The White Mountains - Hiking Mount Washington (6,288'), the northeast's highest peak and home to the world's worst weather

At 6,288 feet in elevation, Mount Washington is the highest mountain in New Hampshire and in the northeastern United States.

Part of the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, Mount Washington reaches well into the alpine zone and is home to what some consider the world’s worst weather. The mountain is often shrouded in clouds with weather that’s more reminiscent of areas of the arctic far to the north.

While the weather wasn’t great for our climb, it wasn’t that bad either with temperatures in the 50s and 60s and winds in the 30mph range. For the most part we were hiking in the clouds once we reached the alpine zone, but we did have occasional views as the clouds would blow out. By the end of the hike, the clouds were definitely lifting and we could see the climb we had just made.

We were joined on the hike by our friends David and Paul, the Oklahomo Hikers on YouTube (their video of our climb up Mount Washington is here on YouTube). This was their introduction to northeastern hiking and it was also Moe’s birthday, so we decided to go big with a Mount Washington climb, while we were all spending time in New Hampshire!

To make the best of the bad weather and take what we consider to the be the most mellow route up and down Mount Washington we ascended via the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to Appalachian Mountain Club’s Lakes of the Cloud Hut. At the Hut, the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail ends and we joined the Crawford Path to the summit of Mount Washington. From the summit, we descended on the Gulfside Trail to the Jewell Trail, which we followed down to the Cog Train base station and back to the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead parking where we started.

Our total hike was 10.4 miles with 3,947 feet of elevation gain.

You can find this hike:

• Described in the White Mountain Guide
• Shown on the AMC White Mountain Map
• Shown on the White Mountains Trail Map
• Shown on the Dartmouth Outing Guide Map

Outdoor Hiking, Backpacking and Camping Guide Services:

• Hike On Guides (hike with us!)

Gear we used on this hike:

• Osprey Talon 22 Pack
• Osprey Kestrel 38 Pack
• Gregory Zulu 35 Pack
• Mountain Hardwear Camp 4 28L Backpack
• Altra Lone Peak Shoes
• Deliberate Life Designs Sandals
• Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles 
• Darn Tough Socks
• Injinji Trail Midweight Mini-Crew Socks
• Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
• Nalgene 32-ounce Wide-Mouth Water Bottles
• Energizer LED Headlamp 
• NEMO Chipper Reclaimed Closed-Cell Foam Seat Pad
• Mountain Hardwear Acadia Jacket
• Columbia Titanium Outdry Ex Reign Jacket
• Arc’teryx Gamma SL Hooded JacketCotopaxi Teca Half-Zip Windbreaker
• Lenny & Larry’s The Complete Cookie
• Gatorade Endurance Carb Energy Chews
• GU Energy Roctane Ultra Endurance Energy Drink
• Jelly Belly Sport Beans – Energizing Jelly Beans

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