Basecamp podcast: Unraveling the mystique of AMC’s mountain huts

In all, there are eight huts located along the Appalachian Trail. (AMC Photo)

New Hampshire’s Appalachian Mountain Club’s network of mountain huts, accessible only by foot, has been described to hold the experience of a “Narnian fairly tale.”

In all, there are eight huts located along the Appalachian Trail through New Hampshire. Three of them — Carter Notch Hut, Zealand Falls Hut and Lonesome Lake Hut — are available for lodging during the winter months as well. 

AMC’s director of White Mountain Lodges and Camps Jess Wilson joined Eric Wilbur and Mike Specian on the latest New England Ski Journal Basecamp podcast to discuss the huts’ magical appeal during the summer months and beyond.

On the purpose of Appalachian Mountain Club: 

Wilson: We’ve been around for a long time. Folks who are familiar with the White Mountain National Forest and enjoy recreating in it can think about AMC as being a part of the Weeks Act, which was something that actually created the White Mountain National Forest. We’ve been really focused on integrating conservation and stewardship ethics, in addition to sort of the recreation base opportunities that people know us for in terms of our huts and lodges.

On renting a hut during the summer: 

Wilson: All of AMC’s facilities are open to the public. So everything is reservable online at outdoors.org, or we have a phone number for the reservations department. In the summer, all the huts are full service, meaning that you would get dinner and breakfast with your overnight stay.

Listen: