There’s a saying about the weather in New Hampshire that goes like this: “If you don’t like it, wait a minute.” We suspect this is spoken in other parts of the country, too, but we’ll claim it as our own. Throw the mountains into the mix and it really gets wild. The forecast for this Mt Washington hike called for a slight chance of showers, cooler temperatures, breezy, possible thunderstorms in the afternoon, with maybe some sun here and there, but no snow, ice, or freezing just yet. Our guests were having second thoughts, concerned mostly about the chillier temps. We had a second guide at the ready, Debra, just in case, and we spoke to Redline Guide Gregg Ludvigson at length as the date approached.
When we first heard their weather concerns we spoke of the up-sides. For example: Staying cool will be less difficult. After all, even in the depths of winter, staying cool and not sweating out your clothing is a challenge. Another upside is that there would be fewer bugs. Also, fewer people would be seen with the more limited views inside the clouds. And beyond those views the world would become a mysterious place with slopes dropping into the abyss. The focus would be on the gorgeous surroundings — which are sometimes literally overlooked on clear days.
The clouds, moisture, and the wind would showcase some of what Mt Washington is known for being Home to the World’s Worst Weather. Some folks come to us actually hoping for that kind of experience. Those hardy souls whoop it up, the wind stealing their voices as they shout: “Show me the sh*t!” The weather’s pretty subjective, in other words.
We asked Gregg if we should move it but after speaking to our guests at length he told us they were stoked and ready, no longer just resigned to accept but ready to appreciate. We love it! Their perspective had shifted it seemed, the worries subsided. And we were glad for this. In some ways the whole experience could be better, or at least more fascinating and interesting. On the mountain they ended up with periods of rain, then no rain, cool breezes, clouds, then blue skies, and sun. The latter happening later. In the Androscoggin and Mt Washington Valleys we had much of the same variability. Like an “everything bagel,” the day had it all.
This was a photo-restricted private tour (we always ask) so we were limited to unrecognizable photos of our guests. Gregg’s main focus shifted to shots of the surroundings and the weather on the mountain as seen in the following images.
