Narragansett Chapter Northern Hikes and Backpacking Activities

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General Notices

AMC 4000-Footer Club Membership Climbs Past 10,000

WHITE MOUNTAINS, N.H.-- The number of hikers who have climbed to and from the summits of the Granite State’s 48 recognized 4000-foot peaks and are members of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s (AMC’s) White Mountain Four Thousand Footer Club recently surpassed 10,000, according to Four Thousand Footer Committee Chair Eric Savage. Read more...

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Brief message from your Northern Hikes Subchair

Mountain hiking is best enjoyed when you are properly equipped and have the appropriate skills to safely travel from trail head to summit and back. Such know-how can be learned by participating in the activities offered by the Chapter’s Northern Hikes program. Throughout the year numerous trips and classes are conducted for beginner, intermediate, and experienced hikers. People new to hiking can greatly benefit from the Step-by-Step series of entry level trips and instruction. For more information, contact Ed Poyer or any of the mountain hike leaders.

Sign up early for trips that involve an overnight stay.

Each of our outdoor activity committees that are involved with overnight trips may or may not have restrictions relative to signing up just prior to the trip. Also, each trip notice may include details concerning any advance registration requirements. As a general policy, it's important to sign up early for trips that involve an overnight stay. Leaders have to reserve spaces at motels or AMC facilities months ahead of time and put down cash deposits. They need to know how many people will be on the trip in time to cancel reservations if the trip does not fill. Therefore, it's recommended to communicate with the leader at least a month before an overnight trip, if possible. Quite often these trips cannot accept more people in the last 2 weeks because of the need for lodging reservations.

Why do leaders ask all those questions?

When you call to sign up for activities, leaders ask questions about your experience, fitness and equipment.
The leaders ask because they want all participants to enjoy the trip. If you are not fit or adequately experienced for an outing, or have inadequate or inappropriate equipment, you and the group may not enjoy the experience. Lack of fitness, experience or equipment may endanger yourself or others.
The fact that the leaders do ask such questions should inspire your confidence that they are working to provide a safe & enjoyable trip for all. If you are unable to join an activity, ask the leader for recommendations for more suitable activities or workshops. This will enable you to gain experience.
Acquiring the fitness level, skills, experience and equipment to do what you dream can be an exciting, invigorating, and enjoyable growth process. The Club provides many opportunities to support this process.

The Step by Step Hiking Program

The Step-By-Step Program is meant to educate novice hikers in skills for hiking. Hikes start at the easier end of the scale, like this one, and gradually increase in difficulty as the summer passes. Additional hiking with other groups is recommended to further enhance cardiovascular fitness and muscle-building. With these tools under a hiker’s hip belt, the best areas of the glorious White Mountains are much more accessible and fun. Read the full article by Shannon Kelley. Trip Report: Step By Step through the Blue Hills

Winter Hiking Clothing and Equipment

The Northern Hiking committee presented a Seminar on winter gear and clothing at REI Cranston on Dec. 2, 2010. This linked article is derived from the handouts provided by the AMC leaders. Information is provided on clothing, boots, gear, and etiquette. Click here to read more.

Leadership Requirements

NORTHERN HIKES (BNH) SUBCOMMITTEE GUIDELINES FOR LEADER QUALIFICATIONS

Adopted October 18, 2007

To lead a Backpacking & Northern Hike, the leaders must be approved for leadership by the BNH Leadership Committee.

There are four leader classification levels:

Summer Below Treeline Leaders are restricted to below treeline hikes during summer season, defined as Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend. The below treeline distinction excludes the Presidentials from Eisenhower to Madison, the Franconia Ridge from Little Haystack to Lafayette, Mt. Moosilauke, the Bond Ridge, Owl’s Head, the Kathadin massif, Mt. Mansfield and the Adirondack High Peaks (Marcy et al).The below treeline distinction also excludes overnight trips to Lakes of the Clouds, Madison, Greenleaf or Galehead AMC huts, and Gray Knob and Crag Camp RMC cabins.
Three Season Leaders are restricted to April through November, only when no winter conditions are expected.
Four Season Below Treeline Leaders are restricted during winter to below treeline areas as listed above. Mt Monadnock is also restricted in winter.
Four Season Leaders may lead trips any time, any where the BNH Subcommittee has jurisdiction.

For any given candidate, specific qualifications may be waived by the BNH Leadership Committee in light of the individual’s overall skill, experience and training.

Qualifications common to all levels to become or remain as a BNH Leader for any level:

Applicant is a current, adult member of the AMC.
Applicant demonstrates a working knowledge of the policies, standard practices & protocols of the AMC and of the regulations of the land management agencies involved, including Leave No Trace guidelines.
Applicant consistently demonstrates common sense & good judgment in the eyes of the committee, including awareness of his/her own condition & limitations, that of the group, and awareness of the environment & changing circumstances of the trip.
Applicant demonstrates relevant outdoors, leadership and interpersonal skills, abilities and stamina above that required by a participant at the relevant level.
Prior to co-leading a trip at any given level, the applicant must have successfully participated in BNH approved trips at that level, led by at least two different leaders, in a variety of conditions, or otherwise demonstrated the necessary competencies.
While not a requirement, leadership candidates are encouraged to select an experienced BNH leader as a mentor to assist them in their leadership development.
The overall AMC Leadership Requirements and Guidelines will apply to all our leaders.

Summer Below Treeline: In order to co-lead:

Meets the qualifications common to all levels.
Demonstrates hiking skills & basic map & compass skills.
Successfully completed Wilderness First Aid training.

Three Season: In order to co-lead:

Successfully completed some formal leadership training program.
Successfully led BNH-approved Summer Below Treeline hikes, including at least one novice / beginner level trip.

Four Season Below Treeline: Prior to co-leading:

Demonstrates four season hiking skills, including crampon & snowshoe skills.
Demonstrates proficiency in map & compass & off trail navigation skills, including nighttime navigation.
Successfully completed an advanced formal leadership training program, such as MLS.
Be formally trained in handling cold weather injuries.
Demonstrated ability to use and teach proper crampon technique.
Successfully led at least three (3) BNH approvedthree season hikes, including at least one novice / beginner level trip and one above treeline.

Four Season: Prior to co-leading:

Demonstrates four season backpacking skills, including melting snow, & setting up a winter camp.
Holds current certification in Wilderness First Aid.
Demonstrates ability to use proper ice axe technique.
Successfully led at least three (3) BNH approved Four Season Below Treeline hikes, including at least one novice / beginner level trip.

To be approved as a leader at any level by the BNH Leadership Committee, the applicant must:

Successfully co-lead at least three (3) BNH approved activities at the target level, led by at least two different BNH Leaders.
Obtain recommendation for leadership at the target level from both BNH leaders to the BNH sub chair.

"The word aerobics came about when the gym instructors got together and said, "If we're going to charge $10 an hour, we can't call it jumping up and down." -- Rita Rudner