Mount Washington auto road

[Seraphim]

Took a van ride up to the summit of Mount Washington today. Fantastic, rare, clear day.

The auto road up gives a major pucker factor! It's narrow, winding, no gaurd rails, and near the top it has precipitous drop offs to one side or the other. Glad I was a passenger and not a driver.

For a fun overview, here's a video of the latest for those guys who like to average over 70mph up this twisting narrow road:

 

[Komboloi]

Did you take any photos from the summit? Interesting that you describe the weather as unusually clear. I was there 35 years ago on a beautiful summer day, and the summit (only the summit) was cold and foggy.

 

[YKMV]

Global Warming, @Komboloi has changed everything.

 

[BSAGuy]

Thanks for the vid. Mt. Washington is on my "must visit one of these days" list. That video is crazy.

Those guys beat the record by less than 1/2 of one percent. Pretty close shave!

 

[Hoka Hey]

Nice video. Wonder how it compares with Pikes Peak.

The mountain is pretty dangerous. I think a couple hikers die there every year. Fog comes quick, get lost, temps drop, hypothermia kicks in. Highest recorded wind speed, over 230mph.

 

[Rhody]

Excellent and congrats.
These days I just like to look at it while having a cocktail at the mt Washington hotel

 

[Seraphim]

Our van driver said that the rally guys who race both Pikes Peak and Mt Washington say the road up Washington is far more perilous and challenging. I can believe it.

For a humorous write up about one man's journey, try this:
The Mount Washington Auto Road | GAD's Ramblings

The summit is obscured by clouds 60% of the time statistically speaking. The only reason we decided to go up was there was a high pressure centered directly over the mountain yesterday and the winds were unusually calm. Temp at the peak a balmy 55 (80 I think at the base)

The day before the winds were 70mph up top, wind chill 31degrees.

All the good pics are on my wife's phone at the moment.

 

[Graybeard57]

Got to do that one of these days.

 

[Gansett]

In 1975 I had restored a 1955 Pontiac convertible and my soon to be wife and I took a road trip. Going up Mt Washington wasn't bad, coming down with drum brakes left a lot to be desired!

 

[Seraphim]

road coming down, and the King of the Mountain

 

[Shoe City Thinker]

One of my bucket list items is to be driven up the Mt. Washington Auto Road by either Ken Block or Travis Pastrana in a rally car.