DayTrips Clothing & Equipment
List of Necessary Clothing and Equipment for Mount Washington Observatory Winter DayTrip Participants.
Please note that an average mid-winter day on Mount Washington has a temperature of about 5 degrees Fahrenheit and a wind near 50 miles per hour, with a typical "wind chill equivalent" approaching 25 below! Temperatures of -20 degrees can occur even in April! Never underestimate the severity of summit weather conditions!
- An open and flexible frame of mind, knowing that weather and conditions can vary remarkably.
- Long underwear, tops and bottoms (wool or synthetic -- not cotton).
- Wool or synthetic pants (Jeans, corduroys, or any cotton pants are not acceptable).
- Wool or synthetic (e.g. fleece, pile) shirts and sweaters (not cotton).
- Insulated boots. Double plastic mountaineering boots, (recommended; they can be rented, with crampons, from some mountaineering stores), "Sorel" type with dry felt liners and felt insoles, or quality vapor-barrier boots (such as genuine "Mickey Mouse" boots). Gaiters are also recommended, but are optional if the cuffs of your wind pants overlap your boottops securely. Boots must fit well, but not so tightly as to constrict circulation. SUMMER HIKING BOOTS ARE UNACCEPTABLE!!
- Two pair wool or synthetic socks (not cotton) to fit comfortably in boots
- Insulated jacket (down, fiberfill, heavy pile, etc.). (not cotton).
- Rugged wind parka (not cotton) with securely attached hood. (Simple snaps can fail in high winds.)
(Some Arctic parkas can do double duty as 7 and 8, though they are less versatile than the combination of a wind parka and a separate insulated jacket.)
- Wind pants. (Ski "warm-up" pants are acceptable.) (not cotton)
(A good quality, synthetic (not cotton) snowmobile-type suit with attached hood can serve as 7, 8, and 9.)
- Wool or synthetic balaclava or cap, with tightly knit scarf or facemask.
- Ski goggles (it's often good to apply an anti-fog preparation ahead of time).
- Down mittens or windproof mitten shells with wool or pile liners. Some well-insulated ski gloves with long, "gauntlet" cuffs, are acceptable, though a quality mitten will almost always be warmer. Be sure your wrists are not exposed! Light synthetic inner gloves are also handy to have in addition.
- Crampons, which fit your boots securely. If you don't have crampons, crampons or "creepers" can be supplied if we are given sufficient advance notice, though we cannot fit our crampons to very small or very large (including very wide) boots.
- An ice axe ("walking length") (if you know how to use one) or a ski pole.
- A daypack for spare clothing and other items.
- A spare set of socks, spare gloves or mittens, and a spare warm hat, packed in a plastic bag inside your pack. Also raingear -- it can rain here even in winter.
An insulated water bottle (full) and snack food should also be packed along in case of an emergency. - Don't forget your camera or camcorder, plenty of film (or equivalent) and spare batteries, and handkerchief, sunglasses, spare eyeglasses if you wear glasses, and any medications (prescription or over-the-counter) you might need on a regular or occasional basis (at least a three-day supply).
Please note: Cotton is to be avoided because of its tendency to absorb and hold moisture of all sorts, whether from fog, snow, or perspiration. Since a key to staying warm in cold conditions is to stay dry, cotton's character makes it unsuitable for use on the mountain in winter.
The Observatory has a few spare crampons which can be loaned out in response to an advance request, but be sure to make your request at least a week before your trip to allow yourself time to obtain the crampons elsewhere if all of ours are already reserved, or if the size of our crampons is not compatible with your boots (matching a very large or very small boot with crampons can be challenging.)
Personal gear not listed above should be kept to a minimum, since space and carrying capacity of the vehicle is very limited. Small daypacks can be carried inside the snow tractor.
L.L. Bean is the exclusive outerwear supplier for the Mount Washington Observatory