1st Time Climbing Mt. Washington

[MechAeroE]

Thanks. So is the summit not accessible by Tuckerman then?

Are there any fees at all, besides the costs of preparation?

Parking at Pinkham and hiking to the top costs nothing. However, requiring a rescue may be a different story.

[Brad]

Sam,

If you go from Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, there are no parking fees (there is a charge to park other places around the range). There are no hiking or summit fees - except to buy the world's best chili up top.

The biggest expense is to make sure your Mt Washington Observatory membership is up to date so you can do a summit tour of the facilities. It used to be (and I think it still is) that you go to the museum at the summit (down one set of stairs by the TV). At the museum you tell them you are a member and want to do a tour. They can tell you when the next one is to start and where to be for it. The tour is worth the time. MWO membership is definitely worth it.

[Brad]

On Tuckerman Ravine not being accessible - one can hike the Tuckerman Ravine trail back to the base of the headwall. From there going up the headwall is closed and very dangerous this time of year. There are waterfalls which eat away at the snow from underneath. Once the snow has melted enough on the right side of the headwall to fully expose the trail they will open that trail. Even then there will be rushing waterfalls and snow into June - July - and sometimes into August.

The normal route to the summit from PNVC this time of year is Tuckerman Ravine trail to just before Hermit Shelter - then up Lion Head trail - across the Alpine Garden and then to the summit.

[wxwatcher]

Thanks for the information! I'm hoping to avoid that particular situation, Mechaeroe . I'll be sure to look into the membership Brad.

[Knapper]

Sam,

... except to buy the world's best chili up top.

The biggest expense is to make sure your Mt Washington Observatory membership is up to date ... MWO membership is definitely worth it.

So two things to add. Sorry to burst the bubble but the chili is from a can so if you are expecting a home brew, sorry. But after hiking up, it is still pretty good.

As for membership, if you don't want to fully sign up prior, you can either sign up for full membership when you get here or pay an introductory membership and still get the tour. The tour shows how we measure the weather, where we live and legally allows you to climb our weather tower, the tallest point (apart from the radio towers) that anyone can be in the northeast, as it stands about 100 ft or so higher than the summit cone of 6288 ft.

[wxwatcher]

So two things to add. Sorry to burst the bubble but the chili is from a can so if you are expecting a home brew, sorry. But after hiking up, it is still pretty good.

As for membership, if you don't want to fully sign up prior, you can either sign up for full membership when you get here or pay an introductory membership and still get the tour. The tour shows how we measure the weather, where we live and legally allows you to climb our weather tower, the tallest point (apart from the radio towers) that anyone can be in the northeast, as it stands about 100 ft or so higher than the summit cone of 6288 ft.

Off topic, but I saw that you are a meteorologist at the observatory and wondered what college you attended?

[Brad]

Off topic, but I saw that you are a meteorologist at the observatory and wondered what college you attended?

You can get a lot of information about the staff at http://www.mountwashington.org/about...hp#clark_brian

[Knapper]

Off topic, but I saw that you are a meteorologist at the observatory and wondered what college you attended?

The link Brad provided lists my education as well as all the other observers up here. Four of us are meteorologists while the other two are IT that are certified to take weather observations. Although it should be stated that my bio has not been updated since I think Feb 2006.