White Mountain Adventures
Welcome to White Mountain Adventures!! This March Intensive course is designed to teach winter hiking and camping skills and to introduce students to the beauty of the White Mountains. We also devote significant time to developing an understanding of group dynamics.
Cost: The cost for the course is $285/student. We work hard to keep the cost as low as possible. There is need-based financial aid available - please complete the Need-Based Scholarship Application if you need financial aid. contact any of the White Mountain leaders.
Cell Phones: There is no cell phone coverage where we will be hiking. The AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club) maintains radios in the huts that the caretaker uses to check in and get weather each morning. Otherwise these are only used for emergency communication, so you should not expect to be in contact with students between Tuesday morning and Friday afternoon.
Itinerary:
- We will divide the students into two groups, each with approximately twenty students and three adult leaders. One group will spend their time at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Lonesome Lake Hut. The second group will be based at the Zealand Falls Hut.
- We will leave HHS at 8 am on Tuesday March 10th, arriving at our hiking destinations around 11 am.
- Groups will hike into their respective huts on Tuesday, we will assign jobs and generally get ensconced in the place.
- Wednesday and Thursday will be spent hiking, preparing meals, playing games, sharing, all as a group.
- We will hike out to the bus on Friday March 13th, likely returning to HHS around 3 pm.
Safety: We will be hiking outside in the weather of the day. Conditions are highly variable at this time of year, temps over the last few years have ranged from -20 degrees F to over 70 degrees F. Our leaders are Wilderness First Aid and/or Wilderness First Responder certified. We carry a robust kit of first aid supplies, extra warm gear and keep a close watch on all members of the group. The adult chaperones have been to these locations, with students, many times in the past and know the areas well. We will plan our hikes to fit with the daily conditions and the abilities of the students.
Leaders: Clare Brauch (Physical Education Teacher), Julie Cook (Special Education Teacher), John Phipps (Science Teacher), Colin Tindall (Social Studies Teacher), Julia Gartner (Science Teacher), Justin Campbell (HHS Principal)
- Packing Checklist
- Forms
- Where we hike?
- What will the weather be like?
- What do the students eat?
- When are money and forms due?
- What happens if there is a snow day?
- First Aid & Safety Information
Packing Checklist
PACKING CHECKLIST FOR WHITE MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES
*Below is a list of required gear, no exceptions*
Only Optional items are optional
Download a Printable Checklist
Clothing
Base Layer (absolutely NO cotton)
__ 2 polypro liner socks
__ 2 long underwear tops (synthetic or wool)
__ 2 long underwear bottoms (synthetic or wool)
Warming/Insulating Layer
__ 3 pair of hiking socks (wool)
__ fleece or wool pants
__ 2 pair fleece or wool mittens
__ fleece jacket and/or wool sweater
Outer Layer
__"buff" or neck warmer
__ 2 fleece or wool hats
__ waterproof over mitts or gloves with shells (dry hands!)
__ waterproof jacket/shell
__ waterproof snow pants/shell
__ gaiters
Hut Clothing
(comfy warm clothing, hut does not rise above 45°)
__ hut shoes (slippers, crocs with socks, but NO sneakers)
__ pants
__ top
Equipment
__ sleeping bag rated to 0 °F
__ backpack 60-80 liter
__ snowshoes
__ hiking boots
(leather, synthetic, or combo-waterproofed. If older reproof with snowseal etc. If new wear for 2 weeks to school prior to trip.)
__ newspaper (to stuff your boots for faster drying)
__ insulated mug (this cuts down on dishes/work)
__ small tupperware for packing trail lunches
__ insulating sleeve for H20 bottles
(an old wool sock works too)
__ 2 nalgene water bottles filled with water
(hard plastic or steel)
__ headlamp
__ extra batteries
__ 3 plastic garbage bags
(one to line main compartment of backpack, another to put sleeping bag in, one extra just in case)
__ small ziploc bags or waterproof bag
(for camera, book etc to keep watertight)
__ 4 sets of hand & toe warmers
Personal
__ underclothing
(your skivvies ala USMC) 4 pair and a SPARE !!!!!
Toiletries:
__ toothbrush
__ toothpaste (travel size)
__ other items you absolutely need in TRAVEL SIZE
__ any items of medical necessity
Optional
__ snacks (personal)
__ sunglasses
__ pack cover
__ game (cards, small)
__ book
__ camera
Items for BUS ride
__ money (buy lunch on way home)
__ 1 set of clean clothing for return trip to Hanover
Forms
To ensure all participants have all the gear they need, everyone must complete this Gear Survey form.
All participants and parents/guardians must print, sign, and return the Permission Form.
Where we hike?
We will divide the students into two groups, each with approximately twenty students and three adult leaders. One group will spend their time at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Lonesome Lake Hut. The second group will be based at the Zealand Falls Hut.