About Us

The Mountain Wanderer was opened in August 1998 by Steve Smith of Lincoln, NH. We are a “niche” book/map retailer specializing in New England outdoors and especially in White Mountain hiking. Our most popular items are hiking guidebooks and trail maps. We carry these not only for NH but also for Vermont, Maine, southern New England and eastern NY (Adirondack and Catskill Mountains).

We also have sections (again, both for NH and the other New England states and eastern NY) on bicycling, paddling, fishing (small section), rock climbing, nature and field guides, birding, general travel,winter sports, and White Mountains history (probably our second most popular category after hiking). We carry a great variety of trail maps – more than just about any other retailer in the region. We are a dealer for US Geological Survey topographic maps, carrying all NH quads from the Lakes Region north to the Canadian border, and we also sell many raised relief maps (the “bumpy maps”).

Steve has been a hiking enthusiast for more than 40 years and is the author of several White Mountain guidebooks as well as serving as co-editor of the AMC White Mountain Guide . In 2001 Steve and his good friend Mike Dickerman  co-authored a guide to the White Mountain 4000-footers, with a new third edition due out in 2023.

Steve loves exploring the mountains in all seasons both on and off the trail; many of these treks now appear on the “Mountain Wandering” blog. Steve always enjoys talking hiking with store customers, and can provide suggestions for trips suitable for any ambition level.

Steve is in the store most days, though his wife, Carol, a recently retired school librarian, is sometimes pressed into service at the store in the summer. Carol completed her New Hampshire 4000-footers in 2002.

Steve has climbed New Hampshire’s 4000-Footers in summer and winter and has “bagged” the New England Hundred Highest. He is a longtime member of the AMC Four Thousand Footer Committee and has been a member of Pemigewasset Valley Search & Rescue Team. He is currently the trail adopter for the Kettles Path in Waterville Valley, and, through the 4000-Footer Committee, the Passaconaway Cutoff. We look forward to sharing our enthusiasm for the White Mountains and the Northeast outdoors with you!