Until 1996, it was also the fastest in the world, however in 2010, reports were published of wind speeds reaching 253 mph as recorded by remote sensors on the uninhabited Barrow Island during Typhoon Olivia. * Mount Washington's speed record is the fastest observed by man as well as the fastest in the Northern and Western hemispheres. As you can probably tell by all the photos, Mount Washington is an extremely popular place for winter mountaineering, skiing and ice climbing, however, always check for current avalanche and weather conditions as over 120 people have died on this mountain ( partial list with location and cause of death). Winter offers a chance to get your crampons out of the closet travel up snow and/or ice instead. Mount Washington is known as the rock pile because the summit is composed of large blocks of New Hampshire quartzite and mica schist (Ref: injektilo) that you will have the privledge of hiking over during the summer. See the Routes Overview Section below for a more complete routes list. The Lion Head, Huntington Ravine, and Boott Spur Trails all share the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center Trailhead with the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. The Huntington Ravine offers challenging hikes, rock climbs, and ice climbs including: the Huntington Ravine Trail - considered one of the two most difficult hiking trails in the White Mountains the NE Ridge of Pinnacle Buttress (5.7, 5-6 pitches) and a variety of winter ice climbing routes including the classic Pinnacle Gully (III NEI 3, 4-5 pitches), Odell's Gully (II/III NEI 2-3), South Gully (I NEI 1), and the Escape Hatch (I, popular descent route).
The Lion Head Trail is probably the second most popular snow free route and the most popular route during the winter months. One of the shortest, most scenic, and most popular trails to the summit is the 4.2 mile class 2 Tuckerman Ravine Trail that starts at the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center (2050'). A cog railway and road are also in operation on this mountain which hosts an observatory, musuem, and snack shop on the summit (so don't forget to bring your wallet). It wasn't until the 19th century that the surrounding peaks of Adams, Jefferson, Madison, etc. Today Mount Washington is known as the tallest peak in the Presidential Range which includes the 5 highest peaks in New England, but early on the entire massif was known as Mount Washington, a 30 mile long mountain running east to west. It is also known as the "Home of the World's Worst Weather" and the world record holder for the fastest measured wind speed observed by man: 231 mph on April 12, 1934* (See the "Mountain Conditions" section for more). Affectionately known as "the Rock Pile," it is located in northern New Hampshire just west of NH SR-16 between North Conway (to the south) and Gorham. It is also one of most popular hiking, backcountry skiing, alpine climbing and ice climbing destinations in New England. OverviewMount Washington is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, north of North Carolina, and south of Ellesmere Island in North America.