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#Post#: 1230--------------------------------------------------
Mt. Washington
By: Rusty Shovel Date: June 12, 2014, 1:45 am
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Went on a ride to the top of Mt. Washington today. I was
disappointed to discover my GoPro hadn't captured my ascent
(user error). The Mt. Washington Auto Road is well worth the
$16 entrance fee. It's a 8-mile ribbon of tarmac and gravel
roads. There are vertigo inducing vistas, hairpin switchbacks,
sheer dropoffs, and no guard rails. Though they do have a race
up this road every year, I'd recommend a mellow throttle; the
drop would be unforgiving. Cars REALLY struggle with the
incline. There are stations for servicing radiators on the way
up, and constant signs warning motorists to use a low gear and
stay off the brakes on the way down. I enjoyed the drive so
much that I went up and down twice.
What a view!
[img]
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KJ0rhY4msxU/U5kckXYK5xI/AAAAAAAABRo/t9Rs8spHidY/w1357-h260-no/DSCN5714.JPG[/img]
Mt. Washington is the highest peak in the northeast and has some
of the most extreme weather in the world. But don't take my
word for it:
HTML https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yrXnLqaZd_Q/U5keoW3fEVI/AAAAAAAABRo/dBN_U9bFAFw/w647-h863-no/DSCN5728.jpg
The winds are so strong, they actually have to anchor chain the
buildings to the ground:
[img]
HTML https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-iTtxGW6WNGE/U5kfP4_uCPI/AAAAAAAABRo/elr-1juBwpQ/w1151-h863-no/DSCN5729.JPG[/img]
[img]
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EeU4rBguEVE/U5kfS89jHgI/AAAAAAAABRo/yNDK7rHqpHk/w1151-h863-no/DSCN5730.JPG[/img]
The shoulders and peak are above the timberline and are shrouded
in fog 300 days of the year. Because hikers often get lost in
the mist, they've erected cairns along the trail every 10 yards
or so.
[img]
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hTnMQqO5KWo/U5khD6DBAbI/AAAAAAAABRo/fRHSjiA5Pyc/w1151-h863-no/DSCN5738.JPG[/img]
I went hiking along the cairn trail for about 20 minutes. I
found that I am overused to sea level air; I was sucking wind
like a landed fish.
[img]
HTML https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oI6J00yGCNU/U5kgxf-7OaI/AAAAAAAABRo/donBbtHfDDA/w1357-h260-no/DSCN5741.JPG[/img]
[img]
HTML https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UdBJgtVFP-M/U5kgS63-5oI/AAAAAAAABRo/navlG9qnDRQ/w1151-h863-no/DSCN5734.JPG[/img]
[img]
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gqVPTIg8Iz4/U5kgINGsvbI/AAAAAAAABRo/HbUDLTW361E/w1151-h863-no/DSCN5735.JPG[/img]
Truly "purple mountain's majesty!"
[img]
HTML https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8PTzafDlBRA/U5kg9ZEcxNI/AAAAAAAABRo/eM_iNL1PP0g/w1151-h863-no/DSCN5737.JPG[/img]
Despite precautions such as the cairns, folks die on the
mountain every year.
[img]
HTML https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lAAhAq83Z_A/U5keYmO5n3I/AAAAAAAABRo/uUpQOR8mqAM/w1151-h863-no/DSCN5725.JPG[/img]
I didn't photograph the list of names because it did seem
morbid. There were a lot of names. I was offended by the sign
itself. If my son had died on the mountain, and they had the
temerity to list his name next to a sign which proclaimed him
"dumb" or "ignorant," I'd burn their weather station down.
Still, the quote at the bottom was thought provoking. They
should have let the words of Edward Whymper stand alone:
[img]
HTML https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mRDRv4r_qjg/U5keZfU2zlI/AAAAAAAABRo/tdMy2UOJ7B8/w1151-h863-no/DSCN5726.JPG[/img]
Here's a parting shot of the modern weather station:
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0-bd3GOoZG4/U5kd2FeNp3I/AAAAAAAABRo/qfdpvyqYnWM/w647-h863-no/DSCN5722.jpg
Here's a comparison shot of it during the winter:
HTML http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k0UTsiAEKXk/UJh1QfHFYMI/AAAAAAAAAMA/lRhUPVUWbRw/s1600/mount-washington-tower.jpg
Amazingly, two-thirds of all winter days endure class 2
hurricane winds. Extreme weather fanatics come from all over to
hike Mt. Washington during the winter. No thanks. I prefer a
sunny day and a 70 hp motorcycle, thanks.
Alpine tundra and howling winds be damned! I pitched my tent
back down in the trees on the banks of the Swift River.
[img]
HTML https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Y5THPq6cYLY/U5kcs9vXe3I/AAAAAAAABRo/Cazy07zD4E8/w1151-h863-no/DSCN5712.JPG[/img]
I busted out my fly rod and fished until dark. And yes, I did
prove the existence of fish in New Hampshire. I'm now certain
that the state contains at least 5 fish--all of them beneath
this bridge:
[img]
HTML https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z6zzpFuMhEA/U4U0__bdl1I/AAAAAAAABNA/3CQqPNEdXSU/w1151-h863-no/DSCN5707.JPG[/img]
Whether New Hampshire has any fish larger than 13 inches remains
conjecture.
Rusty
#Post#: 1240--------------------------------------------------
Re: Mt. Washington
By: Colorado Rider Date: June 13, 2014, 4:48 pm
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A nice article and great pictures! I learned something new
today. ;D
#Post#: 1252--------------------------------------------------
Re: Mt. Washington
By: Tmblwd Date: June 15, 2014, 7:01 pm
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I see you got a nice photo of Wildcat ski area across the street
from Mt Washington, beautiful views of Tuckermans Ravine when
looking back from skiing there. The last time I went to the top
of Washinton on a bike the wind was 65 mph and I could hardly
hold the bike up!
#Post#: 1342--------------------------------------------------
Re: Mt. Washington
By: seabeegt Date: July 14, 2014, 4:27 pm
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Awesome story. U rode that all the way from Houston?
#Post#: 1362--------------------------------------------------
Re: Mt. Washington
By: Rusty Shovel Date: July 15, 2014, 5:28 pm
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[quote author=seabeegt link=topic=260.msg1342#msg1342
date=1405373224]
Awesome story. U rode that all the way from Houston?
[/quote]
Nah, I'm working up in Maine this summer so I brought all my
toys in the back of my truck. Homebase is Kennebunk, ME.
#Post#: 1382--------------------------------------------------
Re: Mt. Washington
By: Dane1960 Date: July 20, 2014, 7:33 am
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Awesome Pictures
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