Mount Washington (New Hampshire) Totally Explained

Everything about Mount Washington New Hampshire totally explained

Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at . It is famous for its dangerously erratic weather, holding the record for the highest wind gust directly measured at the Earth's surface, at on the afternoon of April 12, 1934. It was known as Agiocochook, or "home of the Great Spirit", before European settlers arrived.
The mountain is located in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, in Coos County, New Hampshire. It is the third highest state high point in the eastern U.S., after Mount Mitchell, North Carolina – – and Clingmans Dome, Tennessee – – and is the most prominent peak in the Eastern United States.
While nearly the whole mountain is in the White Mountain National Forest, an area of surrounding and including the summit is occupied by Mount Washington State Park.

History

Darby Field claimed to have made the first ascent of Mt. Washington in 1642. Little activity occurred there until the middle of the 19th century when it was developed as one of the first intentional tourist destinations in the country, with the construction of bridle paths and several summit hotels including the Tip Top House, which is still standing and was recently renovated as a historical exhibit. Other tourist construction in the 19th century included a stagecoach road — now the Mount Washington Auto Road — and the Mount Washington Cog Railway (1869), both of which are still used.

Weather

weather. This is partly due to the convergence of several storm tracks, mainly from the South Atlantic, Gulf region and Pacific Northwest. The vertical rise of the Presidential Range, combined with its north-south orientation, makes it a significant barrier to westerly winds. Low-pressure systems are more favorable to develop along the coastline in the winter months due to the relative temperature differences between the Northeast and the Atlantic Ocean. With these factors combined, winds exceeding hurricane force occur an average of 110 days per year. From November to April, these strong winds are likely to occur during two-thirds of the days.
   Mount Washington holds the world record for directly measured surface wind speed, at, recorded on the afternoon of April 12, 1934. Phenomena measured via satellite or radar, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and air currents in the upper atmosphere, are not directly measured at the Earth's surface and don't compete with this record, although a tornado might qualify if measured directly and accurately. (The highest wind speed ever measured in a tornado is approximately in the F5 Moore, Oklahoma tornado, though the reading was taken about above the ground.)
   The first regular meteorological observations on Mount Washington were conducted by the U.S. Signal Service, a precursor of the National Weather Service, from 1870 to 1892. The Mount Washington station was the first of its kind in the world, setting an example followed in many other countries. For many years, the record low temperature was thought to be occurring on January 29, 1934, but upon the first in-depth examination of the data from the 1800s at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina, a new record low was discovered. Mount Washington's official record low of was recorded on January 22, 1885. However, there's also hand-written evidence to suggest that an unofficial low of occurred on January 5, 1871.
   On January 16, 2004, the summit weather observation registered a temperature of and sustained winds of, resulting in a wind chill value of at the mountain. During a 71-hour stretch from around 3 p.m. on January 13 to around 2 p.m. on January 16, 2004, the wind chill on the summit never went above .

Transmitting station

On the top of Mount Washington Edwin H. Armstrong installed on 1937 an FM-broadcasting station. In 1948, it went silent, as maintenance costs went too high. In 1954 a TV transmitter was installed. Today, it uses an additionally guyed tower.

Uses

The mountain is part of a popular hiking area, with the Appalachian Trail crossing the summit and one of the Appalachian Mountain Club's eight alpine huts, the Lakes of the Clouds Hut, located on one of the mountain's shoulders. Winter recreation includes Tuckerman Ravine, famous for its Memorial Day skiing and its 45-degree slopes. The ravine is notorious for its avalanches, of which about 100 are recorded every year, and which have killed six people since 1849. Scores of hikers have died on the mountain in all seasons, due to inadequate equipment, failing to plan for the wide variety of conditions which can occur above tree line, and poor decisions once the weather began to turn dangerous.
A tradition of thru-hikers Mooning the Cog has developed on Mount Washington as the trail and railroad intersect near the summit of the mountain.

Races

Every year in June, the mountain is host to the Mount Washington Road Race, an event which attracts hundreds of runners. In July the mountain is the site of Newton's Revenge and in August the Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb, both of which are bicycle races that run the same route as the road race. The hillclimb's most notable victor to date has been former Tour de France contender Tyler Hamilton. Another event, although not a race, is the annual MINIs On Top event. Now in its fifth year, the drive to the summit began with 73 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles and now exceeds 200 cars. MINIs On Top (or MOT) is held the Saturday of Father's Day weekend every June. In 2007 on the same weekend the Mt. Washington Auto Road will host the Mt. Washington Alternative Energy Days, a two day expo of alternative energy and alternative vehicles.
On 7 August 1932, Raymond E. Welch, Sr., became the first one-legged man to climb Mount Washington. An official race was held and open only to one-legged people. Mr. Welch climbed the "Jacob's Ladder" route and descended via the carriage road. Raymond Welch had lost his leg due to a sledding injury as a seven year old child. This climb was recognized by the Boston Globe, Manchester Union, and Plymouth Record newspapers. At the time of his climb, Mr. Welch was the station agent for the Boston & Maine Railroad in Northumberland, New Hampshire.

Artistic tributes

Symphony no. 64, Op. 422 ("Agiochook"), composed around 1990 by the American composer Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000), is dedicated to Mount Washington, which the composer climbed during his youth.

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