Venturing from Lodge to Hut: Exploring the Southern Presidentials with the Appalachian Mountain Club
Embark on an unforgettable adventure in the heart of the White Mountains with the Appalachian Mountain Club's (AMC) guided hut-to-hut trek in the Presidential Range. This multi-day journey offers a unique opportunity to traverse New Hampshire's highest peaks, experience the region's pristine wilderness, and stay in AMC's high mountain huts.
**The Trail Itinerary**
The typical duration for this thrilling trek is between 3 to 4 days. The route takes hikers across the Presidential Range, covering the five highest peaks in the state: Mount Madison, Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson, Mount Monroe, and Mount Washington. The journey often begins at the Highland Center or other trailheads in the White Mountains.
**Hut Accommodations**
AMC's high mountain huts provide a perfect respite for weary hikers. These cozy lodges offer meals, water, and lodging in a breathtaking mountainous setting. The itinerary includes overnight stays at the Madison Spring Hut, Lakes of the Clouds Hut, and Mizpah Spring Hut.
**Difficulty Level**
The Presidential Traverse is renowned for its strenuous nature, with high elevation, steep terrain, and potentially unpredictable weather conditions. Participants should be in good physical condition and prepared for challenging hiking conditions.
**The Journey Unfolds**
The itinerary includes a lodge-to-hut journey that spans two hut nights. The first hut night is spent at the Lakes of the Clouds Hut, a scenic stopover that offers access to Mount Washington and the Alpine Garden Trail, which boasts stunning views of the Southern Presidential Range.
The second hut night is spent at Mizpah Spring Hut, located at an elevation of 3,793 feet. To reach Mizpah Spring Hut, hikers follow the Webster Cliff Trail up and over Mount Pierce. The route then leads along the Crawford Path, considered the oldest continuously maintained footpath in the United States. The distance from Lakes of the Clouds Hut to Mizpah Spring Hut is approximately 4.8 miles, with an elevation gain of about 600 feet.
**Optional Challenges**
For those seeking an additional challenge, Mount Eisenhower can be climbed as an optional 0.8-mile and 350-foot uphill trek from the Crawford Path. Alternatively, the Monroe Loop trail, a spur trail from the Lakes of the Clouds Hut, leads to the summit of Mount Monroe.
The return journey from Mizpah Spring Hut to the Highland Center is made via the Mizpah Cutoff trail, a section of the Crawford Path cut in 1819 by Abel Crawford and his son Ethan Allen Crawford.
For more details on specific itineraries and to book a trip, it is recommended to contact AMC directly or visit their website for updated information. The AMC's guided trips to their high mountain huts offer a memorable and challenging experience in the White Mountains.
The unforgettable adventure in the White Mountains, provided by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), perfectly combines home-and-garden experiences within their high mountain huts, offering a unique home-away-from-home ambience during the outdoor-living, multi-day Presidential Range trek. After exploring the pristine wilderness and traversing New Hampshire's highest peaks, this journey presents an excellent opportunity for travelers to unwind and share stories around a cozy kitchen table, before embarking on the next day's adventure.
