Mount Washington
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December 30, 2010
Got up at 05:00 in the Conway Hostel. This was the third day of our mountaineering course, which was an ascent up Mt.
Washington. Six of us were enrolled; Myself, Debbie, Leisha, Ivan, Curtis, and Patrick. After breakfast we drove to
Pinkam Notch where we met Shawn our guide. The avalanche rating for the notch was moderate, which was above Shawn's go
level, so the plan was a simple walk up on the ridge trail. I was somewhat dissapointed, as we had paid a lot for the
course and now our last day was simply an easy hike, something none of us needed a guide for. Anyway, it was a
beautiful day, and we were climbing the highest mountain in the north-east, so all was good. We hiked up for the first
couple of hours along a snow cat track and then an easy hard packed trail until we broke above the tree line. We
donned crampons here, howeever they were pretty much unnecessary as the snow was hard packed and the slope at a very
low angle. At the Lions Head, Debbie and I left the marked trail to find a more interesting scramble route. We pushed
on to the summit, arriving about 4.5 hours after starting. We had a perfect view, a warm day, and a fairly light wind
for being on the "windiest place on earth". After a few summit photos we had lunch in a sheltered spot by one of the
ice encrusted buildings. The ice covered everything in a gingerbread frosting landscape. It also was incredibly busy
up here with a steady line of hikers and climbers arriving on the summit. We made our descent and went down to the
Alpine Garden where we found a perfect snow slope to do self arrest practice. This part of the day made the guiding
worthwhile as we spent the next hour sliding down the slope and arresting with an ice axe. Finally we finished this
and made the remainder of the descent over the next couple of hours. A great amount of laughter and stories were told
as we slogged down the cat tracks. Arrived back at the parking lot around 8 hours after starting. Went for supper and
beers at a nearby Irish Pub with incredibly poor and rude service. The enforced 20% tip after being treated like crap
ensures that I'll skip that place in future. Nevertheless, the great company of our group, and the fabulous day outside
overshadowed the negatives. Went back to the hostel and enjoyed Debbie's desserts and Ivan's vodka before hitting the
sack.
A beautiful day with the summit beconning in the distance.
Slogging up the snow cat track.
Lions Head.
Above tree line, viewing the summit cone.
A spectacular ridgeline.
This might be called technical if there was not a staircase underneath us.
Approaching the summit.
Debbie and I on the top of New Hampshire.
Lunch at the gingerbread house.
Weather station.
Some more ice building below us.
Debbie showing off her self arrest skills.
The whole crew returned safely. Left to right; Patrick, Debbie, Shawn, Leisha, Mike, Curtis, Ivan.
The group back at the hostel.
Debbie and I... probably a little bit into the sauce at this point.
Debbie getting it on.
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