What we’re about
Welcome to the Hiking/Backpacking (HB) Committee of the Boston Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). AMC connects people to the outdoors. In support of that mission, we offer a variety of volunteer-led hikes year-round, including: shorter hikes, easy to strenuous day hikes, introductory instructional programs, and overnight trips (hut and cabin trips and backpacks). While we lead trips throughout New England, our trips are most frequently located in the greater Boston area / MA and NH. AMC offers a structure for leadership training and peer-approved leaders so that we can operate safe and well-organized hikes. Our hikes are open to everyone based on ability (and requisite gear as applicable), although participants on backcountry trips are usually screened to ensure a good fit. You don't need to be a AMC member to join us for most trips, though we encourage you to support AMC’s work by becoming a member. We look forward to hiking with you!
Please read the full trip description first, not just the trip titles, before registering for the trip on the AMC website. Thank you.
Sign up for HB Announce, our newsletter that advertises our upcoming hikes twice per month.
Check out AMC’s activities, the official site for all AMC trip postings, for the Hiking/Backpacking Committee hikes and for trips from other committees.
Upcoming events
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Sub Sig Cabin weekend: Carter Dome and the Kinsmans in Winter
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 6 - Strenuous
Trip Leader(s): Keith Watling, Terry Rice
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UUN000001wWF3
Audience: Adults
Description: Calling all hikers working on your winter 48! Join us for a strenuous weekend of winter hiking during which we will hike Carter Dome (4,832‘), and North Kinsman (4,293')/South Kinsman (4,358’) on back-to-back days using Sub Sig Cabin in Crawford Notch as our weekend base. Both hikes will be 10 miles, with 3,450 and 3,950 feet of elevation gain, respectively. The pace will be moderate to slow depending on trail and weather conditions. Participants will spend Friday and Saturday nights at Sub Sig Cabin in Crawford Notch and should be experienced winter hikers in excellent physical condition. They should possess full winter gear, including microspikes, crampons and snowshoes. Previous experience hiking NH 4,000-footers in winter is a requirement. Sub Sig Cabin is located in Hart's Location, NH - about 10 miles south of the AMC Highland Center in Crawford Notch and has heat and electricity, a fully equipped kitchen, a cosy living/dining room, a 2-room sleeping area with mattresses, and a 2-stall HEATED outhouse. The cabin does NOT have running water and leaders and participants are expected to each bring 3 gallons of water for personal use, plus a sleeping bag, pillow, and a bed sheet. Sub Sig Cabin will be opened by the leaders early Friday evening and all participants should aim to arrive by 9.00 pm. Breakfast will be provided on both days, along with dinner on Saturday night. Participants will be responsible for their own lunches and trail snacks on Saturday and Sunday. The $95 cost covers Cabin fees, Saturday dinner and 2 breakfasts. In the event of a participant having to cancel, Cabin fees are fully refundable; the meal fee is refundable up to the Monday evening before the weekend. Participants are expected to assist with meal preparation and Cabin cleanup. To address unforeseen challenges such as adverse weather, unacceptable trail conditions or excessive crowding, the planned trip destination, activity and/or meeting place and time may be modified. In that event, participants may elect to join in that activity or opt-out.
Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!Mt. Adams in January
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 6 - Strenuous
Trip Leader(s): Ian Baker, Emma Shin, Alyssa Washington
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UUN000001pwUP
Register By: 1/6/2026
Audience: Adults
Description: Join Emma and Ian for a winter day hike to Mt. Adams (5,797’). Weather depending, we hope to experience phenomenal 360 degree views during the extended above tree line section from Madison Spring Hut to the summit of Mt. Adams. Our hike will be an out-and-back hike with both ascent and descent primarily via the Valley Way Trail. Expect an approximately 8.5-mile hike with approximately 4,500’ of elevation gain at a moderate pace.
Participants must have considerable experience hiking strenuous 4,000 footers in the winter. In addition, participants must have experience hiking one or more of the following 4,000 footers in winter: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Eisenhower, Moosilauke, Lincoln, Lafayette, or the section of the Bonds between Bondcliff and Bond. Mt. Adams is NOT an appropriate first above tree line winter hike. A regular, rigorous cardio fitness regimen is also required.
Depending on weather conditions, be prepared for a strenuous 8-10 hour hike and potential winter conditions with cold, wind, ice, snow, and a strong possibility of breaking trail. Please be an experienced winter hiker in good physical condition, with full winter gear including winter boots, microspikes, snowshoes, crampons, ice axe, wind protection, face protection, rain gear, and multiple clothing layers.
Finally, the unpredictability of winter weather on the Northern Presidentials in January means that we have multiple backup plans in place for this hike. Our first backup plan is to hike on Sunday, January 11 instead. Should both days of the weekend prove unsuitable for an attempt on the Northern Presidentials (which is not unlikely early January), we will instead hike Liberty and Flume as an out-and-back hike.
To address unforeseen challenges such as adverse weather, unacceptable trail conditions or excessive crowding, the planned trip destination, activity and/or meeting place and time may be modified. In that event, participants may elect to join in that activity or opt out.
Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
Mts Liberty and Flume (2 x NH4K)
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 6 - Strenuous
Trip Leader(s): Majid Ali, Reid Gilman, Michael Meyer
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UUN000001rwN3
Audience: Adults
Description: Join us for a winter day-hike in the Franconia Range of the White Mountains, with an out-and-back route of about 10.2 miles with approximately 4,250' elevation gain. Our goal is to summit two 4000 footers, Mt. Liberty (4,459') and Mt. Flume (4,328'). Weather permitting, we will have 360 degree views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness, Cannon and the Kinsmans. This hike will be at a moderate and steady pace with brief breaks, and is appropriate for experienced winter hikers who are comfortable with relatively steep trails and brief above tree-line exposure. Given the length of the hike and limited daylight this time of year, participants will be required to carry headlamps and be prepared to finish in the dark. To address unforeseen challenges such as adverse weather, unacceptable trail conditions or excessive crowding, the planned trip destination, activity and/or meeting place and time may be modified. In that event, participants may elect to join in that activity or opt out.
Required: Microspikes and mountaineering snowshoes, with prior experience using both. Additional Required Winter Gear: 400g insulated winter boots Warm hat or beanie Face protection (balaclava or facemask) Headlamp with extra batteries Multiple warm clothing layers (base, mid, and outer shells) Be prepared for cold, snowy, and icy trail conditions
Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!Winter Backpack to Carters and Moriah
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 6 - Strenuous
Trip Leader(s): John Etzel, Ian Dunn
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UUN0000020lU1
Audience: Adults
Description: Join us for a winter backpack on the Carter-Moriah ridge. Weather depending and with a strong/motivated group, we may summit Moriah, Imp, and North/Middle/South Carter. The total hike over 2 days is approximately 15 miles round trip with up to 4500' of elevation gain, and we aim to hike at a moderate pace (adjusting for the heavy pack weight).
Be prepared for 2 strenuous days of hiking with some exposure to above treeline conditions, with potential cold, wind, ice, snow, and a strong probability of breaking trail. We will also encounter steep (icy) portions of trail where full crampons and mountaineering axe may be required. Please be a moderately experienced winter backpacker in good physical condition, with full winter gear. Comprehensive gear lists may be found at https://hb.amcboston.org/images/docs/Gear_lists/Winter_Dayhike_equip.pdf and https://hb.amcboston.org/docs/winter.pdf .
Please bring $15 per person for the campsite fee.
To address unforeseen challenges such as adverse weather, unacceptable trail conditions or excessive crowding, the planned trip destination, activity and/or meeting place and time may be modified or even canceled. In that event, participants may elect to join in that activity or opt out. Possible backup plans including doing the full hike as a single day hike, doing part of the posted hike as a single day hike, and possibly removing Moriah and instead adding Carter Dome and Mt Hight to the hike.
Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
