Weeks Act Celebration Hike – Crawford Path & Gibbs Brook Scenic Area.
Appalachian Mountain Club and Forest Society Co-leaders

Friday July 15th, 9 am to 4 pm
Raindate: Saturday, July 16th

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the passage of the historic Weeks Act which ultimately created the White Mountain National Forest. Amidst unsustainable logging practices and damage to water resources, two organizations; The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and Appalachian Mountain Club led the cry of public outrage and called for the government to protect natural resources. In 1911 the Weeks Act was passed allowing the government to purchase private land for resource protection, enabling creation of the White Mountain National Forest and 51 other national forests totaling more than 20 million acres.

Among groups instrumental in passage of the Weeks Act, the Forest Society and AMC remain active today while the WMNF has grown from 7,000 to almost 800,000 acres. This year, the same two organizations celebrate those visionaries who fought long and hard for land conservation by co-sponsoring a commemorative hike in the heart of the White Mountains.

Join us for a guided hike along the Crawford Path where the Weeks Act legacy surrounds us on a scenic trail in the mountains. Co- led by Dave Anderson, Director of Education, Forest Society and Nancy Ritger, AMC Senior Naturalist, this hike features our continuing partnership, the historic Crawford Path, the oldest continuously used hiking path in the US, Gibbs Brook with its scenic cascades and remnants of stream monitoring and Gibbs Brook Scenic Area featuring a rare patch of old growth forest. The hike is a moderate climb with opportunities to learn how the White Mountains were conserved. There is no charge, but registration is required as space is limited. Hikers should be prepared for mountain weather.

To pre-register e-mail [email protected] or call (603) 224-9945 ext. 313.