New England – 2016
Day 7 – Mt Washington
Although the day started misty, it was forecast to clear up, so we decided to take the drive up Mt Washington – a ‘must do’ when visiting New Hampshire. First though we took some pictures from the hotel of the misty hills above Jackson.
Misty Morning at Eagle Mountain House
On the way to the Mt Washington toll road, we stopped at a couple of waterfalls close to Pinkham Notch. The first stop was at Glen Ellis Falls, which is a narrow waterfall on the Ellis River. The falls are about 60ft high, but in the image below it is difficult to get an appreciation of their size.
Glen Ellis Falls
We then tried to visit Crystal Cascades, which requires a short walk following the river. Unfortunately we turned back on reaching some minor cascades thinking they were the main falls. These are a bit further on, and are far more impressive and well worth a visit, so we should have done more research on this occasion! However the cascades that we photographed were a pleasant enough spot.
Cascades on the Ellis River
We then drove on to the The Mt Washington toll road, which climbs the mountain from the east side. The road was first opened to the public in 1861 and climbs 4618 feet over a distance of 7.6 miles to reach the summit of Mt Washington (6288ft and the highest peak in the Northeastern United States). Included in the toll fee is a CD which can be played in the car to point out interesting facts and features during the ascent. As the ascent is performed over a few miles, it is not particularly steep or hazardous.
Mt Washington Road
There are various buildings on the summit of Mt Washington, including the Tip Top House. This was one of the original hostelries, built in 1853, and is the oldest surviving building on the summit.
The Tip Top House
Another notable building is the observatory which is famous for being the site where the highest wind speed ever directly experienced by man was recorded. On 12th April 1934, the observatory recorded a windspeed of 231mph, and whilst higher speeds have been recorded elsewhere, they were at unmanned stations. No wonder the observatory building is held down with chains!
Mt Washington Summit Observatory
World’s Highest Wind
Fortunately during our visit the weather was clear, with no sign of high winds, so we were able to enjoy the extensive views, explore the summit and pose for some pictures.
Carol and Gordon At The Summit
Whilst the drive up is not really that difficult, it still felt like an achievement, and as part of the toll road fee you also receive a car sticker to remember your visit.
This Car Climbed Mt Washington
If you do not wish to drive up, there is also a cog railway to the top, which climbs from the west side of the mountain. This is the oldest mountain summit railway in the world, having been built in 1869 by Sylvester Marsh, a businessman and inventor. Despite obtaining state permission in 1858, many considered the railway would be impossible, and even today it is the second steepest cog railway in the world, so was quite a feat of engineering in 1869.
Mt Washington Cog Railway
The railway actually climbs more steeply than the road, making the ascent in just three miles, less than half the horizontal distance of the road.
Train Ascending Mt Washington
The train operates throughout the year, but does not go all the way to the summit during the winter months. Interestingly, a cog railway system was also under development in Switzerland, but it was not until the Swiss Consul in America visited Mt Washington that the Swiss government decided to invest in mountain railway systems as a way of boosting tourism.