The founder of the youth hostel movement was Richard Schirrmann, a German school teacher. While assigned to a coal mining area, he became conscious of the impact of the industrial revolution on his students' health and welfare. Concerned about their environment, he began taking his students on weekend field trips into the countryside for the fresh air and interaction with nature - in effect a "wandering school." School buildings, empty on weekends, were used for overnight accommodations. The concept of a network of student "youth hostels" was developed from this experience.
Isabel and Monroe Smith of the United States attended the 1933 conference and opened the first youth hostel a year later in Northfield, Massachusetts. Within a year, a network of more than 30 hostels was operating throughout New England. Today, there are 4.5 million active members, an "alumni" of hundreds of millions, and an operating network of 5,000 hostels recording 31 million overnights annually in more than 70 countries.
Remember how you felt the first time you traveled abroad or journeyed to a different part of the USA? You were probably excited. Energized. Maybe a little bit scared. The fact is, when we're exposed to new people and cultures different from our own, we change in ways that impact us for the rest of our lives.
Hostelling is a special kind of travel. Unlike hotels that tend to be isolating and often generic in what they offer, hostels foster meaningful, affordable travel. At the White Mountains Hostel we give people the chance to have life-changing experiences through travel using our hostels and programs.
The hostel is a turn of the century New England farmhouse that has been totally renovated in 1995, when we first opened. It is located in the Mount Washington Valley and surrounded by over 750,000 acres of National Forest. The area provides a natural playground for climbers, skiers, mountain bikers, and hikers alike. Recreational activities abound year round. The area also attracts bargain hunters with its tax free shopping and large variety of outlet stores and antique shops.
White Mountains Hostel, as with other hostels worldwide, ascribes to certain customs and traditions:
The Hostel is a smoke and alcohol free environment.
For health reasons, sleeping bags may not be brought into the hostel; pillows, blankets and sheets are provided, please bring your own towels or rent from us.
Guests are asked to clean up after themselves, as there is no maid service.
There is a fully equipped kitchen open for guests use from 6:00am-11pm . Please be courteous and adhere to these hours, unless you can be quiet as a mouse!
The Hostel office is closed between 10am - 5pm, but as a guest you'll have 24 hour access!
Check in is between 5-10pm.....if you cannot make it before 10pm, you must call us, and we will let you know how to get in. Once checked in, we'll tell you how to unlock the door - there is no curfew.
In alpine tradition, we ask that you leave your shoes at the entrance, so you might want to bring slippers or socks.
overview facilities rates directions