Tin Mountain Conservation Center & Appalachian Mountain Club Offer Free Guided Tours

By AlpineZone News |
Jun 24 2011 - 02:55 PM

Weekly & Monthly Educational Outdoor Tours Make Learning Fun This Summer & Fall

Pinkham Notch, NH – Wildcat Mountain and the Tin Mountain Conservation Center will once again offer “Wednesdays at Wildcat” naturalist led programs and new this summer “Tin Mountain Tuesdays” to a schedule of summer events. Also new this summer, Wildcat Mountain has partnered with the nearby Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Pinkham Notch Visitor Center to offer a monthly series of naturalist led summit tours and optional guided hikes from the summit to the base of Wildcat Mountain.

Pinkham Notch in the White Mountain National Forest is a memorable summer outing for families of all ages to explore and learn about the diverse ecology of the region and now “Tin Mountain Tuesdays” and “Wednesdays at Wildcat” provide more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Program topics change weekly and range from learning about the flora and fauna of the forest and fresh water ecosystems to those of the higher alpine environment, including wildflowers, mosses, waterfalls, frogs, and moose to the geology of the surrounding mountains and Presidential Range. Tin Mountain Conservation Center programs at Wildcat Mountain are scheduled every Tuesday & Wednesday beginning July 5th through August 31st and rotate weekly. For a schedule of program topics, visit skiwildcat.com to view the events calendar.

Also once a month this summer & fall, a similar high alpine summit tour will be led by naturalists from the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center followed by a guided hike down from the 4,062 foot summit of Wildcat Mountain. Scheduled dates for the “AMC Guided Summit Tour & Hike” are Saturdays – July 16th, August 20th, September 10th, & October 8th.

Reservations are not required, and programs are geared for all ages. Meet at Guest Services in the Wildcat Mountain base lodge shortly before 10am. Admission is free, except for high-alpine Tin Mountain Conservation Center and AMC* tour dates that require a trip on the Wildcat Express Gondola Skyride to the summit. Round-trip Wildcat Express scenic gondola tickets are $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for children ages 6-12, $13.00 for seniors ages 65+, and ages 5 and under ride for free (*all persons who wish to partake in the optional AMC guided hike down can pay a reduced rate for the one-way ride to the summit). Picnic lunches are available for purchase, including the Family Fun Pack which includes gondola tickets and lunch for two adults and two children for $64.95. In case of inclement weather, the program may be held indoors using slide shows and interactive displays.

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Wildcat Mountain, a year-round destination located 100% within the White Mountain National Forest, provides both exhilarating and one-of-a-kind opportunities to enjoy views and scenery that have been consistently voted #1 in the East. In addition to the ZipRider and highest scenic gondola in New Hampshire, Wildcat Mountain offers hiking, fishing, and a lift-serviced 9-hole alpine disc golf course. A seasonal food menu, beer, & wine are offered in the base lodge with fresh “Lunch & Ride” packages available for individuals, families, or groups. All rates and information can be found online at www.skiwildcat.com or by calling 1-888-SKI-WILD.

Tin Mountain Conservation Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing education programs that foster greater awareness and understanding of the natural environment for school children, adults, and families. Since it was founded in 1980, the Center has offered hands-on programs in the schools, at summer camps, and within communities throughout northern New Hampshire and western Maine. For More information, visit online at www.tinmountain.org or call (603) 447-6991.

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America’s oldest conservation and recreation organization. With more than 100,000 members, advocates, and supporters in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region. The AMC supports natural resource conservation while encouraging responsible recreation, based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends upon first-hand enjoyment of the natural environment. More information is available at www.outdoors.org .

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