A lot of people develop an interest in climbing New England’s highest (and deadliest) mountain. Namely, Mt Washington, “Home of the World’s Worst Weather.” But interest isn’t doing. The two are mutually exclusive. The interest part can reside within a person for life, until they become doers, as this father-daughter team did. Leading was Redline Guide Rhonda Willette, and the words and images that follow are hers.
Our guests today were a father–daughter duo who had been talking about climbing Mount Washington for a few years, and today we helped make it happen. We ascended via the Jewel Trail and were rewarded with spectacular views above treeline and a steady breeze that kept us cool. About three‑quarters of a mile below the summit, the clouds rolled in and the wind picked up, giving us a dramatic finish to the climb.
With afternoon thunderstorms in the forecast, the team decided to take the train down instead of hiking back to the trailhead. The next train was full, but we were offered spots on the back platform. It sounded like a fun twist, so we went for it. This made for some great laughs and some very unique views. A super fun ending to an already fantastic trip. —Rhonda
