Amber Qasir: Assignment 2

The Crawford Notch, located in the Appalachian Mountain range, offers a unique hiking experience for those that venture to it. There are a number of settlements and locations for people to stay if they choose to visit this iconic scenic location, including the AMC Highland Center. While a lot of the campsites are much more rustic and natural, with log cabins, the Highland Center is much larger and commercial, with considerations that are not available at other locations. While a majority of the people who go to the Crawford Notch are seasoned hikers, perhaps having traveled the entire Appalachian trail, there are also those that are visiting casually, such as families with children.

Over winter break, I went to California with my family, where we traveled through the Sierra Nevada and visited national parks such as the Yosemite National Park and the Sequoia National Park. Our intent in going was not to hike, but merely to see the natural landscapes. Despite this, there was still a considerable amount of hiking that we had done in order to further explore the area. I had noticed while we were there that a considerable number of people were there for hiking, but they quickly ventured off into the wilderness as opposed to staying closer to places with more people.

This kind of information is helpful to inform details in the bath house design and aesthetics because it allows me to understand the mindset and way of thinking that both hikers will have as well as that of the more casual visitors. There are common points for both groups of people, but there is also a fundamental difference in attitude and practice between them as well. For example, when designing the area for the hikers' lodging, it would be acceptable to think of it differently than you would a more conventional lodging setup. Similarly, the actual bath house should reflect the natural setting and emphasize the nature of the site, as that is the point of common interest between both groups, hikers and non-hikers.