A new guest reached out to us hoping we could help. The plan was to hike the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to Crawford Path then summit Mt Washington from there. After which our guest’s father would pick her up for at the top and bring her down the Auto Road. Leading this “one-way Washington” was Redline Guide Rhonda Willette. What follows are her words and photos.
Our guest came to New Hampshire with one goal: summit Mount Washington. She’d researched the mountain enough to know she didn’t want to attempt it solo, and she was honest about being nervous, especially about the amount of elevation gain and the rock scrambles. Her biggest hike so far had been Old Rag in Shenandoah National Park, a 3,284‑foot summit with about 2,600 feet of elevation gain.
On the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, she rose to the challenge. She moved through the rocky sections and scrambles quickly and confidently. After one of the tougher spots, I asked her how it felt. She said, ‘I was terrified.’ Watching her climb it like a pro, you never would’ve guessed.
I watched her push through those nerves and rise to the challenge. She proved to herself that she could do this mountain, and she did. It was a privilege to guide her to the summit. —Rhonda
