Get away to the White Mountains — a two hours’ drive from campus — at the Tufts Mountain Club Loj in North Woodstock, N.H., open to all students. As a jumping-off point for outdoor adventures, the Loj provides a space to relax and disconnect from the outside world.
This November weekend, clear signs of winter fell over Franconia Notch State Park, 10 miles north of the Loj. Rain rapidly changed to snow as the Cascade Brook trail ascended to Lonesome Lake.
Luckily, a warm fire greeted hikers at the destination, the Appalachian Mountain Club–run hut on the lake shore. The roughly 5-mile out-and-back trail was lined with scenic views of waterfalls and forest.
Admission to the Loj costs undergraduates $10 with financial assistance possible, and it includes a fully stocked kitchen and bunk beds for sleeping. The Loj is supervised by TMC caretakers over the weekend and open during the academic year.
