OUR STORY
In May 2018, we—Mike and Susan—embarked on our third careers with the purchase of Mt. Liberty Lodging in Lincoln, NH. After decades in education, food service, and regional planning, we found ourselves drawn to a new kind of service: welcoming guests to the heart of the White Mountains.
Our first season felt like life aboard a cruise ship—we rarely left Lincoln, dedicating our energy to guest care and property stewardship. In the quieter months, we recharge through travel, motorcycling, hiking, fishing, scuba diving, and skiing.
We're both project-oriented and have renovated several homes during our 30+ years in New Hampshire. In 2018, we focused on energy efficiency for the motel, upgrading electrical service, installing underground power, adding heat pumps to every room, and applying for a USDA grant to install a 16-kilowatt solar array on the roof.
Hiking has always been part of our story. In 1995–96, we tackled the Appalachian Trail—Mike (“Without One”) hiked from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Old Blue Mountain, Maine, while Susan (“Better Half”) joined in Pennsylvania. We returned the next summer to complete the journey to Mt. Katahdin. That once-in-a-lifetime trek confirmed our love for hiking over backpacking.
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Today, we’re proud to host Appalachian Trail hikers and share our favorite trails with all guests. Whether you're here for a quiet escape or a mountain adventure, we’re honored to be part of your journey.
the view South From Harvard Falls
Less than a mile from the Mt. Liberty is the Georgiana/Harvard Falls Trail. It's an easy hike up to Georgian Falls, it's a bit steeper the last 400' rise to Harvard Falls, but well worth the effort.
TRAIL Names
In Gatlinburg, TN at the former Happy Hiker outfitter, the walls were adorned with AT Hiker photos arranged by year.
The 1995 section had a picture of a hiker with an eye patch. When the photo was taken, I was asked my trail name to which I responded, "I made it this far without one." In response the owner marked the Polaroid photo with a sharpie. And so it came to be, the duality of my trail name - one eyed, no name.
- Without One
PS - The eye patch is another story...
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THRU Hikers Class of 2021
A Few of the 100+ Appalachian Trail hikers that Stayed at THe Mt. Liberty
WHAT OUR THRU-HIKER GUESTS SAID
We do our best to meet our hiker's needs. Whether it's items from the hiker box, a loaner bike, laundry delivered to your room, an ice cold Coke, or a shuttle to town - it's our goal to make your stay a great one. Your comments and suggestions are highly valuable to us. Here are few comments that made us especially proud as owners of the Mt. Liberty...
“Had a great stay here! Very friendly to hikers. $5 laundry and even have loaner clothes.”
June 2024
“Highly recommend! Owners are AT hikers from the 90s. I'm doing day hikes up here in NH and they were down to help with whatever I needed. Great people and great stay."
Candy Mama - May 2024
"Best night yet out of 104 of them. Mike and Susan were super low key, very helpful, provided excellent service and the room was sweet as can be... Trail angles who are also innkeepers "
Dianimal - July 2021