A Big Part of My Outdoor Life
The Appalachian Mountain Club was a big part of my outdoor life for many years, and when I look back now, what I remember most are the people. I met an incredible number of hikers, climbers, paddlers, instructors, and volunteers who freely shared their knowledge and enthusiasm. The AMC gave me opportunities to learn new skills, get into the mountains, and become involved in the kind of volunteer outdoor community that has always meant so much to me.
I did a lot of volunteer work with the AMC over the years, especially around climbing and paddling. Those experiences eventually gave me the chance to help other people learn, just as experienced outdoors people had once helped me. Some of my best memories are of being around people who simply loved being outside and wanted to share that with others.
The Boston AMC Mountaineering Committee
The Boston AMC Mountaineering Committee was one of the finest outdoor programs I ever became involved with. It was a remarkable group of people and a wonderful example of volunteerism. They consistently put together excellent instructional programs and charged very little, often barely enough to cover equipment maintenance and replacement.
The people who taught me rock and ice techniques—Bill, Al, Pat, Tom and Hadie, Eric, Matt, and so many others—gave an enormous amount of their own time. Years later, many of them were still out there teaching newcomers for free. That made a lasting impression on me and helped shape the way I later approached volunteering, teaching, and mentoring in the outdoors.
Volunteers, Hut Crews, and North Country People
Nearly every AMC volunteer I knew was a pretty cool person, and my experiences with the people who organized paddling and climbing activities were overwhelmingly positive. I also had tremendous respect for the staff I met in the North Country and for the hut “croo.” They worked hard, dealt patiently with an amazing variety of hikers, and brought a lot of energy and personality to the mountains.
The club changed over the years, as organizations naturally do, but the part I valued most was always the grassroots outdoor community: experienced people passing along skills, maintaining trails, organizing trips, and introducing newcomers to places they might never have explored on their own.
The Randolph Mountain Club
I have also always had a special appreciation for the Randolph Mountain Club. Its all-volunteer tradition and beautiful backcountry facilities in the Northern Presidentials captured much of what I loved about the old New England mountain culture: simple cabins, shared responsibility, and people who were there because they genuinely loved the mountains.
If you spend time in the Northern Presidentials, the RMC is well worth getting to know. I have long admired the work its volunteers do and the character of its mountain facilities.
Wilderness Ethics
I have long recommended Laura and Guy Waterman's book Wilderness Ethics to anyone who spends time in the mountains of New England. I first met Guy and Laura on Mount Lafayette, where they were quietly picking up candy wrappers on the crowded summit. That small scene stayed with me because it said so much about personal responsibility in wild places.
The more years I spent hiking and climbing, the more I appreciated the idea that enjoying the mountains also comes with an obligation to care for them. Trail work, volunteer instruction, conservation, and simply picking up what others leave behind are all part of the same ethic.
Outdoor Links
Looking Back
When I look back on my years with the AMC, I am grateful for the people I met and the skills they shared with me. Rock climbing, ice climbing, whitewater, hiking, safety, teaching, and volunteerism all became important parts of my life, and many of those experiences grew out of friendships and programs connected with the club.
Organizations evolve, but the memories that remain strongest for me are the positive ones: long days in the mountains, patient instructors, volunteer trip leaders, hardworking hut crews, and outdoor people willing to give their time to help someone else learn. I was fortunate to be part of that world, and a lot of what I learned there stayed with me for the rest of my outdoor life.