A Wet Attempt on Mt Washington

Conveniently meeting our guests… it’s how we roll.

What does a person do when they can jump four feet but the crossing is five feet across? In the case of today’s attempt on Mt Washington, Redline Guide Álvaro Marques decided turning around was the best choice, so that’s what he and our guest, Brian, did. Apparently, they weren’t the only ones foiled today by the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, even though, considering the wind forecast, the Ammo was a top choice. Here’s a short summary of today’s attempt in Álvaro’s words:

Brian and I left the Cog Base Station today around 8:00am via the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, with Mt Washington as our goal. We knew the weather wasn’t favorable despite temperatures being around 40°F. Snowshoes were mandatory and helped us avoid postholing more than we did — the snow was too soft due to the recent rise in temperatures. We enjoyed some food at Gem Pool before the steep section. Brian was loving it! Everything was going well according to our plans except for the missing snow bridge on the first legdes at around 4300′ [brown arrow crossing]. After careful deliberation we decided not to attempt crossing the high, fast-moving waters and questionable jump on to the other side with a cascade just to our right. Safety first! Once we got back to the car we enjoyed some cheese, bread, and grilled chouriço! —Álvaro Marques