3 Things To Know About Hiking Mount Washington

Hey everyone!

One of the biggest reasons I began this blog was to post about this topic. My hike up Mount Washington was one of my favorites. Not only because it's the highest peak in the northeastern United States and my largest elevation gain yet, but because it's where I learned the most about hiking in general.

I went up with one of my best friends who is more experienced with planning an all-day hike like Mount Washington. Thanks to him, I had an invaluable trip that I look back to when planning many of my future hikes. Here's some of what I learned about long, challenging hikes.

1. Think about the length of the day you're hiking

We went on our hike in August, and this was incredibly beneficial for a hike like Washington. We were up and down in about ten hours (which admittedly factors in a lot of slower pacing and time spent resting at the top thanks to yours truly), and while we knew it would be long, we used up almost all the daylight we had.

Seasonality, weather, and planning all matter when hiking in general, but especially when you're looking at a challenge like Mountain Washington. The last thing you want is to be up toward the peak or beginning your descent while the sun starts to go down itself. Like many mountains and trails in the northeast, rocks are abundant, and are involved in many of the routes on Washington. They can make things challenging during the day, but become more dangerous at night or with little light. Factor in weather conditions like rain, and they'll slow you down considerably. If this is what the day you planned for is looking like, you'll want to maximize the amount of time you have, and try to start when the sun rises.

2. Try to establish your pace beforehand

When we made our trip up the mountain, I was admittedly not in the same shape as my friend. I kept us behind numerous times, and though this doesn't mean you shouldn't pursue a challenge if you move a bit slower, it is a good idea to have a general feel of your pace with other hikes of similar difficulty.

If you're going on your own, this will give you a good baseline for when you can expect to reach certain points in the hike. If you're going with a group, you'll know where you stand and whether you need some more time to start, if you need to conserve more energy for the way down, etc.

I made this mistake when I went. I'd been on plenty of hikes that same year, but all of different difficulties, lengths and elevations. I had not established a pace that I could look to when facing my most challenging hike yet.

3. Pack a versatile set of layers

Of course, this will depend based on when you go within the year. You are probably also aware that Mount Washington has quite a wide range of temperatures throughout the day. As a result of all of this, as well as the length of the trek, you'll want to have clothing that comes in handy for multiple conditions.

Having a cool base layer is a must, but consider additional ones that cover arms and legs. Sunlight can be sporadic throughout the hike no matter which way you take up, which means you could experience some varying heat exposure.

If you're planning on going in one of the cooler months, one or two additional layers will be your friend. It can of course get cooler toward the top, but what you should also consider are the cooler temps heading down (if you plan on making a day of it).

Good luck, and make sure to join the email list to be notified about future posts!