Mt. Washington - Pictures Day 2

We had luck on our side that first night as the skies cleared just enough to give us a view of the valley below. The sunset and views were amazing.

Day two brought visibility of 20 yards or so in the morning and it cleared up a tiny bit, but not much. This was all we could see of Lake of the Clouds.

We spend a good deal of time on the Crawford Path (which is also part of the Appalachian Trail) as we backpacked over the Presidential Range. This is the oldest hiking trail in America dating back to 1819.
Through ups and downs, rain and shine, winds and determination, we finally reached our destination - the summit of Mt. Washington!

Mt. Washington - Pictures Day 1

Here are some pics from the weekend backpacking adventure. The White Mountain National Forest is home to the worst weather in America!

Finally above the tree line, hiking along the Presidential Range through the longest stretch of alpine vegetation in the Northeast.

The clouds rushed over the mountains from both sides, colliding at the top and turning the weather from sunshine to rain in a matter of seconds.

As we crossed the Presidential Range we descended upon the AMC Hut just 1.5 miles below the summit of Mount Washington. We would later find out the nearest camp site was 2.0 miles away and we'd have to spend the night in the Dungeon!

Mt. Washington - Reaching the Summit

We awoke early the next morning as it wasn't too easy to sleep in the Dungeon. The weather had taken a turn for the worse and visibility was about 20 yards, if that. After a quick breakfast we decided to hike the next 1.5 miles without our packs and then return to the lodge to grab our gear and finish the ascend back to the cars.

Originally we wanted to reach the summit of Mt. Washington, descent down the Jewel Trail and then take the Ammonoosuc Trail back to the top of Washington before returning to the Crawford Path. However, we were all a little more beat up than we expected and the constant rain discouraged us from continuing the hike.

"we were all a little more beat up than we expected and the constant rain discouraged us from continuing the hike"

Forty-five minutes later we had reached the summit and although it was great to be at the top of the tallest peak in the Northeast there was also some disappointment. Not only could we barely see more than 20 yards, but there was a huge weather station, a building with running water and a gift shop, a train, and people wandering around who drove to the peak - not the most rewarding experience after hiking for two days to reach the summit!

After hanging around at the peak for a half hour or so, we decided it was time to head back and down we went, one rock at a time. Back at the lodge we all ate some lunch, refilled our water bottles and hiked back towards the Presidential Range in a steady rain. Once we got past the first peak in the Presidential Range the winds kicked into gear and rain pelted us from the side. It was a long miserable 2.5 miles, but we really didn't have another choice.

It was at this point where my girlfriend's knee began to give out from an old injury - perfect timing when you're standing next to a sign that says "Welcome to the worst weather in America." 

Our breaks started getting more frequent and we started slowing our pace. My friends were starting to get way ahead so I told them to carry on once we made it to the tree line and they eventually got a good half hour ahead of us. I took on all the extra gear I could now walking with a 60+ pound pack on my back down steep slippery rocks and muddy roots. 

Slowly we carried on until up ahead I saw one of my friends making his way back towards us. The others had reached the car, unloaded their packs and two came back to help us out. John took Jenn's pack off of her and twenty minutes later we were back at the parking lot where the Edmund's Path began. 

Overall it was a long miserable hike in rain 85% of the time. Was it worth it? Yes. Would I do it again, probably, but maybe not hike up to the top of Mt. Washington. The Presidential Range is incredible and if you're lucky enough to get up there on a clear day the views are worth every struggle you suffer on the way up. To me there's nothing like working your tail off for something and then being able to look back on the whole experience and say, "wow, I can't believe I did that."

Mt. Washington, New Hampshire - The Backpacking Adventure

I just got back from what was supposed to be a three day backpacking trip in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Our goal was to reach the summit of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast at 6,288 feet. 

It was Friday evening when the seven of us started our drive up to Vermont where we would spend the night before finishing the drive and starting the hike on Saturday afternoon. By noon time we had arrived at the parking lot where Edmund's Path began. 

Mount Washington is home to the worst weather in America and it changes from minute to minute. With our rain gear on we began the hike which started off easy for the first half mile before starting to climb up and up.

After almost three hours of hiking we had reached the tree line and were greeted with a sign that said "TURN BACK NOW IF THE WEATHER IS BAD" 

It was raining on and off so we pressed ahead to our next trail - the Crawford Path (also the Appalachian Trail at this point). 

We were now on the Presidential Range, hiking along the peaks of several mountains through the longest stretch of alpine vegetation in the Northeast. It was incredible to be up this high in the mountains and just watch the clouds form and move over the mountain peaks right in front of us. The weather was breaking up at this point and went from sunshine to showers back to sunshine. 

A few more miles of hiking and we reached our final destination - the AMC Lodge just 1.5 miles below the summit of Mount Washington...