Over the weekend of August 18 to August 21, I checked off another thing on my bucket list, and conquered one of the hardest tasks I have ever had to do: I climbed to the summit of Mount Washington.
I had been working out all summer to better prepare myself for this climb (and to get healthier). I wanted to prove to myself that I could accomplish something like this, because if I could climb to the top of a mountain, I could do anything I set my mind to.
Even though so many people have climbed to the summit on all the various trails the mountain has to offer, it is still a dangerous task. Temperature change fluctuates frequently on all parts of the mountain. So, even though it may be sunny, 80 degree weather at the base, the summit could be foggy with 50-70 mph winds and be as cold as 40 degrees. Already this year there have been two tragic deaths from the climb last Spring. Most cases you see are either from hypothermia, or falling off the mountain itself.
My dad and I left from the Eagle Mountain Resort in Jackson, NH, and made our way to Tuckerman's Ravine in Pinkham Notch. There is a lodge and communal building at the bottom of the trail where hikers can eat and buy souvenirs. Inside there is also a model of the mountain, with lines showing all the different trails. To the side of it are a variety of machines telling the temperature, wind chill, pressure, etc. At around 8 AM, we signed our names in the hikers log, then started our ascend up the mountain, ready for anything.
This was a time of nostalgia for me because I had been up this trail many times before when I was younger. My family and I have even stayed in the lodge at the base before. When my dad and I passed the spot where we'd always turn around, I gave myself a little victory cheer. I was finally being bold and going beyond what I had accomplished in the past.
Our first rest break was around 1000 feet to have breakfast. After a steady intake of blueberries and Cliff Bars, and some small talk exchanged between other climbers, and we were back to ascending the mountain. Our next stop wasn't until about halfway up the trail, at a little cabin with an almost wrap-around deck. Right before we got there the temperature dropped quite a bit, and the wind picked up ever so slightly. The first section of the climb was completed, and what was coming next was a scale of the bowl of the mountain.
The next part of the climb was probably the hardest in my opinion, but it was by far the most beautiful. We hiked through the last part of the woods, partially through a muddy, flatter area, and then the rest of the way up stair-like rocks. I stopped a lot to take pictures.
As we climbed further and further up, we slowly lost the gorgeous view, and headed straight into the clouds. Once we couldn't see down the mountain anymore, we decided to stop. My dad put on pants over his shorts, and I put my hat and rain jacket on since it was a bit misty with the fog.
The last stretch of the climb was intense. All you were doing was climbing up a rock covered surface with 40-50 mph winds, and no initial path to follow. My dad had done this climb many times before, and already once this summer, but I was new to this type of weather condition. On top of that, I do not have the greatest of balance, so I was a little nervous.
The whole way up my dad kept mentioning turning back around, but I refused to do so. I had made it this far, so why would I turn back now. My goal was to make it to the top, and that was what I planned to do! I pushed myself, complained a bit, and worked my way up the rocky slope ever so steady and cautiously.
When we made it to the parking lot, it was so windy if you slipped, you might go a couple feet backwards. To my surprise, the summit wasn't just there. We still had to go up two flights of stairs. I was so tired at that point I was pulling myself up using the railing. At the top, the were tourists and climbers galore, but I made my way right to the sign cemented into the summit, and hugged it. My dad and I got someone to take our picture, and we went inside for hot chocolate, a greatly needed reward and comfort from the cold.
Although I would have liked to be able to climb back down the mountain, that was not my goal for the day. Plus my shoulder was killing me from my backpack. We opted on taking a van down (thank you dad), which was a nice, relaxing ride, and made our way back to the car.
Next time I come back, my goal is to make it back down the mountain. Anyone want to join me?
*All photos copyright Hayley Wright*
