Mt Washington Winter group ascent
Mt washington winter ascent
Mt Washington, NH at 6,288ft is the highest point in the northeastern United States and is know as having “the worlds worst weather”. We run these courses to give you a taste of what mountaineering has to offer, and also to give you an opportunity to climb the highest point in the Northeast in winter! If you want to experience the winds, the cold, and the views as we get above treeline, if you want experience walking in crampons and using an ice ax, and you want to learn about how to stay warm and comfortable while covering over 8 miles and 4000+ft of elevation in a day, then this event will be perfect for you!
Be prepared to be pushed outside of your comfort zone, both mentally and physically. No two day on Mt Washington are the same, so be prepared for an awesome experience!
Please Note: At no time can we ever guarantee a summit.
DETAILS At a glance
Duration: A typical day is 730-500
Group Size: 4 Climbers and 1 guides max per group
Season: Late December - late March
Experience Required: Prior hiking experience and overall good fitness required. However, no experience with crampons or ice axe required.
Age Limits: Must be at least 16 years old
Minimum Bookings: We generally require at least 2 books to run this as group course. If this minimum isn’t met, we may ask you to pay the private rate for the day or reschedule to a different group.
Pricing (Does Not Include Fees):
Per Person | $250
Price Includes: All Technical gear as needed - Helmet, Harness, Boots, Crampons, Ice Axes, Ropes - and qualified guides.
“I had a phenomenal time. Andy was extremely informative and I truly learnt so much about mountaineering throughout our hike together. Our group had many laughs and the overall experience felt safe, invigorating, and engaging.”
Overview of a “Typical” Day
While no two days are ever the same, here is what the itinerary tends to look like. We will start our climb at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center (elevation 2000ft) and spend the next five hours climbing steadily upwards.
We start up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to the start of the Lions Head Winter Trail at 3500ft. From here, We will ascend the Lions Head winter route with crampons and ice axes, passing the technical “crux” of the route.
After the steepest climbing we will exit tree-line at about 4200ft and will quickly start to get the brunt of the wind and cold. We still have about 2000ft of uphill climbing before we reach the summit. From here we will likely don face masks, googles, and all of our extra clothing here for the final push to the summit!
GEAR AND SKILLS REQUIRED FOR this ascent
Climbing Mt Washington in any season, especially winter, is no joke. We cover 4200 ft of hiking/climbing over a scant 4.5 miles on the way up, and in winter our reward is to be far away from the car and in the worst weather of the day. Also, sometimes, some summit views. Be prepared to spend the day out in below freezing, and oftentimes below zero, temperatures and wind chill. We will be moving and climbing over uneven terrain all with a pack on, heavy boot, and crampons.
Please check out our Winter Gear List for recommended layers and gear to have a comfortable day.
If you have concerns about your fitness to hike and climb all day, please reach out to us and we can discuss these concerns, and give you tools to help prepare for our trip.
Please be aware that this is a group trip. If one member of the group has to turn around due to fitness or unpreparedness, the whole group will be forced to turn around. If you have concerns, consider signing up for a private 1:1 ascent here.
