March 5, 2010
Joe Dodge Lodge: A cozy place at Pinkham Notch
Joe Dodge Lodge exterior
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There are ski lodges and inns you go to for the luxury, to soak in a hot tub or take in a gourmet meal, perhaps to have a romantic getaway with a bit of skiing or hiking thrown in. If that’s the kind of vacation you’re looking for, Joe Dodge Lodge at Pinkham Notch probably is not the place for you.
But if you are looking for a friendly, cozy place nestled into some of the country’s most breathtaking natural vistas, give Joe Dodge a look. The lodge is on the grounds of the White Mountain National Forest. Just a few steps from the front door, you have roughly 14 miles of ungroomed cross country ski trails (considered intermediate to expert in difficulty), and hiking trails.
There is more cross country skiing just down the road at the Great Glen Trails, where you can ski for free if you stay at Joe Dodge. And countless other outdoor activities you can explore at the Pinkham Notch Visitors Center, where there is a library, videos, and a staff to help you plan year-round.
According to Rob Burbank, the public affairs director at the Appalachian Mountain Club (Joe Dodge’s parent organization), Joe Dodge takes a different approach to vacation lodging. The Joe Dodge Lodge lets the surrounding area speak for itself.
“People come to this area for the mountains, for the hiking and skiing opportunities, for the beautiful scenery,” he said. “And so we operate the lodge to help people to be right in amongst the mountains and to have clean, comfortable lodging and great, hearty meals right here in the Notch. They can get a good night’s rest, get fueled on some great breakfast in the morning and head out for a day on the trail right from our door.”
There are two private rooms with double beds and seven private family rooms with either a double bed and either two or three bunks. The rest of the lodge’s 32 rooms are shared bunk rooms. You get dinner and breakfast with the price of the accommodation, and you’ll be getting cozy with family-style meals on long tables where you’ll be asking your fellow lodgers to pass the salad bowl. There is a deli for lunch where you can buy sandwiches or get a trail lunch packed for you.
“The camaraderie with the other hikers is a big part of the experience,” Burbank said. “Our meals are served family style. It’s a very social, congenial setting, a great way to meet other hikers and share stories of your day on the trail.”
For those who may want a bit more privacy and don’t want the family rooms, you can reserve two- or four-bunk rooms if you’re traveling in a group. “If you’re traveling with friends and companions you can reserve ahead to be in the same room,” Burbank said.
If you’re into alpine skiing, you can head less than a mile up the road to the Wildcat Ski Area (Joe Dodge offers ski-and-stay packages in coordination with them). And in the spring, more advanced skiers can ski the Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington. Burbank advises lodgers to take advantage of the experts at the visitors center to advise which trails and activities might fit your particular skill level.
“Education is infused in everything we do here at the AMC and a big part of the service we provide for overnight guests and day visitors alike,” Burbank said. “For trip planning information, we operate the visitors center adjacent to the lodge to provide assistance to visitors to help them learn about the trail conditions, learn about the surrounding terrain, learn about the trails that they’re about to hike or ski on.
“We do that in a number of ways,” he continued, “with weather reports posted at the visitors center, avalanche advisories posted at the center. We have a three-dimensional map of the Northern Presidential Range which people can get familiar with before they get out on the trails so they have a sense of the terrain they’re about to hike or ski on. It’s critical to be prepared when you’re out on the trail, and the information you get at the information center certainly will help you to do that.”
Joe Dodge is open year round, but the most popular time is the spring, when it’s easier to take advantage of Tuckerman Ravine.
It’s popular pretty much all year for different pursuits. The springtime is very popular for spring skiers who are heading up to Tuckerman Ravine. The Tuckerman Ravine trailhead is right here at Pinkham Notch. It’s literally steps away from the Joe Dodge Lodge to get on to the trail you can hike to get up to Tuckerman Ravine.“
Tuckerman Ravine is not an average tourist ski destination. It takes a bit of skill and determination, which you might want to factor into planning your ski experience. “That is a ski experience you have to get to on your own power,” Burbank said. “There’s no lift service, there’s no grooming, and so forth. It’s a back-country ski area. It’s very popular for advanced skiers, and it’s considered some of most extreme skiing terrain in the East. And it really comes into its own in the springtime.”
