Mt. Washington in the 1960s

[Maksutov]

Here's a picture of Mt. Washington I took from Mt. Clay during my second climb up The Rockpile back in July 1963.



As you can see, the summit has changed a bit since then. The large building over near the homestretch is (IIRC) the Air Force icing study lab. A close examination reveals two cog railway trains just above the Great Gulf.

Sorry it's B&W. I was doing my own processing back then and B&W was all I could afford.

I'll add more later.

[Brad]

Folks, if you click on the thumbnail Mak provided you go to the large version of the image. It looks like you can see the old hotel on the summit.

Great picture.

[Tim&Val]

That's a great picture! Such detail, with the Great Gulf and the Cog! And don't apologize for the B&W - I think it's a striking photo in B&W.

Valerie

[Gorque]

Thanks for posting the picture. It nce to be able to compare current views with those from the past.

[Steve M]

Great shot, There is a small building off to the left, just off the auto road. Anyone know what that one is?

[Charlie]

nice photo you should summit some of your old pictures to the Photo Journal

thanks for sharing

[Mike D]

Great shot, There is a small building off to the left, just off the auto road. Anyone know what that one is?

The large building over near the homestretch is (IIRC) the Air Force icing study lab.

This is the area now called the Helipad; located near the enormous kerosene tanks.

[Maksutov]

Folks, if you click on the thumbnail Mak provided you go to the large version of the image. It looks like you can see the old hotel on the summit.

That's it, prominent to the left of the Tip Top House. My climbing party and I stayed there that evening. Probably not that many folks left who can say they stayed overnight on The Rockpile in semi-luxurious accommodations.

Great picture.

Thank you very much.

More to come.

[Maksutov]

OK, going back to July, 1963.

As previously noted by Brad, these are thumbnails. Clicking on them will direct you to the full-sized images. In the interest of those who have dial-up, I've compressed the "full-sized" images drastically so they will load quickly.

My first climb of Mt. Washington involved getting to Mt. Monroe first (something called the Crawford Path after Pleasant Dome).

Here's a view of the Lakes of the Clouds hut from Mt. Monroe. Even back then it was known as the Highland Hilton at the Lakes of the Crowds.



A zoom-in. Notice the methodology re air conditioning. And the outdoor conveniences. The hut's a little bigger now.



Once down from Monroe, a look-back was in order



Even 44 years ago trail erosion was an issue.

Then up the scramble. It's always fun to check on the climbing party straggler and as he's getting ready to take a shot of the view, shout "Hey!" Then "click".



Once on the summit of Mt. Washington all real climbers want to go somewhere else. For first-timers somewhere else is Tucks. Here's a member of the group looking over the ravine.



A nice thing about being the main photographer is you're behind the camera. But here's an exception where someone else took the shot. A nice view of snow in Tucks in late July.



I had many more photographs of these climbs, but, for some strange reason, when I got divorced, they disappeared.

Oh well.

That was a wonderful July, coursing over the Presidential Range.

Pure exhilaration.

[Maksutov]

nice photo you should summit some of your old pictures to the Photo Journal

What's the Photo Journal?

thanks for sharing

You're welcome. Happy to do so.