Here we are, a month into the Spring season, still playing in the mountains like it’s winter. Obviously we’re not doing exactly the same things in exactly the same places, but we are still doing our stuff on Mt Washington. On this educational adventure, day one (of our two-day program) was dedicated to training in Tuckerman Ravine. The team, led by Redline Guide Debra McCown, then stayed at the Hermit Lake Shelters. The next day they were supposed to climb a snow gully (Hillman’s Highway or Left Gully), but as it turned out, the younger member of the team needed to throw in the towel but wisely stated that the mountain… well, here, let’s have Debra fill in the blanks.
Internet vs. Reality
Like a lot of young people, this teenage guest first learned about Mt Washington from an online video and wanted to experience it for himself. He came with his dad for a Mt Washington skills and climb with an overnight on the mountain.
They’d done some hiking in the past, so they felt like they’d be ready, but carrying overnight packs up the trail on New England’s highest peak proved tougher than they expected. On the first day, after some classroom instruction, we hiked up to Hermit Lakes (our camping spot) and did some skills training in the bowl of Tuckerman Ravine.
The teen guest was exhausted after the long day and remained so even after a night’s sleep, deciding that be was too tired for the second day’s planned snow climb and wanted to descend — but possibly to return in the future. ‘The mountain will always be there,’ he wisely stated. —Debra
After this educational adventure the team took us up on our very first premium option booking adding a stop at the White Mountain Sauna Haus to use their saunas and ice baths. What a great way to soothe sore muscles after an experience like this. Now for some photos…
