Activities for the Hiking/Backpacking Committee
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This page lists trips sponsored by the Hiking/Backpacking Committee. To see all trips sponsored by the Boston Chapter, see our search page. To find trips sponsored by other chapters, use the club-wide trip search page.
AMC Boston HB 2019 Spring Hiking Program
Tuesdays: April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. Ever wanted to try hiking or backpacking and didn't know where to get started? Are you rusty and want to brush up on your knowledge and skills? Do you want to get involved with our organized hikes and meet other hikers? Then the 3-Season Spring Hiking Program (SHP) is for you! This interactive course consists of 5 instructional sessions to introduce the basics of spring, summer and fall day hiking and backpacking in New England.
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SHP PARTICIPANTS ONLY: Mid-week Middlesex Fells Conditioning Hike #1
This trip is ONLY available to participants of the Spring Hiking Program. Join us in the middle of the week after work for a conditioning hike in the Middlesex Fells (Fells). Show up for one or all three hikes in the series. Your choice! There is no screening for this hike. Everyone is welcome to join, but you must sign up on REGI. The main goals of this hike are to get your heart pumping, figure out your fitness level, and start (or continue) getting fit so that you can enjoy the later hikes in the SHP even more!
MIT PE Students only: Urban Backpacking
Please note: this is a collaboration between Boston's Hiking & Backpacking Committee and MIT Physical Education and is open to MIT PE students ONLY. Enrollment is handled by MIT.
Two nights and three days in the Blue Hills reservation. Includes all meals. On-trail instruction in map and compass skills, LNT principles and ten essentials. In camp instruction on meal planning/prep, trip planning and risk management.
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SHP PARTICIPANTS ONLY: Mount Sunapee
This trip is ONLY available to participants of the Spring Hiking Program. Come join us to hike Mt. Sunapee. While this mountain is known for snowboarding and skiing in the winter months, it offers some great hiking and is closer to Boston than many of the other hikes that we offer in the SHP. We'll be hiking via the Summit trail. The hike is 4.8 miles and 1,300 feet of elevation gain. If the weather cooperates there are great views from the summit, which is at 2,700 feet.
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Great Monadnock via the Pumpelly Trail
Come hike the longest (9 miles round trip) and in my opinion the most beautiful trail on Mount Monadnock!
After beginning with a gentle ascent through a hardwood forest, the trail follows a ridge line for much of the hike until it breaks out of the trees and turns into an open expanse up the rock slabs that leads to Monadnock's beautiful summit. Register at REGI link: https://regi.amcboston.org/event/2376.
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SHP PARTICIPANTS ONLY: Mid-week Middlesex Fells Conditioning Hike #2
This trip is ONLY available to participants of the Spring Hiking Program. join us in the middle of the week after work for a conditioning hike in the Middlesex Fells (Fells). Show up for one or all three hikes in the series. Your choice! There is no screening for this hike. Everyone is welcome to join, but you must sign up on REGI. The main goals of this hike are to get your heart pumping, figure out your fitness level, and start (or continue) getting fit so that you can enjoy the later hikes in the SHP even more!
Fast-paced, Show & Go Conditioning Hike Series in Middlesex Fells (5/2)
Join the leaders for an aggressively-paced hike of the Middlesex Fells. We'll meet at the eastern edge of the Cross Fells Trail (Gate 58) by 5:50 pm to start hiking promptly at 6.00 pm. Each week of this 'Show and Go' hike series, we'll tackle variations of the Rock Circuit and surrounding trails in the eastern section of the Fells. We'll hike until dark (bring a headlamp) at a fast pace to get our heart rates up. Sorry, but no dogs or children are allowed on this hike.
Spring Hike for the Roses to Mt. Tecumseh on Kentucky Derby Day!
Kentucky Derby dress themed hike to the summit of Mt. Tecumseh. We'll cover the 5-ish miles & 2300-ish feet of elevation gain at a moderate 1.5-2.0 mph pace. Gentlemen, please wear your best Derby duds complete with suspenders and bow tie! - and, for the Ladies, please don your best (Gore-tex, lol) hiking dress and Derby hat! Should you not be taking off immediately post-hike to attend a Derby Party back home, there will be an optional dinner and drinks (Mint Juleps?) to follow at a local bar (each participant to pay for themselves).
Mt. Monadnock
Join us for an early spring warm-up hike up Mt. Monadnock via its back door. This will be an out-and-back hike along the less crowded Pumpelly Trail. Enjoy spectacular views along the way. Roundtrip dist. is 9 mi. Elev. gain approx. 2300 ft. Expect ice in shady areas; microspikes required.
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SHP PARTICIPANTS ONLY: Mt. Watatic
This trip is ONLY available to participants of the Spring Hiking Program. Mt. Watatic Hike: 1 hike, 2 states, and even more fun. Located in Ashburnham, MA in northern Worcester County, the loop trail gives great views of at least 3 states, with a mix of woods walking through old farmland, old survey markers, and open rocky areas near the summit. There are great views of many peaks in the region, as well as Boston's downtown. No scrambling. A short detour will allow us to set foot in New Hampshire as well. Mt.
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Mt. Greylock loop
Join us for an early Spring hike to Mt. Greylock (3,491 ft) - the high point of MA - 14.7-mile loop with 3,200 ft of elevation gain. Expect the first spring flowers and multiple views from the only 3,000 ft high ridge in MA. A moderate and steady pace is planned, but you should be in good shape for a hike of this length. Please plan for a long day and the drive.
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SHP PARTICIPANTS ONLY: Welch Dickey Loop
This trip is ONLY available to participants of the Spring Hiking Program. This hike is open to all participants in the Spring Hiking and Backpacking program. This loop trail affords excellent views for a modest effort, with nearly 2 miles of partly open walking at relatively low elevations. On the south ledges of Welch Mountain it runs through the southernmost of one of the few stands of jack pine (Pinus banksiana) that occur in New Hampshire.
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SHP PARTICIPANTS ONLY: Mid-week Middlesex Fells Conditioning Hike #3
This trip is ONLY available to participants of the Spring Hiking Program. Join us in the middle of the week after work for a conditioning hike in the Middlesex Fells (Fells). Show up for one or all three hikes in the series. Your choice! There is no screening for this hike. Everyone is welcome to join, but you must sign up on REGI. The main goals of this hike are to get your heart pumping, figure out your fitness level, and start (or continue) getting fit so that you can enjoy the later hikes in the SHP even more!
Fast-paced, Show & Go Conditioning Hike Series in Middlesex Fells (5/9)
Join the leaders for an aggressively-paced hike of the Middlesex Fells. We'll meet at the eastern edge of the Cross Fells Trail (Gate 58) by 5:50 pm to start hiking promptly at 6.00 pm. Each week of this 'Show and Go' hike series, we'll tackle variations of the Rock Circuit and surrounding trails in the eastern section of the Fells. We'll hike until dark (bring a headlamp) at a fast pace to get our heart rates up. Sorry, but no dogs or children are allowed on this hike.
SHP PARTICIPANTS ONLY: Mt. Monadnock
This trip is ONLY available to participants of the Spring Hiking Program. We will offer hikes of different distances for groups going at different paces. Participants can choose their group. Hike lengths will vary between 4.5 miles and 7.5 miles. Weather allowing and everyone ok, groups will usually climb Monadnock, which involves 1600 ft of ascent (up to 2000 ft of ascent on the longer hikes), some of it over open and sometimes steep rock. The upper parts of Monadnock have fine views and it should be an enjoyable trip (weather cooperating).
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MONTHLY AMC BOSTON HIKING/BACKPACKING COMMITTEE MEETING
Are you an experienced AMC hiker and curious about how volunteer-led AMC hiking and backpacking activities are governed? The Boston Chapter's Hiking/Backpacking Committee meets monthly to handle such matters as overseeing the chapter's hundreds of hiking/backpacking leaders and leader candidates, coordinating educational programs, administering our finance, setting policy, etc. Interested guests are welcome to sit in. For the particulars, contact Elizabeth Ryan, the chairperson, at chair@hbbostonamc.org.
Fast-paced, Show & Go Conditioning Hike Series in Middlesex Fells (5/16)
Join the leaders for an aggressively-paced hike of the Middlesex Fells. We'll meet at the eastern edge of the Cross Fells Trail (Gate 58) by 5:50 pm to start hiking promptly at 6.00 pm. Each week of this 'Show and Go' hike series, we'll tackle variations of the Rock Circuit and surrounding trails in the eastern section of the Fells. We'll hike until dark (bring a headlamp) at a fast pace to get our heart rates up. Sorry, but no dogs or children are allowed on this hike.
SHP PARTICIPANTS ONLY: Cardigan Lodge Weekend
This trip is ONLY available to participants of the Spring Hiking Program. This workshop will be held at the AMC's Cardigan Lodge in Alexandria, NH. The lodge is heated, has a complete commercial kitchen, separate men's and women's bathroom/shower facilities and accommodates about 70 people in bunk rooms ranging from 3 to 5 beds. Cardigan Lodge is located adjacent to Mt. Cardigan State Park. The summit of Mount Cardigan is at 3,121 feet and is flanked by subsidiary peaks, Firescrew Mt. 3,040' Gilman Mt. 2,620'.
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Monadnock Sunset/Full Moon Hike
What? A sunset AND a full moon-rise hike? That's right! Averaging just over 1.5 mph, we'll hike the 2.1 miles up a lesser used/easier trail (one of the oldest on the mountain) to the summit of Mount Monadnock, just in time to watch the sun setting while the full moon comes up in the distance - and all while you enjoy the hot beverage that you will have brought along! Wow! just imagine the views as you look to the Heavens! Then enjoy a leisurely hike down by headlamp back to our cars.
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Fast-paced, Show & Go Conditioning Hike Series in Middlesex Fells (5/23)
Join the leaders for an aggressively-paced hike of the Middlesex Fells. We'll meet at the eastern edge of the Cross Fells Trail (Gate 58) by 5:50 pm to start hiking promptly at 6.00 pm. Each week of this 'Show and Go' hike series, we'll tackle variations of the Rock Circuit and surrounding trails in the eastern section of the Fells. We'll hike until dark (bring a headlamp) at a fast pace to get our heart rates up. Sorry, but no dogs or children are allowed on this hike.
SHP PARTICIPANTS ONLY: A Visit to the Belknaps
This trip is ONLY available to participants of the Spring Hiking Program. Join us for a moderately paced spring hike in the Belknap Range. We'll take in up to three summits, traverse some beautiful alpine meadows, and enjoy fantastic views of Lake Winnipesaukee, Mt. Washington and the Ossipee and Sandwich ranges on a loop hike over Mt. Rowe, Gunstock Mt., and possibly Belknap Mt. We will hike between 4 and 8 miles depending on individual capabilities, and gain approximately 2000' of elevation in the process.
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Fast-paced, Show & Go Conditioning Hike Series in Middlesex Fells (5/30)
Join the leaders for an aggressively-paced hike of the Middlesex Fells. We'll meet at the eastern edge of the Cross Fells Trail (Gate 58) by 5:50 pm to start hiking promptly at 6.00 pm. Each week of this 'Show and Go' hike series, we'll tackle variations of the Rock Circuit and surrounding trails in the eastern section of the Fells. We'll hike until dark (bring a headlamp) at a fast pace to get our heart rates up. Sorry, but no dogs or children are allowed on this hike.
SHP PARTICIPANTS ONLY: The Beginner Backpack - Your Best Weekend Experience
This trip is ONLY available to participants of the Spring Hiking Program. The Beginner Backpacking Experience will give participants an introductory backpacking experience through an overnight trip of moderate length to a backcountry destination. Backcountry groups will have approximately five to eight participants with a leader and at least two co-leaders. The backcountry destinations offered may include: Ethan Pond, Liberty Spring, Kinsman Pond, Hancocks and Tripyramids.
SHP PARTICIPANTS ONLY: Jennings Peak
This trip is ONLY available to participants of the Spring Hiking Program. This is a 6 mile round-trip hike to Jennings Peak. The Sandwich Mountain Trail and a small spur trail will take us to the peak in 3 miles with 2100 feet of elevation gain. Jennings Peak has a great view to the southeast. During the trip, participants will have a chance to ask their leaders and co-leaders questions about hiking and to get some extra tips on equipment, preparation, and hiking technique. You will also have the opportunity to practice crossing a stream as part of this hike.
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SHP PARTICIPANTS ONLY: Thoreau Falls
This trip is ONLY available to participants of the Spring Hiking Program. Summits aren't the only rewarding hike destinations! Expand your hiking experience with a trip to Thoreau Falls. This 10.7 mile hike will feature a visit to scenic Ethan Pond, and culminate with a relaxing midhike break at Thoreau Falls before returning to the trailhead. The waterfall is long, powerful, and set in a wonderfully remote and pleasing setting, with fine views to nearby mountains, making it a great place to stop!
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