We normally lead our Mount Washington hikes up the Lion Head trail, which begins at the Pinkham Notch visitor center on the east side of the mountain. This is the easiest route to the summit, but still entails 4.1 miles of extremely rugged terrain, and 4250 feet of vertical relief. The hike to the summit normally takes between three and five hours, and then another two or three to get back down. Please note that it is also possible (weather and time permitting) to get a ride back down the Mount Washington Auto Road if your knees are past their prime.
All of our guides are Wilderness First Responders and have deep local knowledge of Mt. Washington and the surrounding peaks of the White Mountains. Between us we have hundreds, if not thousands, of Mt. Washington ascents to our credit, during every month of the year, and in every kind of weather imaginable.
We are your Mt. Washington experts and would love the opportunity to share our love for the Northeast’s most iconic peak with you.
Prerequisites
No prior experience is required, but the ascent is 4.1 miles and 4250 vertical feet, so participants should be physically fit and ready to trudge uphill with a small pack for four or five hours. If you are interested, we can help you with a training program to get prepared for the ascent
Time
6-8 hours, approximately three to five hours up, and two or three hours down
Equipment & Clothing (the exact kit will depend on the weather, but here’s a sample list):
- stout hiking shoes or light boots and good socks
- synthetic t-shirt
- synthetic long-sleeve shirt
- synthetic pants or soft-shell
- hard shell/rain pant (optional)
- top mid layer, i.e. fleece jacket
- hard shell jacket
- lightweight puffy or ski jacket
- ski hat
- sunglasses
- gloves
- day pack
- headlamp
- sunblock, lip block
- trekking pole(s)
- water bottles (2 liters)
- lunch and snacks
When & Where
Your day will start at the SMG office in Intervale NH at 7am. We can quickly get everything sorted out and then hit the trail.
