Chasing Winter (Part 1)

WHEN: May 10th (7 days, way too short of a visit)

WHERE:  White Mountains, New Hampshire

WHY: Chasing Winter

SHELTER: Random Resort in North Conway

PERKS: All the Perks!

REGRETS: That we didn't stay longer.

Mt Washington Cog Railway $54-$96 depending on the time of year, slightly wheelchair accessible (call ahead).

Upon arrival to the White Mountains, we were very overwhelmed by all there is to explore. We narrowed it down to a few adventures that packed our days tight leaving us planning for our return trip next Spring.

We started our week with The Cog Railway bringing us 6,288 feet above sea level which would give us all the winter we were looking for. We enjoyed New Hampshire's last bits of snow before mud and blackfly season.

There is enough to learn about the summit that I could easily write a proper book, but I will leave you to do your own research and just drizzle a few of our favorite facts along with a good pile of photos.

© The snow-covered view at the 6,288-foot (1,916.6 m) summit of Mount Washington. Photograph by Mike Theiss /National Geographic Image Collection

We made it to the top after a 45-minute ride with the latest and greatest bio-diesel engine

made on-site by the engineers of The Mt Washington Cog Railway. Sylvester Marsh, inventor, engineer, and dreamer would have been proud to see the railway's current caretakers are still stretching beyond the summit's challenges. Marsh was called crazy by many when he declared that he would build a railway to the summit.

New Hampshire State Legislature in 1858... referred to him as “Crazy Marsh”, but awarded him the charter anyway, with the stipulation that once he reached the summit, he might as well keep going and build his “railway to the moon”.

(this is me pretending to make it to the top)

There are lots of ways to make it to the top!

How to prepare for the summit:

• Check Mount Washington Observatory to see if conditions are safe. Don't laugh, since 1849 160 people have died trying to conquer Mt. Washington.

• Pack your layers and fluids. This erratic environment has reached wind speeds up to 231 mph and temps recorded as low as -46 degrees. From base to summit you will go through 3 climate zones and land at the Alpine Zone. Click here to learn more about the vegetation and critters that live there.

• Decide how you are going to get there.

  • By Foot (hiking, mountaineering, skiing)? It sounds like a fun hike but really only for the really fit and very prepared.

  • By Car? Want to drive yourself? It will still cost you at least $45 and wear & tear on your personal vehicle. We are going this way next time so we can spend more time at the top.

  • By Transport? There's plenty of tours to choose from starting around $60.

  • By Snowmobile? Bob was a big snowmobiler back in his Massachusettes days, and there are plenty of trails and guides to in the area.

  • By Bicycle? Yep, the brave do it and some even race the train.

  • By Horse? It was the only way to go and yet I can not find one horse trail.

  • By Train? A fund experience full of historic tales, we highly recommend doing this at least once.
    

I see around the internet people saying not to stack rocks...now I know why!

These stacks of rocks on the Applalachian Trail leading to the summit keep people alive. The are called rock cairns and without hikers can get lost quickly and suffer the elements while they were just feet from shelter.

In 1855, people realized how deadly the mountain was when Lizzie Bourne froze to death on a September evening just a 100 yards from the shelter. Ten more minutes of walking would have saved her life if she had rock cairns to let her know she was almost there.

Anywho! I am done typing for now, and I bet you need a few minutes to go plan out your trip to the White Mountains. Our next post will fill you in about the rest of our week in New Hampshire. Untli then enjoy the additional pics!