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The White Mountains of Northern New Hampshire are mostly known for the tallest peak in the Northeast called Agiocochook by the native Abenaki Indians. This roughly translates to ‘Home of the Great Spirit’ or ‘Place of the Storm Spirit’ which is appropriate as the strongest wind gust on Earth’s surface (231 mph or 372km/h) was recorded at the 6,288 foot summit. This mountain now currently known as ‘Mount Washington’ can reached by hiking, driving an automobile or enjoying the cog train.

Flickr.com (Photo taken by oliva732000)

The mountain can be hiked all twelve months of the year but severe weather along with freezing cold temperatures throughout the year can make this journey strenuous and dangerous. Many hikers will recommend the months of September to October to be the best times to reach the summit. The comfortable temperature along with less humidity in the air makes the trip much more enjoyable. I’ve also heard of others recommending May to June but the dreaded ‘Black Fly Season’ peaks around these months will leave you with bug bites that will itch and swell more than a typical mosquito bite.

The trails to ascend and descend from the summit are varied based on a hikers experience. These trails can be reached from a trailhead on the east side (Pinkham Notch) or the west side (Ammonoosuc Ravine). It takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach the summit using the commonly listed trails below. There are many other uncommon trails that can be climbed as described in the hiking guides such as the Hiking Guide to Mount Washington & the Presidential Range by Gene Daniell.

Pinkham Notch Visitors Center – This main parking lot does not require a White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) parking pass but the overflow lot does. The rate varies from about $3.00 for a day trip or a full year pass for $20.00 sold at major outdoor retail stores (e.g., REI).

• Tuckerman Ravine Trail (4.1 miles) – This ravine is also known as ‘Tucks’ or ‘Tux’ and is also a popular spot for backcountry skiing by many experienced skiers in New England. This is probably the most popular way to reach the summit but also has some moderate to steep climbs near at the ravine headwall.
• Boott Spur Trail (5.4 miles) – This trail is located on the southside of Tuckerman Ravine and is a bit longer to travel than the Tuckerman Ravine Trail but just as equally challenging. There are some great views along this trail making it a popular route using this trail to ascend and the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to descend.
• Lion Head Trail (4.5 miles) – This trail is located on the northside of Tuckerman Ravine and is a bit shorter than Boott Spur. The trail is a bit steeper and rougher than the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. The steep rocks on this trail make descending a bit tougher so you might want to return to base by taking the well traveled Tuckerman Ravine Trail.
• Huntington Ravine Trail (5.1 miles) – Branching off the Tuckerman Ravine Trail, this is rated the most difficult trail due to the bare rock slabs that must be climbed. It is recommended to avoid ascending or descending this trail in inclement weather. There is an option of taking the Alpine Garden Trail from the Tuckerman Junction if you want to reach the summit.

Ammonoosuc Ravine (Cog Railroad Basecamp) – This main parking does require a White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) parking pass. The rate varies from about $3.00 for a day trip or a full year pass for $20.00 sold at major outdoor retail stores (e.g., REI). The Cog Railroad can be taken from this trailhead to reach the summit if you do not wish to make the hike to the summit. This trailhead also sits about 500 feet higher than Pinkham Notch so t

• Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail (3.9 miles) – This is the shortest trail but happens to have a few areas of steep rocks that are usually pretty slick from nearby mountain streams. This trail combines with the Crawford Path at the Lakes of the Clouds Hut. The Lakes of the Clouds Hut is a well known landmark on the southern portion of Mount Washington . The hut sits at an elevation of approximately 5050 feet (1540 meters) with stunning views of sunrises and sunsets in the alpine zone of the mountain. The hut can hold approximately 90 people in coed bunk rooms with the staff serving a filling breakfast and hearty dinner. I would recommend bringing linens or a sleeping bag as only a mattress, pillow and three wool blankets are provided on each bunk. The vacancies for a bunk can fill up quickly during the peak season if you don’t reserve them early but you should still be able to find a mattress or two during the start and end of the season. Check out the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) website for further information regarding rates and how to make a reservation.
• Jewel Trail (4.6 miles) – This is by far the easiest trail to reach the summit when combined with the Gulfside Trail. I would recommend this trail for non-experienced hikers who are in good physical condition as reaching the summit by foot is not an easy trip.

Flickr.com (Photo taken by michellegcho)

On a side note you can take a shuttle from the summit to the bottom if you’ve underestimated your hiking ability. The hours of operation for the shuttle are unscheduled and there is no guarantee of a ride down from the summit. It’s better to turn back during severe weather instead of hiking to the top and expecting a shuttle to bring you back down. The tickets for the shuttle and cog train can be purchased at the Summit Stage Office.

The Mount Washington Cog Train

The the cog train is the last method to reach the summit of Mount Washington if you want to enjoy the scenery of Northern New Hampshire or aren’t a huge fan of hiking or driving. This train ride ascends approximately 3550 feet (1082 meters) from the base camp in Brentwoods, New Hampshire (Ammonoosuc Ravine) in about 65 minutes while the descent takes about 40 minutes. An important note to hikers is that one way tickets can be purchased only at the top if you running out of daylight or no longer possess the strength to make it back down. The rates and schedule can change at any time so I recommend you head on over to The Mount Washington Cog Railway for further information.

Flickr.com (Photo taken by weather guy)

Climbing Mount Washington with an Automobile or Motorcycle

Ever see a bumper sticker “This Car Climbed Mount Washington” while sitting in traffic? There are a few important things to know if you want the honor of reaching the summit of Mount Washington bestowed upon your automobile or motorcycle. The rates may vary based on the amount of people within an automobile or motorcycle. The good news is that the rate to drive to the top includes the bumper sticker along with an audio tour from a cassette or compact disc. Please note that you cannot park your car overnight on the Auto Road or at the summit. Similar to the cog train, the rates can change at any time so I recommend you head on over to Mount Washington Auto Road for further information. There are also vehicle restrictions which are important to know about before planning your trip to reach the summit by automobile, so please research the restrictions as well as the rates.

The summit also opens early a few Sundays during the year allowing you to use your aspiring photography skills to capture a colorful sunrise over the nearby White Mountains. In a previous post, I discussed the ‘golden hour’ for photography and how to know the time for any day in the future, so check it out before your trip to Mount Washington.

If you are looking to get into hiking as a new hobby to enjoy the outdoors or get in better shape, I recommend that you invest in a hiking backpack to store food, water and emergency supplies. To start your research on hiking backpack you should look for important factors such as weight, back support, cubic space, adjustable shoulder straps and additional compartments. Here are a few recommended hiking backpacks that can be found on Amazon.com.