Winter Mt Washington

Itinerary

Day One:

MORNING SESSION: You will meet us at our Basecamp at 8:00am. There you will participate in a half day Winter Skills course to learn about planning, preparation, packing, the three systems (you, your clothes, your gear… and more). Bring your gear if you have it, as it will be inspected. This class will make sure everyone is on the same page and dialed in and organized as much as possible. Please note, as an option, this half day class may be taken in advance of day one as a virtual option. Note your interest in this when booking.

AFTERNOON SESSION: After the morning class is done and all the gear is ready, the team will normally go out to lunch, get takeout, etc. (coordinate with your guide). After lunch the team will head out to one of several locations used for crampon and ice axe training, self arrest, and a few other goodies taught in our basic half day Mountaineering Skills course.

THAT EVENING: Start eating right this evening if you haven’t been. Avoid experimental foods, drink lots of water, and avoid alcohol. Dry anything that you will need in the morning. Also, ensure you’re well rested. The excitement may hamper this effort so go to bed early.

Day Two:

FIRST THING: This is where the excitement really starts. This is what the training was for. The objective: the summit of Mt Washington. Have a good breakfast but don’t go hog wild on the bacon. Also, limit your coffee intake and avoid breakfast drinks.

MEETING AND GOING: Meet time is 7:00am at Basecamp. Earlier is possible and the guide may request this, but that will depend. Our guides are well trained and often make program tweaks for weather reasons, or whatever. After a quick gear summary and last minute check of gear, layers, equipment, food, water, etc., the team caravans to the trailhead located at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center roughly 15 miles away. Once there the teams once again does a last-minute gear check, either outdoors or in the AMC’s “pack Room” if it’s open, then hit the trail.

TEN MINUTES LATER: After ten minutes of hiking, the team will generally stop at the Crystal Cascade. The reason is to make small layering adjustments, especially needed by the guests who started warm and comfortable at the start. (It’s best to start off cold at the trailhead.) It’s also a good time to check out the waterfall and reveal to the guide how you will descend hours later as you come down the steps.

THE STEADY SLOG: From there the team will move to the Huntington Ravine Trail junction about 1.2 miles away. This is the longest single leg of the trip. After which the team will take a 10 minute break. Long enough to pee, drink, eat, and adjust the layers if needed. And speaking of layers, once stopped, you should don a puffy jacket and put your gloves in it to protect them and keep them warm. We may remind you not to block the trail. The puffy jackets will probably come off before moving again, but on very cold days there are alternative actions.

THE FIRE ROAD: The next stop is about half mile further on: the “Fire Road.” The team will turn down this road going as far as the start of the Lion Head Winter Route — maybe 100m. We stop here again (or at a spot further in the woods on really cold and breezy days). At this point the guide will advise climbers to stow their trekking poles and light traction, if worn, and take out their ice axes. Also this is the time to put on your crampons, helmets, and harnesses if not already on. This is also a good time to put on waterproof climbing gloves.

THE STEEPS: The steepness begins a little ways in and doesn’t let up for about four-tenths of a mile. Of all the steep bits, four sections or “pitches” are exceptionally so. Often our guides will set a handrail for the descent in these sections. Knowing how to use the rope is part of out afternoon training session so participants know what to do.

TRANSITION TO TREELINE: Next stop is treeline. Here the guide will access the situation. We have been turned back at this point, but usually we can go on at least to Lion Head itself which is another four-tenths away. At this break more food and water will be quickly consumed, and the team will layer hands, faces, etc., bracing for the weather. Facegloves, mitts, goggles, balaclavas, etc., some or all may be worn. As well as more or different layers and hard shells, as needed. The weather with determine it all. Your training will inform you. And your guide will advise you.

THE ALPINE ZONE: From there breaks are brief, food for fuel, basic maintenance, the cold will certainly factor in. Lion Head goes, and if the weather and weather trend allow it, the team will head across the southeastern snowfields toward “split rock” then onto the cone, again on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. From the junction it’s a slog, but the heavy lifting is almost done. Three-tenths to the auto road, one tenth to the summit from there. If time allows — there is always a turnaround time established independently by the guides each day — the team with take photos then get out of the wind to eat, linger for a bit, then leave.

DESCENDING AND ENDING: The team will generally descend in one go only stopping briefly to delayer and change out gear as needed. The descent usually goes a lot faster, but that can depend. In any case the goal is to get everyone back down before it gets dark. The guide may then either collect the gear and part ways then, or request this be done at Basecamp where there is more space. Guest items (a laptop, street shoes, etc.) may be securely stored at Basecamp so may need to be retrieved anyway.