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The very best thing you can do to prepare for a successful, enjoyable visit is to begin planning before you come to Mt. Washington. This includes being physically and mentally ready for the challenges offered by the mountain. You also need to be prepared in the event of a mishap or the onset of foul weather. One final thing you should do before you leave home…Give a copy of your planned itinerary to someone you trust. Be sure to tell them what route(s) you plan to use and when you can be expected to return. Be a good friend and give that person a call when you get down! Pre-Trip Resources Current Conditions What to Bring Leave No Trace HikeSafe! Trails and Hiking Tuckerman Ravine Trail John Sherburne Ski Trail Gulf of Slides Ski Trail Lion Head Trail Huntington Ravine Trail Boott Spur Trail/Boott Spur Link Going Down Climbing Registers Camping Hermit Lake Harvard Mountaineering Cabin Camping above treeline Other rules Taking your dog Skiing and Climbing Avalanche Information Search and Rescue ******************************* Pre-trip ResourcesCurrent Conditions
What to Bring
Leave No Trace Leave No Trace, Inc. is a leader in developing guidelines for treading lightly in backcountry areas. Given the incredible numbers of people visiting Mt. Washington each year, it is even more important that when you visit you leave the area in as pristine condition as possible for future visitors. HikeSafe! HikeSafe! is a first-of-its-kind educational campaign created by a collaboration between New Hampshire Fish & Game and the US Forest Service. The goal of hikeSafe! is to give people the information they need to travel safely through the backcountry areas of the White Mountain National Forest, thereby reducing the number of lost and injured persons in need of assistance. Hiking and Trails Numerous routes lead to the summit of Mt. Washington. Here we will describe the most popular trails leaving from the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. For other trails, you should consult the AMC White Mountain Guide, USGS topographic maps, or other resources. In general, you can expect all trails to the summit to be physically demanding. You'll be climbing about 4000 vertical feet from Pinkham Notch, and then you'll still need to have energy for the hike down. Tuckerman Ravine Trail This trail leaves Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and climbs steadily to Hermit Lake Shelters (2.4 miles, 1800 feet elevation gain) and is used to access Lion Head, Boott Spur, and Huntington Ravine. From Hermit Lake you begin to climb more steeply to the floor of the ravine, then very steeply through the top of the ravine. From the junction with the Alpine Garden trail, the trail climbs the rocky summit cone another 1000 vertical feet to the top. Each winter, the Tuckerman Ravine Trail is covered by snow and ice, and has highly exposed steep cliffs and slopes below it. From late fall through late spring or even early summer, think of it more as a mountaineering ascent than a hike. The consequences of a fall or being involved in an avalanche during these months can be dire. Without appropriate equipment (e.g. ice axe, crampons, and avalanche equipment), climbing this trail in winter should not be attempted. Due to the widespread presence of objective hazards such as icy waterfalls, falling ice, and steep snow, each spring the section of the trail from Lunch Rocks to the Alpine Garden Trail is closed. Do not ski down the Tuckerman Ravine Trail; we do not want to add to the history of skier/hiker collisions. The Sherburne Ski Trail is the way to ski back to your car. John Sherburne Ski Trail The "Sherbie," as it's affectionately known, descends from the base of the Little Headwall all the way to the south end of the parking lot at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. Originally cut by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's, this trail has been a favorite descent route from Tuckerman Ravine for more than 70 years. The trail's difficulty roughly equates to an intermediate run at a ski resort, the biggest difference being that it is an ungroomed backcountry trail, with difficult and variable conditions. Also, this means the response time should you become injured is going to be much longer than at a ski resort. The trail has several steep pitches, with added challenge coming in the form of water ice, wind-scoured sections, exposed rocks, and waterbars. Conditions change quickly, so be prepared for anything here. The trail is not built for foot traffic, regardless of the season, so please do not walk or snowshoe up or down the trail. Skinning up the trail is permitted, however, be mindful that skiers and snowboarders may be coming down the trail and not expecting to see you. Stay well off to the side if you are skinning up the trail. Gulf of Slides Ski Trail Similar to the John Sherburne Ski Trail, the Gulf of Slides (GOS) Ski Trail terminates at the south end of the parking lot at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. The trail climbs to the base of the Gulf of Slides; as the trail approaches the base of the slides it crosses several avalanche paths. Technically, this area is out of the Cutler River Drainage. We do not forecast for avalanches in the Gulf of Slides, so if you venture to the top of the ski trail or up into the slides, you'll need to be ready to make your own stability assessments. Compared to the Sherbie, the GOS trail is narrower and has more varied terrain. There are double fall lines, rises which may require taking off your snowboard, and sometimes open water crossings. It's also more remote, so the time required for help to arrive if you have an accident is much greater. Lion Head Trail This trail is one of the most popular ways to the Summit from any direction. The Lion Head Trail follows two seperate paths depending on the season: the Summer Trail and the Winter Route. Please realize that both of these variations include very steep sections of strenuous climbing. The Summer Trail is not used in the winter because the trail passes through a snowfield that is prone to avalanches. The switch-over between Summer Trail and Winter Route takes place each late fall or early winter when avalanches are possible, and the switch-back occurs when the snows melts sufficiently on the Summer Trail. Please check our avalanche advisory before you head up the hill. The Summer Trail leaves from Hermit Lake Shelters, and climbs steeply up the ridge until the junctions with the Alpine Garden Trail and the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. The upper section of this trail crosses an avalanche-prone snowfield in the winter months. To avoid this, the Winter Route is opened up each year when the snowfield grows large enough to become a concern. The Winter Route leaves from the Huntington Ravine Fire Road near its junction with the Raymond Path. This route is very steep, and contains sections of ice, snow, and rock. In order to travel safely here, you should certainly have an ice axe and crampons and experience with using them. This trail is not built for traffic without adequate snow cover; use the Summer Trail if the Winter Route is not yet open. When this route is opened, there will be an orange trail sign at the intersection of the Tuckerman Ravine Trail and the Huntington Ravine Fire Road which points the way to the start of the Winter Route. As tempting as it may be, on your descent do not attempt to glissade sections of this trail while wearing crampons. It is one of the most common and preventable causes of injury on Mt. Washington in the winter months! Huntington Ravine Trail Although not officially closed, this trail disappears under snow and ice in winter months, and is not recommended during this time. It is probably the steepest of all the hiking trails in the area, and contains a good deal of exposed rock scrambling. Because of its steepness, it's not frequently used when wet, by persons traveling with dogs or heavy packs, as a descent trail, or by the faint of heart. The trail leaves the Tuckerman Ravine Trail 1.4 miles from the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center; it can also be accessed via the Huntington Fire Road 1.8 miles up from the Visitor Center, although this variation is intended for winter travel only. Boott Spur Trail, Boott Spur Link The Boott Spur Trail is a longer route to the summit. It climbs the ridge between the Gulf of Slides and Tuckerman Ravine, which means you will be above treeline for a much longer period of time. On nice days, this can be a wonderful, less crowded way to go. However, with prevailing winds out of the northwest, this route may force you to hike straight into the wind. The Boott Spur Link is a short and steep section of trail that connects the Boott Spur Trail with Hermit Lake Shelters. A nice loop can be made by heading up the Boott Spur Link and back down to the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center via the Boott Spur Trail. Getting Down While getting down from the mountain may seem obvious and intuitive, there are some things we'd like you to know before you go:
Climbing Registers Driving up to Pinkham Notch in the winter you'll see a sign saying "Winter Climbers Please Register." These registers are used by the Snow Rangers in the event of missing or overdue climbers. One of the first things we want to know if someone is reported missing is whether there is even a chance they are still on the mountain. We certainly don't want to be out on the mountain looking for someone who is down in the valley eating dinner at his or her favorite restaurant. By telling us what is your intended route, what vehicle you're driving, etc., you are helping us narrow down the options for what might be happening. And, if you happen to be the missing party, it'll help us get to you more quickly so we can help you out. Just so you know, we do not check the registers unless we have a reason to. Camping Mt. Washington is one of the most heavily visited areas in the Northeast, and also one of the most fragile. Please take the time to understand the special camping regulations in this area. Not only will it make your stay more pleasant, it will help preserve the area for future visitors. In the Cutler River Drainage, you may only camp in one of two places: Hermit Lake Shelters or the Harvard Cabin (during the season). Hermit Lake Shelters There are 8 lean-to style shelters and 3 tent platforms administered by the AMC under a special use permit with the U.S. Forest Service. A fee of $10 per person per night is charged. Reservations are not accepted; if you plan to stay in a shelter or on a tent platform, purchase a ticket from the front desk of the AMC visitor center before you head up to Hermit Lake. If you come from a place other than Pinkham Notch, you can purchase a ticket from the caretaker. The shelters are open year round and are available on a first come, first served basis. The caretaker frequently works a split shift, working in the morning and evening with the daytime free. If he or she is not there when you arrive, find a shelter or tent platform, settle in, and the caretaker will find you when he or she returns. While the facilities at Hermit Lake can accommodate up to 100 people, reservation are not accepted and it is common for the spaces to fill early on busy weekends. When the shelters are full, there are no other camping options in the area. If you arrive at Hermit Lake without a ticket and the shelters are full, you will have to go back down to Pinkham Notch and find another legal camping option, such as the USFS campground at Barnes Field. During busy times, advanced trip planning will be critical. Pets are not permitted overnight at the shelters. For more information contact AMC at (603) 466-2721 or the USFS Androscoggin Ranger Station at (603) 466-2713. Harvard Cabin This cabin is administered by the Harvard Mountaineering Club under a special use permit with the US Forest Service. The cabin is open from December 1 to March 31 only. The cost is $10 per person per night for a tent site and $15 per person per night inside the cabin. The cabin caretaker collects the fee. Similar to Hermit Lake, the caretaker may not be in when you arrive. He or she will return in the evening to do check ins and collect fees. Visitors intending on staying at the Harvard Cabin should register by signing into the logbook in the basement level of the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. This allows other users and the caretaker to know how many people to expect. Sign-up is on a first come, first served basis, and capacity is limited to 15 inside and 12 tents outside. Pets are not permitted inside the cabin. Alpine Zone (Above Treeline) Though camping is allowed in most of the alpine zone if on greater than two feet of snow, there is no camping allowed in the alpine zone of the Cutler River Drainage including in the Ravines, the Alpine Garden, and the Summit Cone. Even above treeline and on snow, camping is prohibited in the Cutler River Drainage year-round. Yes, this means you may not camp in a snowcave at the top of the Lip or at the base of Pinnacle Buttress. Other Rules
Taking Your Dog You may take your dog with you to Mt. Washington; however, pets are not permitted overnight at either Hermit Lake Shelters or inside the Harvard Cabin. If you bring your dog for a hike, bring a leash. You know your dog better than anyone else. If he or she should be on a leash, please use it. Not everyone on the trail is a dog lover, so please keep your dog under your control. We frequently witness people get into trouble with their dogs in ways you might never see coming. For example, many dogs are comfortable hiking up but are very uncomfortable coming down steep terrain. We've also seen several dogs get stepped on by crampon-wearing hikers and run over by ski edges. What will you do if your dogs paw pads become chock full of snow and ice? These are all things you should think about before taking your dog with you, and if you decide to take the pooch, please, remember to take food and water! Skiing and Climbing Mt. Washington provides excellent opportunities for skiing and climbing in a remote area. Despite the large numbers of people who recreate on the mountain, it is possible to enjoy a true backcountry experience. For specific information related to skiing and climbing history and routes, please go to:
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