $25 and includes camping, Saturday dinner and coffee.
Activity Category: Hiking, HikingPerfect for adventurous individuals, groups of friends or new members that love comfortable accommodations. Join Ls to treeless summits (Firescrew, Cardigan, SouthPeak, RimRock, Gilbert) with panoramas of MA's Monadnock, NH's White Mountains, VT's Camel's Hump, and ME's Pleasant Mountain. Cost is $150/pp and includes two nights lodging, two dinners, two breakfasts, two days trail lunch, NH lodging tax and gratuity to the crew. Please start your trip application at http://ashearer.com/personal/trips/register.php?tp=2010-10-Cardigan. One of the Ls will follow up with you to complete the trip registration.
Activity Category: Hiking, Leadership TrainingJoin us over the long holiday weekend for a 3-day backpack over the Baldfaces and beyond. After enjoying the views at the Baldfaces, we'll continue northward into the Wild River Valley to the summit of Shelburne Moriah Mountain, along the AT and out to Gorham, NH. We'll camp at two shelters/campsites along the way. For experienced backpackers who revel in 10+ mile days (plus one short day), six peaks in all.
Activity Category: Backpacking, HikingWe'll day-hike up Killington on Saturday and up Mansfield on Sunday, car camping at an absolutely gorgeous VT state park on Saturday night. Departure from Boston on Saturday morning. We'll take the Long Trail up to Killington (via a spur trail), then hike down Shelbourne Pass Trail. On Sunday, we'll conquer Mansfield by ascending the Hell Brook Trail, over the Chin, then down the Long Trail. These are not hard hikes (9 miles on Saturday, and 5 miles on Sunday) and campground is posh with hot showers, fire ring, and nice tentsites. Plus, we're on the waterfront during the height of leaf-peeping season! We'll also be back at a humane time on Sunday evening, leaving Columbus Day free. To register, visit link below.
Activity Category: Hiking, CampingOld Spec (4180') is a beautiful Maine mountain, not far over the border from NH. We'll spend the night before at a nice outing club on Route 302 in Crawford Notch ($14) and give ourselves a sane way to climb this mountain (3.8 miles, 3 hours and 20 minutes book time to summit) without having to leave Boston in the dark; and we'll still be home at a civilized time. Part of a series to climb the New England peaks over 4000'; may be combined with L's car camping trip to VT (Killington and Mansfield) over the previous two days. Register via link below (fill out all info completely except street address).
Activity Category: Hiking, HikingJoin us for a potluck dinner and slideshow presentation by Erica Bloom, showcasing her numerous trips to Tanzania, including AMC treks up Kilimanjaro and AMC safaris with the Hadzabe and Maasai tribes. A land of beauty and contrasts, Tanzania sits near the equator in East Africa and is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater, the vast Serengeti Plains, the Zanzibar islands, and people from over 100 different local tribes. This colorful mix of people, places, and animals enchants visitors and has kept Erika returning over and over again. She is a trip leader for the AMC, and after leading AMC Major Excursions to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro and on safari, she fell in love with the country. She started Serengeti Pride Safaris in 2008. Erika lives in southeastern Massachusetts when not in Tanzania. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to AMCBostonSlideshows@gmail.com. For those who wish to participate in the potluck at 6:30pm, feel free to use the following guidelines for what to bring: last names beginning with A-J bring a main dish, K-P bring drinks/dessert, Q-Z bring appetizer or side dish. Homemade dishes are welcome, store bought goodies and takeout are equally welcome. Plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, napkins and drink pitchers will be supplied. The auditorium has a kitchen if you need to do any re-warming or prep (stovetop, oven, microwave, sink, fridge, etc).
Activity Category: Photography, Social EventsJoin us for intermediate day hikes in the White Mountains. Peak foliage, perfect temperatures and fabulous fall feasts on this fun-filled weekend. Stay at a rustic cabin and share the cooking of Saturday/Sunday breakfasts, Saturday happy hour, and dinner. Cost is $60/members, $65/non-members.
Activity Category: Hiking, HikingAs part of the series to climb all of the New England 4000' peaks, this Sunday hike will go to Avery (4088') and West Peak (4145'), in Maine's Bigelow Range. In order to avoid having to deal with Friday rush hour, this is a Sunday hike, allowing folks to carpool up the four-hour drive on Saturday afternoon. Stay at an inexpensive motel and get an early start to enjoy the hike without feeling rushed. We have two route options: one is 10 miles RT, with the other a bit longer but with more gradual elevation gain, but both have book times in the 7-8 hour range. Register via link below; please fill out all questions thoroughly (but do not provide a street address). This is a very humane, relaxed way to hike these beautiful peaks. Come join us!
Activity Category: Hiking, HikingScale peaks by day and sip a wee dram by night. Fine hiking, dining and scotch tasting in the highlands of Glenn, NH. Cost is $110.
Activity Category: Hiking, HikingThere is no better way of exploring New Zealand's rugged mountains and stunning coastline than by tramping (hiking). New Zealand is home to the largest national park system in the southern hemisphere, and has preserved a third of its landscape as parks or wilderness areas. This two-week trip, all on the South Island, will combine ten days of backpacking along an extensive track-and-hut system (the Abel Tasman Coast, Kepler, and Routeburn Tracks) in Abel Tasman, Fiordland, and Mt. Aspiring National Parks. Visit the Department of Conservation website www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/great-walks/. Several days will also be available to explore Queenstown, Te Anau, and Nelson, the bases for the hikes. Previous backpacking experience required. Difficulty level is moderate. Bargain price of $3,200 includes airfare from Los Angeles, all lodging, all backpacking meals, local transportation, permit fees, and some equipment. For more trip information and pre-registration, please visit http://ashearer.com/personal/trips/register.php?tp=2011-02-NZ
Activity Category: Backpacking, Leadership TrainingCardigan Lodge, NH. Join others in backcountry XC, off-site alpine, beginner-advanced hiking, snowshoeing, sledding, pond skating, and camaraderie: games, singing, and more evening entertainment. Reservations taken after 11/1. Space fills quickly. Bunkrooms of 3, up to 6 beds. Lodging pre-payment required by 1/1/2011.
Activity Category: Skiing - Cross-Country (Nordic), Hiking