Mt. Washington

We started on our way home today. Along the way we became momentarily distracted and started driving towards New Hampshire. Towards Mt. Washington specifically. You may have heard about this peak, high in the white mountains, or seen the obligatory bumper sticker on a car on the road in front of you saying "this car climbed Mt.Wasington" and wondered what that was all about. Mt. Washington isn't that tall by rocky mountain standards, but it doesn't know that. It does have the unique distinction of having its own micro climate or several actually, with extreme weather fluctuations. So, at the summit there is an extensive weather station which still holds the record for highest wind gust measured on the earths surface. The record stands at 231mph and was set in 1934.






The other thing Mt. Washington is famous for is the (very steep, windy, narrow, dirt) auto road that allows visitors to experience the summit themselves.
Which is what we did. How could we resist?
The drive started out pleasant enough, but soon the trees started to look as if the wind shaped them...




...and then the trees became more like horizontal shrubs...




and then the trees stopped altogether.



The landscape became something exotic and alien as the evidence of extreme weather left everything rocky, barren, and windswept. Once at the summit we found the second geological marker of the trip. It was an amazing view and I highly recommend it.









Once we were down the mountain, there was just enough light left to take a drive into the North Woods for a chance to see a moose. Among some spectacular scenery we saw her, munching on the side of the road. Our second ever moose sighting! We decided that this was a place we must return to.




Tomorrow we head home...for real.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Gorham, NH