Not many people are aware, but the AMC is proposing a new hut in Crawford Notch, just down the road from the Highland Center and in close proximity to two other huts. This new hut simply isn't needed.
There is a change.org petition against this new hut construction, and it’s going to need a ton of signatures.
If you’ve hiked through the Whites, you know how difficult and expensive the AMC huts can be.
_Chris Magness_ What is your beef with building stuff for hikers in the Notch?
It’s along a highway, not back in the woods. How are we going to deal with the thousands of new hikers each year if we don’t provide expanded infrastructure? They want to build it because they are sure it will be used. They also need to build more campgrounds and shelters.
_Francis_ Where there are huts, there are of course camping restrictions, meaning no free at-large camping within so many hundreds of yards of the hut. I guess the first question would be whether this is likely to impact the current legal camping behaviors of long-distance AT hikers, in particular. Secondary questions would concern the size and scope of the proposal, what sort and degree of environmental and aesthetic impact the development would likely have given the unique setting alongside a popular road through (by and large) unspoiled surroundings, and how specifically it would be likely to enhance and/or diminish the quality of the AT experience in this area.
_tron_ From what I can tell the hut will be far enough from the AT to not effect the camping opportunities. It is in the approximate area of the shelter past the Zealand Hut (going NOBO) I can't remember the name at the moment. But the hut will be off of the AT on a newly constructed trail. They plan to run electricity to the hut from Route 302 and add a huge parking lot. This will be a very large, family oriented hut. I think that it adds more of a crowd to an already over crowded area. I will be signing the petition.
_Big B_