Climb Spike

[Ericp]

I have the spike below which has the following engraved (stamped) into it.
"Mt. Washington climb 32 min Aug. 5, 1916"

Just curious about history of these spikes.

[Bill O]

That's interesting.

You certainly wouldn't use a spike like that for hiking or even rock climbing. Not even in 1916. Climbing pitons look much different. It looks like it has more to do with the Cog or the Auto Road.

[faegilr]

I agree with Bill, it actually looks like the nail that a friend made for me at Saugus Iron Works, only larger.

Maybe it was from a race that occurred at the mountain or a commemorative date event?

[Brad]

I was thinking one of the auto races

[paulgla]

This is a solveable puzzle it seems.

6288 feet is 1916 meters. I wonder if that is what the 1916 is or is the year given the mention of August 5.

Is there a record of Mt Washington events for the year 1916 which might verify things?

[Ericp]

I thought it may have something to do with the RR. I should have put something to show scale of it. Length is 8.5" and resembles a RR spike. Thought I would start here. Appreciate the thoughts

[Bill O]

This is a solveable puzzle it seems.

6288 feet is 1916 meters. I wonder if that is what the 1916 is or is the year given the mention of August 5.

Is there a record of Mt Washington events for the year 1916 which might verify things?

Probably a coincidence. Mount Washington is actually closer to 1917 meters. Additionally, "Month Day, Year" is pretty much the standard format to list a date in the United States.

I could swear I've seen a progression of car speed records for the Auto Road. Can't seem to find it though.

[Bill O]

Here it is:

http://www.mountwashingtonautoroad.com/Page-87.html

Clearly not an auto record, but it could have gone to a finisher. Although spikes are more commonly associated with trains, not cars.

[faegilr]

I would email the librarians at the Discovery Center. They probably have an archive there and would be the best people to help figure out what it is.


Possibly it was for a road race but since the mountain is so associated with the cog that they gave out commemorative nails instead?

[Bill O]

I would email the librarians at the Discovery Center. They probably have an archive there and would be the best people to help figure out what it is.


Possibly it was for a road race but since the mountain is so associated with the cog that they gave out commemorative nails instead?

Not the first road race, see link above with history of times. Not a running road race either. People didn't really do that back then, and no way it could be run in that time. The best runners and bikers do it in about one hour.