NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW HAMPSHIRE | WHITE MOUNTAINS

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Up, Up and Away

Spectacular hikes by day, cozy mountaintop cabins by night

By Sarah Sekula

UT-TO-HUT HIKING IN

HNEW Hampshire’s White Mountains is a rite of passage for many. It’s one of the oldest high-mountain shelter systems in the United States.

People have been trekking from shelter to shelter here since 1915.

Getting to know the White Mountain

National Forest is possible thanks to eight huts — each providing beds and bathrooms along with breakfast and dinner during your stay — along 56 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

“Hiking in the alpine zones of the White Mountains is a unique experience on the East Coast,” says James Wrigley, director of White Mountain Huts and Lodges at Appalachian Mountain Club and an experienced hiker who has trekked these trails consistently for the past decade. “Popping up out of the trees for the first time, it can feel like you’re walking on the moon. The dynamic weather and constant views make the experience exciting and

Tuckerman Ravine

CHRIS SHANE/APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB

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NEW HAMPSHIRE | WHITE MOUNTAINS

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humbling all at once.”

The White Mountains contain 1,400 miles of trails that wind through gorgeous landscapes. And many of the major peaks in the national forest are 4,000 feet or higher in alpine zones well above the tree line. So, you’ll have dreamy views of the surrounding mountains, valleys and rock faces.

How long a trip to plan for, says Nina Paus-Weiler, Appalachian Mountain Club digital media and communications manager, “depends on how experienced you are and how many miles you want to hike each day. The hut system was originally built with the intention of allowing hikers to hike from one hut to the next along the Appalachian Trail each day. Some people hike the entire hut traverse in a single day, but that is the exception.”

“Starting out with a hike to just one hut, such as to Lonesome Lake or Zealand (Falls) Hut would be a good beginner option,” says Sara DeLucia , Appalachian Mountain Club guided adventure success manager. “If you’re new to the huts — and to hiking — then staying at one of these huts for two nights might be a good way to try it out before heading on to more advanced hut-to-hut trios.”

The section between Galehead and Greenleaf is quite challenging, DeLucia warns, and it’s common for people to underestimate this section and run out of water or arrive at the hut after dinner has already been served.

But don’t worry, you can make the journey as easy or a tough as you’d like. Newbies, or those hiking with kids, can opt for lower-elevation hikes leading to ponds, waterfalls and photo-worthy views. The reward for all, according to Paus-Weiler, is that, “Some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Northeast can be seen while hiking from hut to hut.”

An Alpine garden on Mount Washington

EMILY DAVENPORT/APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB

WHAT TO PACK In addition to your camera, “I recommend bringing some warm and wind- and waterresistant layers and wearing clothes that are not made out of cotton,” says Sara DeLucia with the Appalachian Mountain Club. “The weather can change quickly and unexpectedly at all times of year in the White Mountains, so you need to be prepared for a variety of conditions. The huts provide guests with breakfast and dinner, so bringing snacks to eat during the day while you are hiking is important.”

Reservations for Appalachian Mountain Club huts or guided hikes can be made at outdoors.org .

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