Appalachian Mountain Club
July 19, 2010 1:48 am Leave your thoughtsThe Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire is on United States Forest Service land. A US government organization. It is leased and managed by the Appalachian Mountain Club (In Maine it is the Maine Appalachian Trail Club)
The Appalachian Mountain Club is often jokingly referred to by hikers here as the Appalachian Money Club. I’d have to say they are not too popular with hikers here.
In Maine you can camp pretty much anywhere below tree line. Because of weather exposure you generally don’t want to camp above tree line anyhow. The Maine ATC leaves it up to hikers to practice leave no trace and good sense camping.
In New Hampshire there are a lot more rules about where you can and can not camp. The AMC has a system of “Huts” and “Campsites” they run and want everyone to use and of course there are fee’s to use these. Since most hikers are on a very tight budget this does not go over well.
To be fair the AMC does this to limit user impact on woods areas, however what you end up with is a monopoly where hikers who try to camp outside the fee areas can be ticketed and fined.
The AMC “Campsites” are pretty basic, have a maintained privy, shelter, tent platforms and a caretaker to collect the fees and maintain the site. The fee to stay at these is $8 per night.
The AMC “Huts” are lodges that have bunk beds, running water, a kitchen, dining hall and a staff of anywhere from 3-8. Some can sleep up to 90 people. The rate for these is $90 per night and includes dinner and breakfast.
These huts have some electricity for crew and limited lighting but none for guests to charge cameras etc. Since these huts are remote I understand and have no problem with no showers or electricity, however I feel $90 is a ridiculously high rate to charge for just a bunk and 2 meals.
Thru-hikers can do “work for stay” at these huts. Sounds like a good deal. Do some dishes, help cook, clean and get fed and a place to sleep. However, its not quite as good as it sounds.
The huts are all staffed and managed by young adults around age 18-24. There are a limited number of work for stay spots available per night at each hut and those spots are decided upon by staff. If the staff doesn’t like you or is a bad mood you can be out of luck or get shafted. I have had a horrible experience with this being forced to sleep in a mold and mouse infested basement. Others I know slept in a food storage shed.
The AMC does do good things, their staff is often great (and underpaid) and they keep some very well maintained trails.