50+ Older and Boulder Trail Work Adventure Camp

Sign Up Today!

It's not too late to register for the exciting 50+ Older and Boulder Trail Work Adventure Camp based at the Highland Center at Crawford Notch, July 25-30.

This week-long program offers you a chance to give back to the hiking trails that you love and enjoy here in the White Mountains. If you’re new to the area, what better way to become familiar with our trails by spending some time maintaining them! During the week with you’ll have a chance to get out and get dirty by participating in a trail maintenance project on one of our local Crawford Notch Trails. These trails get heavy use and need constant maintenance. You’ll learn the basics of trail maintenance, safety, and equipment, and have a chance to work with other like-minded stewards in improving a local trail.

There will be opportunities for structured activities other than trail work throughout the week, as well as free time to relax or explore the notch on your own. When you come back from a day on the trail, you’ll have the luxury of one of our comfortable rooms, a post-work social hour, followed by a full four course meal. Throughout the week there will be featured evening programs.

Package includes: all meals Dinner Sunday – Lunch Friday, Daily Social and Lodging, transportation, instruction, guides, off-site activities, L.L. Bean Gear use, one 25 minute massage, and complimentary CD of photos.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Trail Work Projects: First you’ll learn the basics of tool safety and of basic trail maintenance. Then you’ll have a chance to spend the week working on a project on one of the trails in Crawford Notch.
• Guest Instructor-Ruth Innes: Ruth’s “Stretch and Move” programs are sure to get
• Guest Speaker Ben English, Jr. “Tales & Lies: Life on the AMC Trail Crew in the 1950’s.”
• Massage Sessions: Sign up for your complementary, 25 minute massage with licensed massage therapist Pam Alberts. Sessions available Wednesday afternoon. BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR SESSION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK.
• Daily Social Hour: Wind down from a day of hard work during this social hour. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served.
  
  

See New York Times coverage of AMC 50+ Adventure Camps >>

To sign up, call AMC Reservations at 603-466-2727 between 9am - 5pm ET.

Backcountry Hut Based Adult Crew 2010

Trail work is often a lot of hard work and from my perspective actually fun. On certain occasions the assigned task gives some pretty big bragging rights. Most tasks are quite specific in nature, install as many bog brides as possible or install rock work like check steps, water bars and stair cases. I’m getting ahead of myself here.

Our backcountry crew started off the week installing some bog bridges on the Lost Pond Trail across from Pinkham notch visitors’ center. It gives the group a chance to work together and go over tools and safety.
We planned on installing 4 bog bridges, including hauling in the material. We managed to whip them out in no time and send for more material and managed to get 2 more installed! I’m always impressed at how much work can be done in a relatively short time when we all work together.

Well it was time to pack-up our gear and head up to Madison hut; this is the project that had some good bragging rights. The hike up is not an easy one. Fortunately we were staying at the Hut and did not need to carry a lot of food so it did keep the weight down. Finally, I get to the bragging, we got to cut new trail on a relocation of the Osgood Trail part of the Appalachian Trail!

We cut the corridor through the stand of trees and pick and chose the best path. (All the while following a nice set of pink tags left on the trees!) The weather cooperated for the most part and we installed 3 bog bridges, mostly for trail definition, 4 check steps and a 4 step mini rock staircase. Then we had the task of creating scree wall to finalize the trail definition, skipping the area near the black pipe because the construction crew will be burying it in the near future. We also did our best to wipe out the line of the old trail to encourage people to use the new section of trail.

Many tanks for great camaraderie to Leah, Douglas, Tim Sr. and Tim Jr. Not to forget my excellent staff co-leader Ari!

Sweet someone actually used the trail!

Take Care,
Michael (AMC Trails Volunteer Leader)

Photos: Douglas Looman

Dodge Journals: Issue 2

7/2
So, so far being able to put out one of these up dates a week has been challenging. Dodge has been bustling and the weather has been great, so it has been very hard to find time to sit down under a roof and catch up with what has been going down.

We are now in the week to celebrate american independence, it is hard to grasp that we are already in July. The end of June was just as busy as the beginning. Plants in the garden are well on there way up. Potatoes, beans, peas are all doing really well in our garden of rocks. The top soil that was removed finally composted enough to be put back into the garden. With this soil we have been mixing all kinds of nutrients into the soil like ash, bone meal, blood meal, to hopefully liven up the plants a bit. This year I have gotten a hand full of help from caretakers with maintaining the garden and cleaning up the brush around Dodge.

Each week the crews comeback they spend the last bit of time of volunteer work helping out in the garden and getting the chores for the land done. With all this extra help from different people we have been able to keep things moving forward at a very steady rate around here.

Every week crews come and go, but the staff remans the same. It has been a long time coming, there was about a month of training for all the leaders and and to finally get into the rhythm of the crews in and out allows every body to get settled in.

So far this year we have had 7 crews come to Dodge two of witch are two weeks. One of the main suggestions from last year was to have more two week crews, the one week crews are great because it gives people a short into to what we do here at the Dodge, but by the time anyone figures out what is going on it is time to go home. The two week crews this year so far have really been awesome. They are all motivated and have been really helpful around Dodge when they are present. One of the rules here at Dodge is we provide the food, but we have the expectation that crews will help out with making sure the kitchen is clean and all the food is put back. You know you have good crews when you do not have to tell them it is time to do the dishes they just finish up dinner and come in and start the cleaning.

The Monday mornings here at Dodge are a crazy place, new crews, big meals, food and gear packing. Basically there are lots of people running franticly around like they are chickens with their heads cut off. But after a couple of hours and several laps around Dodge all of a sudden a hush falls over the facility. With all the crews gone and all that is left is Anya and I and sometimes a Dodge staff member that has no crew, we are left to finish up are week with cleaning up some of the random things that were left by the crews. With all the bustle gone, it allows me and Anya to work on projects that other wise would be in everybody's way. Even though for most of our staff Monday means the beginning of the work week, for Anya and I it is the beginning of a less stress filled day. With the peace that falls over Dodge we are left here to tend our jobs, and get things set for next the week ahead.

7/12
Due to the fact that Dodge does not have internet, it makes it hard for me to get the blog posts up in a timely manor. But since I started the first part of this article the crews came back and participants all headed home. There was this eerie calm that fell over Dodge on Saturday because there were no volunteers around to make or cause any ruckus. Sunday came and whole new fresh crop of volunteers arrived clean and smelling of society products. Little do they know that over the next five days all cleanliness will be removed from their system to be replaced with dirt, grim and hard work.

The garden has started to produce a steady amount of kale, lettuce,
radishes, peas and chard. Some of the veggies are not quite as large as I would have liked so far but we just started the routine of adding organic plant food to the soil. Since that point, plants that looked like they had stalled now started to look like they are ready to grow and prosper as far as nature will let them.

The newest addition to Dodge from the wings tips of my self is a new work bench in the tool shed that increases the workable space in the building. What was in its place was this silly little table that just needed to be replaced. It was too short did not fit in the space, so I replaced with a bench that was made out of wood that was harvested from the old deck plat forms that were replaced. Good use of some old wood Iʼd say. No sooner did I have it built and it was covered in supplies for the crews. At least it is getting used and wont randomly cave in.

Anther two weeks at Dodge have came and gone, summer is here, and the mountains are great as always.

This is five one Goose clear with issue two of the Camp Dodge journal, have a great day every body, hike a mountain and maintain some trail!

Photos by: Goose

Berkshire Teen Trail Crew Kicks Off the 2010 Season!

The first crew of 2010 included 8 great, hardworking volunteers. They showed up on Sunday and were not sure what to make of their very heavy packs and the giant sombrero that serves as the AMC driving hat. However, after a mile hike to our campsite, we were able to unload our heavy packs for the week and set up camp. A short, but intense downpour interrupted our efforts to get settled and sent us scrambling to the shelter, where we all crammed into the loft area (hoping to disturb other hikers as little as possible), played some ice breakers and learned how to spell pterodactyl. That was the last of the rain for the week, leaving only blue skies and cool breezes

After listening to Rachel and I talk for most of Sunday and a good part of Monday, the crew was ready to get to work. We quarried lots of rocks and started our numerous projects for the week. The crew quickly realized how hard trail work was and woke up a little stiff and sore Tuesday morning. That didn’t slow them down for the rest of the week though as they continued to work hard. During the week, the crew quickly realized the satisfaction, sweat, frustration and pride that can all result from trail work. We were lucky enough to have Tracey and Celia come out and lead our sidehilling efforts. (Tracey was also nice enough to pack us out a big, juicy watermelon to go along with our lunch on Tuesday.) By the end of the week, everyone on the crew were experts on their respective projects. Over the course of the week, we completed 5 rock steps, 20 feet of scree wall, over 14 feet of scree, 30 feet of sidehilling, 1 rock waterbar, 1 repaired waterbar and 1 ditch.

Our week didn’t consist of all work. There were plenty of jokes, riddles, laughs, and tripping over tent stakes. The Awesome Tape was of course a big hit and gave us something to look forward to during our van rides. We had contests to see who had the dirtiest shirt at the end of the week (probably a tie between everyone) and who smelled the worst (I won that one hands down). At the end of the week it was great to see the crew getting water, hanging bear bags and sumping their dish water like they had been doing it their whole lives. By Friday we were all more than ready for a shower, running water, and a soft bed. However, it was definitely a bittersweet day as we were sad to leave life on the trail, our projects and each other. The week ended with promised to stay in touch and to do a section hike of the trail next summer!

Mike

Hikers Say Thank You

We really appreciated hearing from the hiking public as they interact with our AMC Volunteer Trail Crew programs on the trail. When I came into the office this morning I had an e-mail from Ken and Ann Stampfer about their interaction with the 2-Week Teen Crew hiking up to Zeacliff Pond yesterday, 7/5/2010.
"Dear Alex,
We were pleased and impressed to meet Ashley with her teen trail crew yesterday at Zealand Falls Hut as they were preparing for a few days' work on the Twinway in this hot and humid weather. As long-time hikers and AMC members, we appreciate the enthusiasm and hard work of your staff and volunteers to care for the trails we often take for granted. Now we'll be sure to make a donation to the Trails Fund on the website.
Thanks for your efforts,
Ken & Ann Stampfer
Belmont, MA"

Photo: Ken & Ann Stampfer

AMC/USFS Alpine Stewardship 2010

On May 22, 2010, the USFS / AMC Alpine Stewards finished their yearly training at Pinkham Notch Visitors Center. The training marks the beginning of eleven years of the Alpine Stewardship Volunteer Program on Franconia Ridge. The Stewards spent 2,240 hours on Franconia Ridge making contact with approximately 1/3 or 26,500 hikers in ten years .

The training included guest speakers: Alex DeLucia - AMC Volunteer Programs Supervisor, Jenny Burnett - USFS Forest Technician/ Trails Manager for Pemigewasset Ranger District. Justin Preisendorfer - Snow Ranger/ Backcountry Recreation & wilderness Manager Andro Ranger District, John Marunowski - Back-country/ Wilderness Ammo/ Pemo Ranger District, Michael Walsh - AMC Visitors Services Supervisor.

In addition Howie Wemyss, MT Washington Auto Road General Manager joined the Stewards to give the Auto Road perspective on this years pilot Mt. Washington Alpine Steward Program. There will be four weekends that the Stewards will be on Mt. Washington to interact with hikers and visitors about a variety of items, especially the unique and fragile alpine zone.

The Stewards are looking to another meaning full and productive year of on site education to protect the fragile and unique alpine zone ecology.

Photo: Scott Monroe

Where's Hank?

Scott Monroe and Barbara Kukla, AMC Adopt-A-Trail Region Leaders were patrolling the condition of trails near Mt. Washington when they came across Ken sun bathing on a cairn. Ken was escorted off the trail for his own safety. Ken will be appearing in another location of the White Mountains, so make sure to check the AMC Trail Blog next week.

Photo: Scott Monroe/Barbara Kukla

Appalachian Trail Youth Leadership Summit 2010

During the week of June 27 - July 2, 2010 the AMC hosted the 2010 Appalachian Trail Youth Leadership Summit at the Highland Center at Crawford Notch.

The AMC Trails Department contributed on a few occasions during the week. Alex DeLucia contributed to one of the many workshops that was offered throughout the week. For the "Fundamentals of Project Management" Alex worked with a group of youth from Ground Works of Yonkers, NY. They discussed trails, trail layout, trail structures, visitor use and trail impacts.

At the conclusion of the week the AMC Camp Dodge Staff led 6 different trail projects around the area as the service component of the Leadership Summit. We had three groups clearing drainage and brushing out overgrown trail, two groups doing a few rock work projects, and one group building bog bridges.

This was a great group to work with and we took far too many photos to post here all at once. We enjoyed working with the participants of the 2010 Appalachian Trail Youth Leadership Summit and we wish them luck as they continue to peruse conservation, leadership and community building.

Photos: Alex DeLucia

National Trails Day 2010

OK, we are a little late in posting about National Trails Day... better late than never.

We had a well attended and very productive National Trails Day in Crawford's Notch on June 5, 2010. With over 50 people in attendance we ran projects from trail-head trash clean up, drainage clearing and brushing-out, rock work, and bog bridge construction.

We all put in a full day from 9 to 4pm and enjoyed the free BBQ and raffle after the project work. A great big thanks to all of those that participated in the 2010 NTD event. We hope to see you all this fall at National Public Lands Day on September 25, 2010 back here in Crawford Notch.

See you on the trails.

-Alex

Photos: Megan Johnson & Lesley Heyl

AMC Leave No Trace Master Courses

Learn how to enjoy the outdoors while protecting the land you love. Leave No Trace is an educational program designed to help outdoor recreationists understand and minimize their impact on the land, and thereby preserve the quality of the outdoor experience for all.

Practice Leave No Trace skills and teaching techniques over a 5-day field-based course in the White Mountains, NH on August 4-8, 2010. Develop and strengthen your own wilderness ethic through involved discussions of the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace and underlying ethics with fellow participants and instructors. Teach Leave No Trace Trainer Courses and Awareness Workshops upon completion.

Learn more about AMC Leave No Trace Programs or call 603-466-2721 x8128 or e-mail adelucia@outdoors.org for more information.

Photo: Alex DeLucia

Teen Base Camp Crew: Week 1

our first Teen Base Camp Crew of the season was a great success. We did not have the typical crew size, because many schools were still in session in the northeast. Never the less, this crew was productive and had a great time.

They spent most of their week working on the great Gulf Trail in the Great Gulf Wilderness Area. The crew was working on installing rock stepping stones and drainage structures along the trail. The conclusion to their week with a day project working above tree-line on Mt. Washington. The crew constructed cairns that mark the trail and built up the scree walls along the trail. Each day ended with a quick swim, a great meal and and comfortable bunks back at Camp Dodge.

We have two more Teen Base Camp Crews scheduled this summer all with equally exciting projects. Thanks to these volunteers for all of their efforts and we hope to see you again.

Photo: Lesley Heyl