| White Mountains, New Hampshire |
The White Mountain National Forest (better known as "the
Whites") in central New Hampshire is one of America's most
popular public lands, registering more visitors annually than
Yellowstone and Yosemite combined. It's not unusual for
organized hiking groups of twenty or more—a big backcountry
faux pas—to descend on the trail in peak season. As such,
you should make every effort to avoid visiting on weekends in
summer—both for the sake of the forest, which is easily
damaged by overuse, and for your own sanity.
The Forest Service, working in tandem with the Appalachian
Mountain Club (AMC), have made great strides towards
minimizing the impact of crowds on the Whites while keeping
them open to all who want to sample the grandeur of the
Northeast's highest peaks, the Presidential Range.
One of the highlights of the Whites is the AMC hut system, a
series of beautiful mountain lodges that provide food, shelter,
and creature comforts for hikers. The huts make the Whites
much more accessible to hikers of varying abilities: Because
they are each about a day's hike apart, it's possible to traverse
much of the range with a 10-pound daypack instead of a 35-
pound bag laden with food, tent, and sleeping bag.
For backcountry veterans, the Whites can be a little
frustrating. With so many crowd-control regulations, it's
sometimes difficult to know where you're actually allowed to
camp. You need to make reservations to stay in the huts,
which don't come cheap, and even lean-tos and tent platforms
come with a fee. Still, you'll find very challenging trails that
always take you somewhere worth the trip, and it's not hard to
find a backcountry niche where you can enjoy views of the
sweeping valleys and sun-drenched, wind-whipped summits
undisturbed. What's more, if you steer clear of the
Appalachian Trail and the Presidentials, you may very well
have the woods to yourself.
Whites") in central New Hampshire is one of America's most
popular public lands, registering more visitors annually than
Yellowstone and Yosemite combined. It's not unusual for
organized hiking groups of twenty or more—a big backcountry
faux pas—to descend on the trail in peak season. As such,
you should make every effort to avoid visiting on weekends in
summer—both for the sake of the forest, which is easily
damaged by overuse, and for your own sanity.
The Forest Service, working in tandem with the Appalachian
Mountain Club (AMC), have made great strides towards
minimizing the impact of crowds on the Whites while keeping
them open to all who want to sample the grandeur of the
Northeast's highest peaks, the Presidential Range.
One of the highlights of the Whites is the AMC hut system, a
series of beautiful mountain lodges that provide food, shelter,
and creature comforts for hikers. The huts make the Whites
much more accessible to hikers of varying abilities: Because
they are each about a day's hike apart, it's possible to traverse
much of the range with a 10-pound daypack instead of a 35-
pound bag laden with food, tent, and sleeping bag.
For backcountry veterans, the Whites can be a little
frustrating. With so many crowd-control regulations, it's
sometimes difficult to know where you're actually allowed to
camp. You need to make reservations to stay in the huts,
which don't come cheap, and even lean-tos and tent platforms
come with a fee. Still, you'll find very challenging trails that
always take you somewhere worth the trip, and it's not hard to
find a backcountry niche where you can enjoy views of the
sweeping valleys and sun-drenched, wind-whipped summits
undisturbed. What's more, if you steer clear of the
Appalachian Trail and the Presidentials, you may very well
have the woods to yourself.
