2015 TRAVELS : THE MOUNT WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD

the start of the auto road - see summit at left of tree

on the way up

the runaway train went over the hill and she blew!


at the summit

We were both a little sceptical about all the hype of driving up Mt. Washington, at 6288ft the Northeast's highest peak,
overlooking the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, but we were not disappointed.
This 8 mile, old carriage road built between 1854 and 1861 using hand tools, horses and oxen and old fashioned blasting
powder was a breathtaking experience.
Costs $33 and you get a CD to play as you drive up and back. We were blessed with sunshine and brilliant views
although clouds often blew in at the summit.
Famous for having the worst weather in the world, they recorded the world record peak wind in 1934 of 231mph.
The summit is in the clouds about 60% of the time so we were so lucky to get the perfect day.
Temperature at the top was minus 2oC but with the wind chill it was minus 12oC.
We visited the Tip Top House built in 1853 as an hotel, saw the old weather station that is a chained to the ground, watched the cog railway fall
down the mountain, stood in a queue to have our photo taken at the very summit and had to succumb to clam chowder in the cafe.

When we got back down to earth we enjoyed a short hike to some pretty falls in the fall.
Tomorrow we move westwards on the Kancamagus highway, the weather is set to change to rain for the weekend - why does it always do that?