THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB INVITES YOU TO TAKE PART IN A 1,500-MILE RELAY TO CELEBRATE 150 YEARS
AMC 150 RELAY
THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB INVITES YOU TO TAKE PART IN A 1,500-MILE RELAY TO CELEBRATE 150 YEARS
B y A n a s t a s i a S t a n m e y e r
T he Appalachian Mountain Club( AMC) is inviting outdoor enthusiasts to join them in embarking on a 1,500-mile relay from Virginia to Maine, utilizing many cherished trails and landscapes, including sections of the Appalachian Trail( AT), for a community-powered celebration.
Participants will pass a pennant hand to hand over the lands and waters the AMC enjoys and protects, honoring the last 150 years of adventure, trail-building, and conservation. The journey echoes how the 90,000-member AMC began in 1876, with an invitation to explore the mountains and learn side by side.
“ The AMC 150th Relay is more than a celebration of where we’ ve been,” says AMC President and CEO Nicole Zussman.“ It’ s a powerful reminder of who we are as a community and why our mission matters. For 150 years, Appalachian Mountain Club has connected people to the outdoors, inspired stewardship, and united generations of adventurers. This relay brings those values to life, inviting everyone to join us in honoring our past and helping shape the future of outdoor exploration and conservation.”
The AMC 150th Anniversary Outdoor Relay begins March 14 in Sherando, Virginia. The morning features a ribbon-cutting ceremony to send the AMC 150 Flag on its historic journey north. Participants will carry the flag 0.3 miles to the Humpback Rocks Trailhead, where the first relay team of cyclists begins the route. Chapters and volunteer leaders will lead the way mile by mile. The final leg of the AMC150 anniversary is bikepacking on gravel roads, ending on Sunday, September 20, after an at Medawisla Lodge in Greenville, Maine.
The AMC Western Massachusetts Chapter carries out the mission of the Appalachian Mountain Club in the Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties of Massachusetts. For more information and to register to take part in a segment( or more) of the AMC 150th Relay, go to outdoors. org.
Sunday, May 17
AT from Northwest Camp to Guilder Pond
START AND END LOCATION: Mt. Washington( 42.106887,-73.435766) Distance: 6 – 7 miles Elevation gain: 1,800 '– 2,000 ' Difficulty: 5 – Vigorous Starting at Northwest Camp near the CT / MA border, the hike heads north on the Appalachian Trail toward Sages Ravine— a stunning, moss-covered gorge filled with cascading waterfalls and crystal-clear pools. The trail ascends gradually through this lush forested area, making Sages Ravine an ideal spot for a rest before the steeper climb ahead. From there, the AT climbs Mount Race( 2,365 feet), where hikers are rewarded with spectacular ridgeline views to the east. Sheer cliffs and open ledges offer breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding mountains and the Housatonic Valley. Continuing north, the trail ascends Mount Everett( 2,624 ft), the highest peak in the southern Berkshires. Though steep, the climb is relatively short, and the summit— once topped by a fire tower— provides excellent views of the Catskills and Hudson Valley. Descending from Everett, the trail winds through a peaceful, wooded area before reaching Guilder Pond, a serene high-elevation lake surrounded by evergreens. A short side trail leads to a picnic area and a scenic loop around the pond. After the hike, join others at NW camp for refreshments and celebrate the cabin’ s 75th anniversary.
Sunday, May 17
Northwest Camp 75th Anniversary Celebration
LOCATION: 169 East St., Mt. Washington( 42.04939,-73.467001) For 75 years, AMC’ s Northwest Camp has welcomed hikers and visitors who come seeking quiet beauty beneath the slopes of Bear Mountain, Connecticut. The rustic cabin has been a gathering place for shared adventure and camaraderie, and a place where the spirit of AMC stewardship of the Appalachian Trail has thrived across generations. You are invited to take part in a warm and memorable celebration in this remarkable backcountry setting. Guests may arrive after joining Kathy Martin’ s AMC150 relay hike earlier in the day, or they may choose to approach on their own by foot or car. Parking is very limited, so please consider carpooling, or enjoy the hike in from the Undermountain Road trailhead( 1.7 miles one-way, 700 feet of elevation). Expect a friendly atmosphere and an afternoon that blends history, nature, and community.