Visitors start arriving: the 1800s
In the second half of the nineteenth century, before the founding of the RMC, the attractions of the northern Presidentials had already made Randolph a destination for summer recreation in the mountains. Visitors, many of them writers, ministers or educators, traveled by train to Randolph, stayed in the summer hotels and joined the work of building hiking trails across the northern Presidentials, and private camp buildings alongside them.
20th century brings logging and fires
By the early twentieth century, extensive commercial logging and forest fires had destroyed many of these trails, while public support for protection of mountains and forests was increasing.
The RMC: restoring and replacing trails
The main purpose of the RMC at its founding was to restore or replace the trails that had been lost, and after the creation of the National Forest through passage of the Weeks Act in 1911, that trail work proceeded on protected public land. From the beginning, the work of the RMC involved both year-round residents and summer visitors, and this partnership brought business to Randolph’s hotels, led to development of new roads and cottages, and shaped the culture of the community.
Changing times, changing needs
Randolph and mountain recreation changed over the course of the twentieth century, and the RMC changed with them. Automobile travel brought visitors here quickly, and their visits became shorter ones; passenger train service ended and the hotels were mostly torn down. Backpacking and camping became more popular, trail wear-and-tear increased, and environmental awareness arose in society. Hiking grew from a summer pastime to a year-round form of recreation; mobile communications, digital photography and video began to instantly communicate our outdoor destinations and experiences.
During this time, the club evolved to include year-round operations, expanded publications and maps, a larger operating budget, professionalized camp and trail employees, and it gradually began to communicate about itself to the world beyond Randolph.
The RMC today remains a link to the history of Randolph and the northern Presidentials, through our trails, our camps, our traditions and our stewardship of historical records of the club and the town. Today you can hike trails laid out over a hundred years ago, to viewpoints discovered and improved by early trailbuilders, guides and hotel owners; walk the network of paths still connecting the sites of historic hotels, train junctions and Randolph landmarks; enjoy an outdoor “charade” performance in summer, in the make-your-own-entertainment tradition; and read our guidebooks and publications to learn about the unbroken chain of volunteers who continue to pass the RMC idea along to the next generation.
Through the RMC you can experience the mountains with simplicity and self-sufficiency, and understand the experiences of those who have discovered the mountains before us.
The RMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. See our Whistle Blower Policy.
