Mt. Washington experience?

Shorty

Shorty

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has anyone done Mt. Washington in the winter? If so, can you post your advice and experience? looking to do a trip with friends, want to understand what is in store...other than being really cold!

is it a technical hike in places or just crampons the whole way?

is it cold enough to where you would need down pants and jacket, etc? or any other specific gear?

Is it 1 day to the summit? If not, would a regular 3-season tent get ripped to shreds by the wind?

gonna google all this stuff too, but figured there would be some pros in here that could give me better guidance.

thanks!
 
Climbed it when I was 19 years old in the winter and it was tough!!

Stayed at the Lake of the Clouds hut and did it in 2 days.

Sorry I can't remember more but it was a long time ago.
 
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Hell, late summer almost killed me. Good luck with a winter accent. My brother made it to the saddle in the winter. Took the tuckermans trail.
 
It's not a technical climb. It's serious in winter. Might wanna check out the climbing forums. This really is a different "bent" here.
 
Treat it like mountaineering in the winter. Go like mad in the summer and get off the summit by lunch time. The conditions are anomaly for the location and the altitude. I've felt safer climbing the Front Range in Colorado.

:(
 
I never climbed it in the winter, but I remember seeing a big sign in the summer that said, CAUTION - YOU ARE ENTERING AN AREA WITH THE MOST DANGEROUS WEATHER IN AMERICA. Year-round it is highly unstable and unpredictable. Overprepare, take every caution, be safe, come back.
 
delkancott said:
I never climbed it in the winter, but I remember seeing a big sign in the summer that said, CAUTION - YOU ARE ENTERING AN AREA WITH THE MOST DANGEROUS WEATHER IN AMERICA. Year-round it is highly unstable and unpredictable. Overprepare, take every caution, be safe, come back.
Click to expand...

We encountered a storm about an hour into our decent.
 
delkancott said:
I never climbed it in the winter, but I remember seeing a big sign in the summer that said, CAUTION - YOU ARE ENTERING AN AREA WITH THE MOST DANGEROUS WEATHER IN AMERICA. Year-round it is highly unstable and unpredictable. Overprepare, take every caution, be safe, come back.
Click to expand...

Yep, saw the same signs in the Whites when I was there last summer. Don't mess around with Mt. Washington, even experienced people who are well prepared can run into trouble there. Not only do you get extreme weather like insanely high wind and abrupt temperature changes, it can be very unpredictable too.

Don't have any specific advice as I didn't climb Mt Washington and it was summertime when I was there, so all I'll add is good luck, have fun, and whatever you do, do it safely :)
 
Mt. Washington is no joke. I have climbed it many times in the summer, unprepared for the winds and drastic temperature drops. Prepare for some serious wind, cold and unpredictability. You will need serious cold weather gear, it is not where you want to get stuck with a lack of gear in winter.
 
Don't let its seemingly small ( in mtn standards ) height fool you, I've climbed it in late summer and it was chilly cold, once your above treeline your exposed and with the crazy wind speeds they get your talking some seriously low wind chills, good luck.
 
I just lived 10 miles from Mount Washington for the last three years, At the base of the mountain this time of year, 20 below zero is not uncommon, You will most likely be advised by the local rangers to come back in the summer, It is typical for rescues this time of year and not unusual to hear that someone died up there from exposure, It has been done and can be but the weather is highly un-predictable, In July of 2010, I spoke with campers next to me who had pictures of large patches of snow still on the ground from the winter months, You will absolutely need down pants, jackets, thermals, hot food and beverages, ice picks, crampons, boots, gloves, hat etc... In the summer it can be 30 degrees or more cooler towards the summit than the base. Check out Whiteblaze.net and post there, There are hikers from the area that can give you current conditions and recommendations, They will most likely be on the forum because they don't do much hiking up there this time of year, If you do it, It will definitely be a feather in your cap that you summited Mount Washington in the winter and survived to tell about it.
Good Luck and God be with you.
 
Mtn Washington makes its own weather, which is why it can be so dangerous a climb. It's not an easy climb. good luck.
 
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