Mount Washington Winter Ascent 2020

[@UAPReportingCenter]

Planning a winter ascent this upcoming winter. Will def be my biggest challenge yet.

[@cameronclark1345]

Great video! Not sure how it doesn't have more views... Must be tough being an alpine climber living in Georgia?

[@naatividadeusa1663]

woooohooooo great video bro, i go soon mt washington

[@UAPReportingCenter]

did you have cell reception? Ive done a few peaks in the Whites and had no service but never Mt Washington. The Adirondaks in winter are beautiful as well but the Whites are another ball game! Ever since I started in the winter I barely hike in the summer anymore. Just something about being up in the mountains during winter. I guess its the peace and the challenge.

[@WWJD.]

Awesome adventure mam! Good Job! My brother and I are currently working on plans to hike and snowboard a section of Tuckerman's. Hopefully I'll get to share it on here.

[@hayvenforpeace]

“Adventure” is such an overused word these days. This, however, was truly an adventure. Thanks for sharing, and I hope you had an amazing time out there! I’m still hoping to do this ascent later this winter.

[@MorgothSr]

Great video. It brings back memories of trying to summit Mt. Washington in the winter. The closest I ever got was just above Tuckerman's Ravine. We had climbed up through Tuckerman's and were so tired that we didn't want to attempt going further. The other attempts we made we got as far as Hermit lake where we spent the night. In the morning the weather was so bad with avalanche warnings we chose to play it safe and just headed back down. That was 35 years ago. I have some good memories hiking up in that area. Thanks for posting this video. God bless!

[@MattyBowman]

Beautiful day you had. Washington summit is always fun - and even better when you have nice views up and down

[@williambaltus3754]

Great video. Enjoyed the watch, my friends and I shall replicate.

[@isaacmont3623]

Great video. Thanks for posting

[@NoOverhead]

Very cool!

[@gregpypiuk1282]

Great video. I’m jealous. I’ve been up four times and have not summited. Wind an weather have turned us back each time.

[@vorex7139]

This video is amazing

[@SikConVicTioN]

I've done mt Washington a few time in the past few summers, and a few -30 summits in the Adirondacks last winter. Looking forward to my first winter Mt Washington accent this coming winter 🤙 Im taking the AIARE 1 course in tucks this January. And plan on staying the night same spot as you when the course is over

[@gearjunkie3412]

Did u do it yet?

[@SikConVicTioN]

@@gearjunkie3412 I took the aiare course, but did not have time to summit afterwards. I will be back for the summit lol

[@ericandrikowich2478]

this was dope. i live 2 hr from mt washington. my dream is to climb everest one day

[@4khilys]

I hope to get up there someday too, nice watching this hike with the boys

[@gizmoguyar]

How long did this take you to complete? And how experienced were you all at climbing? I've never climbed Washington in winter, and I'm trying to plan a trip. My main concern is that there's only about 12 hours of light in early March.

[@AcesOfAverage]

Depending on your fitness and how accustom you are to keeping pace, you can do it in one day no problem starting early around 4:30am. That’s for even a slow climber. I had rock climbing experience and pretty much zero snow experience. We did it in one day while also carrying up overnight gear. So you should have no problem if you are reasonably fit and know how to monitor your heart rate and keep it within check (that’s the best way to pace yourself)

[@AcesOfAverage]

Oh but always be prepared for bad weather. It can get COLD up there and don’t be afraid to turn around if you have to

[@gizmoguyar]

@@AcesOfAverage Thanks for the quick response. I think it took us about 8-8.5 hours in summer. So that should be fine. I have not done much winter climbing either. But do plenty of other outdoor winter stuff. I'll certainly be watching the weather closely, and only going on a decent day.

[@owenfouts2494]

Needs way more views

[@diekatzefliegt]

Hey man. Great video, thanks for posting. Im planning on going up here in a few weeks with some of my friends. Scared though because I only have hiking experience and no snow/mountaineering. Should I consider pulling out of the trip? Im excited but not sure if this is above my limits

[@AcesOfAverage]

You definitely should not underestimate the mountain, but as long as you are methodical about your planning (have a turn around time such that if you don’t reach summit by then, you turn around and go back, and same for the weather… know when u need to turn around) you should be fine. Don’t get summit fever. My first trip, I had to turn around at lions head. Also practice hiking and keeping a consistent heart rate even when going up and down hills. This is the trick to conquering mountains.

[@diekatzefliegt]

@@AcesOfAverage thanks for the quick reply. My buddies (who do mountaineering) are the ones who are planning it all and I'm pretty sure they have such a contingency plan. I will definitely work on my endurance this week whenever possible. Thanks again for the info!

[@philsmith2444]

Something to consider would be a guided ascent. EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) does them and supplies special gear. REI and International Mountain Equipment may as well. Stop in their store a few miles north of town center on Route 16! Or, alternately, you could get your feet wet on some less technical hikes. Kearsarge North and Chocorua are 2 challenging ones I’ve done in subzero temps and wind. You’ll be able to dial in your layering, learn moisture management, and practice walking in spikes or crampons. It’s amazing!

[@diekatzefliegt]

@@philsmith2444 I really appreciate this tip. I will keep the video bookmarked so I can keep your advice in mind if I ever end up going in the winter . Thanks!

[@philsmith2444]

@@diekatzefliegt You’re very welcome. I’ve actually never summited Mt. Washington, the first time I attempted it in Oct 2015 I was just too fat and out of shape. I made it almost to Lion Head and turned back so I didn’t keep the rest of my group from making it. For the next few years I battled plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis more on than off so longer or harder hikes were pretty much off the board. But I’m fairly experienced in winter hiking and have done both Chocorua and Kearsarge North in below 0F temps with wind chills in the -40 or lower range. I picked those 2 for examples because 1) I’ve done them so it wasn’t me talking out my ass LOL, and 2) even though they’re shorter mountains they’re actually more difficult than the NH4Ks I’ve done in winter. Chocorua, especially, was terrifying in winter for this guy who doesn’t really like heights and can find a way to trip over his own feet while standing still. The summit cone is bare rock and huge boulders, and it’s a long way dawn LOL. This pic of the summit cone is from March 2017, and was the coldest weather I’d ever been out in. (-40 or lower wind chills.) The views, though! We went up Champney Falls Trail. assets.trailspace.com/assets/6/7/4/4916852/IMG_1078.jpg

[@gearjunkie3412]

Did u guys use ropes at all?

[@AcesOfAverage]

We didn’t feel the need to. This route only has one short section that puts you at major fall risk and it is only about 15-25 feet tall. Since you are in the snow which will dampen any fall and since you can only fall about 15-20 feet during this section (the trees will catch you) we felt like the added weight wasn’t worth it…. That’s not to say that if you trip on the upper sections you won’t go for a ride… it’s just not super vertical or technical

[@mauricepapeika1172]

what route did u take

[@jimmycollado539]

Planning on attempting to summit in 2 more weeks where did you guys park and i assume this was by the end of winter also which hotel did you guys stay in.