Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide Review

The White Mountain Guide truly is the guidebook that all others for the region are measured from.  You'll get in-depth descriptions of just about every trail in the region and a 4-sheet map set that covers most of the trails described in the book.

The book begins with an index and key to the eight maps (4 sheets, maps on each side) included with the book, followed by an introduction to the White Mountains and the area.  Following the Introduction, the trail descriptions are broken down into chapters that review the various areas in the White Mountains. These include:

1. Mount Washington and the Southern Ridges
2. The Northern Peaks and Great Gulf
3. Franconia, Twin and Willey Ranges
4. Carrigain and Moat Regions
5. Cannon and Kinsman
6. Moosilauke Region
7. Waterville Valley Region
8. Mt. Chocorua and the Eastern Sandwich Range
9. Carter and Baldface
10. Speckled Mountain Region
11. Mahoosuc Range Area
12. The North Country
13. Middle Connecticut River Mountains
14. Cardigan and Kearsarge
15. Monadnock and Southwestern New Hampshire
16. The Lakes Region and Southeastern New Hampshire

As you can tell from the list, just about every mountain region and its trail system in White Mountains (and a bit south and east) are chronicled in this book.

The trail descriptions are almost minute in detail as they describe major features along the trail such as steep pitches, trail junctions, side trails and more.  On some of the more detailed descriptions, it's like they were written as someone was walking the trails.  Each trail description contains information on the vertical elevation you will be gaining and losing on the hike, the mileage for each trail and an estimated trip time for that trail.

After all of that, this book has one of the best indexes I've ever seen.  The index is indispensable for find various trails and mountains. Have a mountain name but no trail name, no problem, have part of a trail name, no problem. The index literally references everything in this book.

My Take

If you plan on any hiking in the White Mountains, then you should have a copy of this book because there are no equals to the detail, quality and thoroughness of the AMC White Mountain Guide.