This has been a phenomenal hiking season. Starting with summiting one of the most prominent mountains of Southern California—Mt. San Jacinto, the peakbagging list includes Mauna Kea, Mount Whitney, and now Mount Washington.
I’ve read about Washington many times. Visiting Boston for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand meeting, I knew I had to make a side trip to the White Mountains. Coincidentally, while flipping through the current issue of Backpacker, I came across a brief guide to the summit of Mount Washington via the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. Even though the climb was pretty much straight up the mountain, this route was more crowded than I had thought.
The river is beautiful, cascading along the entire ascent up toward Lake of the Clouds Hut. Ice crystals over parts of the open rock face where water once flowed. Near a picturesque waterfall, frozen crystals are strewn like a spread of diamonds.
At the hut, the tomato soup hot, hearty, and simply amazing. Just beyond, a sign warns hikers: “STOP! The area ahead has the worst weather in America. Many have died there from exposure, even in the summer. Turn back now if the weather is bad.” Cairns mark the trail in case of a white-out, but there is not a cloud in the sky. Near the summit, horizontal icicles appear, having formed sideways in the piercing wind. A Snickers bar is part of the summit celebration.
About to start up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail
Flowing river cascading waterfall
Lush vegetation along the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, growing next to the mossy river bank
Ammonoosuc River just below Gem Pool
Close-up of birch bark
View from along the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, looking westward
Ammonoosuc River flowing over moss-covered rocks, with ice crystals piled up in front, like large diamonds
Flowing Ammonoosuc River, waterfall, flowing next to a pile of ice crystals
Flowing Ammonoosuc River, with trea and frozen needles making icicles that dangle over the river
Sheets of ice covering the rock
Westward view along the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail
One of many cairns just below the Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Grass that are growing abov treeline, timberline
Door and sign of the Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Pumpkin pie, $2 for a phat slice
View westward from inside the Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Hearty tomato soup for $3
Finished tomato soup and water
STOP. The area ahead has the worst weather in America. Many have died there from exposure, even in the summer. Turn back now if the weather is bad.
Lakes of the Clouds Hut, on the Crawford Path of the Appalachian Trail
Lakeshore with reflection of the shrubs and rocks
Mt. Monroe (5,372 ft) and the Lakes of the Clouds Hut below it, with the Crawford Path leading up to Mt. Washington summit (6,288 ft)
Distant purple mountains, and trail cairn row in Bigelow Lawn
Wind-blown rocks and icicles, formed horizontally
Reward candy bar, Mt. Washington (6,288 ft)
At the summit
Sign at the top of the Cog Railway
View from the summit, of the Cog Rail and the road
Cog Railway car, stopped at Mt. Washington summit, with one-way fare at $45
Marshfield Station and Mt. Washington’s western face
