Great Weather for Mount Washington!

Standing at 6,288 feet, New Hampshire’s Mount Washington is the highest peak in the northeastern United States. Originally called Agiocochook by native Americans, the mountain boasts some of the planet’s most severe weather. Mount Washington’s weather is notoriously extreme.
Weatherbug.com

WONDERFUL!!!

So, after Snow in Arizona/New Mexico, Dust Storms in New Mexico/Texas, Tornado Warning in Pennsylvania, Post-Tropical Storm in Maine (just some highlights of our weather this year)…we picked The Best Day of the Season, to ride the Cog Railway up Mount Washington! REALLY! It was clear (except for the smoke from Canada fires), warmish, and a light breeze! [For contrast, when we first visited in July 2011, it was warmer at the base and colder and very windy at the top.]

OH! leaves finally turning…also the middle of the best week of PEEP SEASON!!

The Steam Engine Cog Train taking off up the mountain as we loaded
On top of Mount Washington AND on the Appalachian Trail!
View North from the top of Mount Washington, with 2 Cog Trains on their way up
View North-ish over Presidential Range (Clay, Jefferson, Adams (twin peaks), Madison), with our return Cog Trains on its way up
View of the Cog Track on Jacobs Ladder, going down
Last look back up mountain upon return to base

That was yesterday. While camping 5 nights in Twin Mountain/Carroll, New Hampshire, we also took time to recover from all our hiking in Baxter State Park, went shopping in North Conway (2 hours in REI…Mark bought new hiking boots and we got a new compass and 1st aid kit for hiking), and we hiked almost another 3 miles on the Appalachian Trail. That’s 4 states now: Virginia, West Virginia, Maine, and New Hampshire.

To hike on the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire, we decided to hike to Ethan Pond. This was at the suggestion of the REI rep who helped Mark with his boots. (It also explains the 2 hours in REI, buying 3 things…he also recommended Gaia GPS as a great Hiking Map App…works on Airplane Mode. Gail tried it on this hike, and will keep it!) The hike was similar to hiking in Baxter (no surprise). Unfortunately, we hit our turn-around time about 0.2 mile before reaching Ethan Pond. Oh well. So much for lolli-gagging in the morning!!!