              |
RMC Announces a New Edition
of Randolph Paths and a New Map This July 4, RMC will release a substantially upgraded 8th edition of its guidebook, Randolph Paths. Along with the guide, an updated edition of the RMC Map of Randolph Valley and the Northern Peaks of the Mount Washington Range will be released.
- a substantially updated and expanded introduction, with Leave No Trace guidelines, search and rescue information, winter hiking, backcountry skiing and even some ice climbing information -- the latter three reflecting the increasing interest in winter activities. - an expanded RMC trails history, written by RMC historian Judy Hudson, that includes a number of newly uncovered historical photographs, as well as interesting discoveries — including the story of what is perhaps the oldest Northern Presidential trail sign in existence: the one for Cascade Ravine's Pioneer Spring. - geology highlights provided by Bates College Professor Dyk Eusden, and a new section devoted to the flora of the mountains, courtesy of Brad Meiklejohn. - an expanded Points of Interest section, including new points, locations along RMC's new paths, and historical information about many places. - trail descriptions for recent additions to the RMC trail system in the new Randolph Community Forest, for non-RMC trails on the Northern Peaks, as well as the trails at the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge. - an expanded section on suggested walks, including route summaries to the Northern peaks and recommended ski and snowshoe trips. - a new "lie-flat," sewn binding and pages with rounded edges that make for easier stowing in one's pack and ease of use on the trail. - a significantly expanded index, courtesy of RMC archivist Al Hudson. The guide is newly designed, courtesy of RMC volunteer Kit Kuntze of Whitefield. It will be "smythsewn" to produce a more durable and flexible binding. It is printed on New Leaf EcoBook paper, a recycled and totally chlorine free sheet. The new design is more functional and easy to read. The updated map is printed on heavyweight Tyvek and includes the RMC's new trails. RMC's volunteer cartographer, Jon Hall, has spent hundreds of hours updating GPS data. Single-handedly, he has re-GPSed a number of RMC's trails, checked Randolph Community Forest and White Mountain National Forest boundaries, and updated building locations on the map. The reverse side of the map features an artistic and useful new addition — four, large-scale illustrations of vistas from RMC trails complete with peak identification. Drawn by Randolph artist Tim Sappington, the peaks have been identified by the guidebook's three co-editors. A limited edition printing of 50, numbered, high quality paper copies of the map will be available for $50 per copy as a fundraiser to help the club assist in covering the cost of the printing of the map. This printing is suitable for framing. If you'd like to reserve a copy, please contact RMC Trail Chair Doug Mayer directly via the RMC web site. Copies will also be for sale at the RMC Tea on July 4. The new map and guide will sell for $16.95. The map, by itself, will sell for $6.00. Both will be available at the RMC Tea on July 4, at RMC events during the summer, at Lowe's Store, the RMC cabins and on the club's web site. Bondcliff Books of Littleton will continue to distribute the RMC map and guide to area bookstores and outfitters. The RMC would like to thank
the Randolph Foundation, whose generous assistance in the form
of a loan to cover printing costs made this project feasible.
We hope the new map and guide will inspire its readers to enjoy
RMC's trails and camps for many hiking seasons to come.
|
This
new edition of Randolph Paths, which was first published in 1917,
is much more than just another update. The guide features entirely
new trail descriptions gathered by a team of a dozen RMC volunteers
who started work almost exactly a year ago. Along with the revamped
trail descriptions, the new guide has additional features: