12 Randolph Mountain Club Newsletter “… sharing the collective knowledge of its members …” June 2018 0 0.5 1 2 Miles Crawford Project Strip Map G A R B C E O S N U D I O e S N S c L D F E 0 N L t A . i R U 1 o Y G 2 n L I m 9 N E i r le ive rook R s lay B suc C R oo k U on o P m o S m r LL A B E n L W L JE rso E e ff W e J JE O M W O E N S S E s T AVIN R 8 S D UC k OS e I R NO D o O l AMM E o i r H n B C T y o a O m i N w f t L l N I a T A O c 2 H U S R C R T e 4 E K . W F E F R S O 0 M JE N S A N E N R I LI A O V NS V A HE I A R N D E N A SO M UT R H E SID K E C N E U D T R A M G o E n IN r P o L e A B B r A o S o E k R S VE T SO A OS T CR IO N MA N ER R CK D TU S N O M L O A W N C U CAM T EL - O F F 7 Lakes of the Clouds n s S 0 e tio il . e c 7 m c e 5 1 t S i 8 . o P m O 0 n O L r i l E ve i e 6 O R R s y N r O D M T M F r a n kl i n B r o o k M ou nt Ple asa nt Bro ok S o k o k 5 is B s ro n o o le k ti i E c m DMAN DS P e ATH S 2 .1 1 4 s n e io il t P O c m O e L 8 ER W S 6 O . NH SE 0 EI T M S e bo O si s M B O ro N ok S L I D 3 s A A R O e l T n R i R N o E O i V T A t m I N s A R I sa be L g n c u a Y C a ki 5 R m T B e r D B oo 1 M ro k . ok S 1 Section 2 1.08 miles L I A R T R E W O H N E S I E T N U O M C R A W F O TH R A D P D D A V C R O I L F S IF W A P F R A C T Problem AH reas Gi bbs Br ook on 1 Secti miles 1.61 L S AH CUT-OFF AI AC MIZP TR O N LA IO KE AT TR OL AIL IS M T ON W Saco Lake ok Alpine Zone L d Bro VA I S nt Hea A L Elepha L a DR A co AIL Y R R R IV T E R N R D SO CU i K T ve C O T JA FF R R- r E A ST I EB L W CRAWFORD PATH BICENTENNIAL in 2019 by Bob Drescher, Trails co-chair If you’re hiking the Crawford Path this summer, the trail will have a very different look to it. In preparation for next year’s SUMMER 2018 VOLUNTEER WORK TRIPS celebration of the 200th anniversary of its construction, trail by Chris Campbell, volunteer trips co-chair crews from many organizations will be hard at work, repairing and restoring this historic route. 2017 was a remarkably successful year for volunteer work on The Crawford Path was built in 1819, making it the oldest RMC trails. Our volunteers contributed 1,148 hours of work, continuously maintained and used footpath in the United including 194 hours on the Israel Ridge Path (which saved the States. Starting in Crawford Notch and running 8.5 miles club $4,500.00 in its matching contribution to that grant- along the western flank of the Presidential Range, this heavily funded project). Volunteer brushing and blazing improved the used trail climbs near two 4,000-footers, two 5,000-footers quality and safety on many miles of other trails; and showing and ends at 6,288 feet on the summit of Mt. Washington, New up at short notice in November cleared blowdowns on twenty- Hampshire’s tallest peak. With over five miles above treeline, three RMC trails caused by the late-October storm. including a 5.4 mile section of the Appalachian National In 2018, the state grant supporting our trail crew’s work on the Scenic Trail (AT), this traverse provides amazing views, and Short Line requires a 20% match, and we hope to cover much travels through alpine zones hosting a number of rare plants. of this through volunteer work. Please consider joining us, The approach to performing the work on the Crawford Path whether it is to help maintain our 100+ miles of trails in the represents a new way to utilize the resources available— northern Presidential and Crescent Ranges, enjoy a wonderful a collective impact model, where multiple trail crews and trail system, or meet others who love to hike in northern NH. The complete schedule appears on page 10. Continued on page 11 2017 volunteers Rudy Bourget and Chris Pollari, brushing Map of the Crawford Path, running from Crawford Notch on the Israel Ridge Path. Chris Campbell photo. to the summit of Mt. Washington. Courtesy USFS. Also in This Issue: Summer social events…… ……...………………..…… page 3 Mt. Crescent Land Protection Campaign ……...………. page 6 Meet the Trail Crew & trails report …………….…..…. page 4 New RMC book by Judy Hudson………..….…….……. page 9 Meet the Camp Caretakers & camps report…..…........… page 5 Treasurer’s Report ……..………………........…….……page 10 21 RMC Newsletter June 2018 page 2 From the President … Summer is finally here! In April it still Randolph Mountain Club 2017-2018 looked like winter in Randolph, but we Officers, Directors, did have a short spring in May, with committee chairs and honorary members fine skiing at Tucks. In no time the leaves came out, the mountains President Jamie Maddock, South Berwick ME greened up, and here we are now at the Vice President Kate Hudson, Pelham MA 109th summer season of the RMC. Treasurer Kathleen Kelley, Randolph NH Our trail crew will be mostly close to Secretary Randy Meiklejohn, Brookline MA home this summer, rebuilding portions of the Short Line. Once again our Other Directors: Pete Antos-Ketcham, Starksboro, VT work is funded by a State of NH grant, Dwight Bradley, Randolph NH and we are able to use volunteer labor Bob Drescher, Barnstead NH as part of our match. Last year we had Benzo Harris, Portland ME a phenomenal turnout for our volunteer Carl Herz, Bedford MA work trips. Having volunteers blaze Ben Lieberson, Boston MA and brush lets the trail crew Jenn Scarinza, Randolph NH concentrate on the heavy construction, Samarjit Shankar, Arlington MA and we are able to get a lot more done. Jeff Smith, Berlin NH Franklin Stone Wenk, Brooklyn NY For one week in July, the crew will be working on the Crawford Path, Wendy Walsh, Randolph NH south of Mt. Washington. The project has been funded by REI and the Forest Service and involves many NH trail clubs, under the Camps: Pete Antos-Ketcham organizational leadership of the White Mountain Trail Collective. Trails: Bob Drescher, Benzo Harris Social Events: Jenn Scarinza, Franklin Stone Wenk Up at the camps, this is the year we will finish replacing the windows Trips: Barbara Cutter, Brian Roberts at Crag Camp, seal up some leaks, and repair the roof. We’ve spaced Merchandise: Michele Cormier these repairs out over several years, starting in September 2015, with Planned Giving: Randy Meiklejohn financial support from the RMC’s Mt. Madison Fund. The Fund Communications: Samarjit Shankar balance has grown steadily over three years of bequests and memorial Membership: Michele Cormier donations, and we’re pleased to be able to make use of it to invest in Stewardship: Samarjit Shankar the building assets that are so central to our members’ lifetimes in the Safety: Bill Arnold mountains. Stearns Lodge: Paul Cormier The RMC board of directors has spent part of this spring developing a Work Trips: Chris Campbell, Wendy Walsh new partnership with the Randolph Foundation, in support of a land Newsletter: Randy Meiklejohn protection project that will benefit the entire community. The Webmaster: Jeff Smith Foundation is leading a campaign to raise the money to purchase a Archivist: Al Hudson sixteen-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Community Forest Historian: Judy Hudson Trailhead on Randolph Hill. For more information see the article I Cartographer: Jon Hall co-wrote with Foundation President Sarah Eusden Gallop, accom- Radios: Bill Arnold panied a map of the land; I hope you will consider a contribution. Honorary members: Bill & Barbara Arnold Paula Bradley As always, your directors and I work hard to continue the best of the Al & Judy Hudson RMC; as we find every year, some new opportunity or challenge Deborah Stewart helps us also look for ways that we should change.