Backpacker Journal obtained it proper once they named Mt Washington (6288′) one of many 10 most harmful hikes in America. Whereas avalanches are a priority, protected routes exist to climb the height so long as the climate is favorable. However it typically isn’t, as a result of a number of climate patterns converge over the summit and produce life-threatening climate with excessive winds, low visibility, or deep snow.
Regardless of these hazards, it’s doable to climb Mt Washington in winter in case you do it in good climate, give your self loads of time, carry the proper tools and provides, and go along with skilled companions. Having climbed Mt Washington a number of instances in each month of the yr, listed here are my prime 10 tricks to efficiently hike to the highest of Mt Washington in winter and to relish the views from the highest.
1. Climb Mt Washington with different skilled winter hikers.
End up a gaggle of skilled winter hikers who’ve climbed Mt Washington earlier than and hike with them. Climbing Mt Washington isn’t simply any outdated winter hike. It’s an extended climb in powerful terrain, the cairns marking the paths are troublesome to find in cloud or fog, and it’s possible you’ll want mountaineering expertise with full crampons to get to the summit. The wind is commonly ferocious and whiteout circumstances are all too widespread. Going with a gaggle of skilled winter hikers or a mountaineering information, who will lease you the required gear, will improve your security and delight of the day.
2. Postpone your hike if the climate is unhealthy.
There’s a climate station on the summit of Mt Washington referred to as the Mt Washington Observatory that publishes a twice-daily forecast for Mt Washington and the Northern Presidentials (Jefferson, Adams, Madison) referred to as the Increased Summits Forecast. You must make a degree to observe it rigorously for a number of days previous your hike and be prepared to postpone your hike if the climate is harmful. Winds over 40 mph, blowing snow, cloud cowl and fog, or temperatures near zero could make a Mt Washington hike extraordinarily hazardous, particularly in case you’re injured and want a rescue.
Too many individuals schedule a hike up Mt Washington on a particular day, months prematurely, and can try and climb the mountain even when it’s unsafe. Give your self a couple of days if you go to, so you possibly can choose a relaxed day to do your hike. Higher but, climb it on a sunny day, when you possibly can see one thing from the summit.
3. Don’t cut up up.
When climbing in a gaggle, ensure you stick collectively. If the mountain is smothered in cloud or fog, visibility can simply drop down to fifteen yards, making it troublesome to see your companions in case you fall behind. If the wind is blowing onerous, you won’t be capable of hear each other above the roar of the wind, so work out a system of hand indicators prematurely. Don’t ever cut up your group into quick and gradual hikers, since you lose the flexibility to speak route modifications or assist each other if somebody wanders off-route or has an accident.
4. Convey scorching water in wide-mouth insulated bottles.
Convey boiling water or scorching liquids with you in your hike in wide-mouth bottles which might be insulated or buried deep in your backpack along with your insulating layers to remain scorching all day. Uninsulated bottles, hydration reservoir hoses, and bottles with skinny necks will freeze in winter, so don’t depend on them. I wish to spike mine with an easy-to-digest electrolyte combine like Pedialyte or Gatorade.
I like to recommend bringing 2-3 liters of water on a Mt Washington winter hike and consuming a further least 1 liter of water on the trailhead earlier than you begin your climb. Dehydration makes you silly in winter and reduces your efficiency, so attempt to drive your self to drink periodically even in case you don’t really feel thirsty.
5. Eat an enormous breakfast earlier than your hike.
You’re most likely going to burn 5000-6000 energy when climbing Mt Washington in winter, so it’s finest to pile on the energy very first thing within the morning since you’ll be working at a caloric deficit all day, even in case you snack incessantly. Consuming lots of meals will increase your metabolism, which is able to generate physique warmth and aid you keep hotter, so pile on the energy earlier than and through your hike with excessive calorie snacks that gained’t freeze. My favourite pre-hike meal for Mt Washington are waffles, hash browns, and two sides of bacon. Close by Munroe’s diner in Twin Mountain, NH makes a hearty breakfast.
6. Begin early within the morning.
The times are very quick in winter with solely Sep 11 hours of daylight, and also you wish to ensure you get beneath treeline earlier than darkish when route discovering turns into harder and it’s simple to fall or slip. The hike up Mount Washington is a ten+ mile hike with over 4000 toes of elevation acquire. Assuming a median of 1 mile per hour which is fairly commonplace for winter, it is going to take you a minimum of 10 hours to climb the height and get again down. One of the simplest ways to keep away from getting caught out at midnight is to get a really early begin so to climb to the treeline (about 4500′) earlier than dawn, supplying you with extra time to finish the climb and get again down earlier than sundown.
7. Costume in layers.
You wish to keep away from sweating in winter as a result of it is going to chill you if you cease transferring. One of the simplest ways to do that is to decorate in layers so you possibly can strip off garments if you get too heat and placed on layers if you get chilly. For instance, it’s not unusual for individuals to strip all the way down to a baselyaer jersey when climbing as a result of they’re sweating a lot. Once you get above the treeline, the place the wind can chill you, many individuals will placed on a midlayer and a windbreaker or onerous shell jacket for the ultimate climb to the summit, including gloves, a hat, a facemask/balaclava, or ski goggles as wanted. On the summit, most individuals placed on a heavy down parka to remain heat.
8. Convey full face safety together with a facemask and goggles.
Frostbite is a really actual hazard on Mt Washington, particularly when the temperatures are beneath freezing and the wind is up. Ensure that to convey a facemask and ski goggles with you, in order that there isn’t any pores and skin in your face that’s uncovered to the weather. Should you’ve by no means hiked in winter with a full balaclava and goggles, ensure you get some follow beforehand. Strolling over ice-covered rock is treacherous sufficient with out carrying fogged-up goggles. It’s finest to debug any fogging points earlier than you try the height, lest you be pressured to abort your hike and switch round.
9. Prepare in your hike by climbing different White Mountain 4000 footers in winter circumstances.
The one efficient technique to practice for winter climbing is to go on winter hikes. Mountain climbing in chilly climate, figuring out when to layer and delayer, practising along with your traction aids, and packing and organizing your entire winter gear isn’t one thing you possibly can practice for on a treadmill or within the health club. When coaching for a winter hike up Mt Washington, you wish to do a couple of follow hikes up different White Mountain 4 thousand footers in winter circumstances which have lengthy strategy hikes and a major above treeline part. Peaks resembling Mts Madison, Garfield, Carrigan, Eisenhower, North and South Twin, Moosilauke, or North and South Kinsman will aid you develop the stamina and expertise wanted to climb Mt Washington.
10. Help the Mt Washington Group
Climbing Mt Washington in winter is a bucket record expertise, little question, even in case you don’t summit the primary time. However it’s vital to appreciate that there are lots of people and organizations that make this expertise doable and might use your assist so others can expertise it too. The Mt Washington Climate Observatory, the Mt Washington Avalanche Middle Forecasters, NH Fish and Sport rescue coordinators, the all-volunteer mountain rescue groups, skilled and volunteer path maintainers, and your mountain information in case you used one, all have a hand in making Mt Washington safer to hike in winter. Take into consideration how one can assist them with a donation, a beneficiant tip, or phrase. Climbing Washington in winter can be a really completely different expertise with out them.
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We solely make cash if you buy a product by our affiliate hyperlinks. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and impartial gear critiques, newbie FAQs, and free climbing guides.