When you are in central New Hampshire there is an attraction that is a must-see even if you are not a huge fan of mountains. Behold: Mt Washington!! It is the highest peak in New England. But the height of 1917m doesn’t make it famous. It is the unpredictable weather that made the peak known world wide. It is here where the strongest non-tropical cyclone wind has been recorded. The main building was designed to withstand winds up to 300 mph (480 km/h). You will not find that too much once you know that winds with speeds over 200 mph have been registered here. Other structures on the mountain are chained to the ground to deal with extreme wind gusts.

New England has proper 4 seasons during the year. It means it has warm summers and cold winters plus everything in between. Mount Washington follows this pattern loosely – it has some form of summer: temperatures above 60 °F (16 °C) are not uncommon. Winters on the other hand are extreme. Winter in the mountains is usually cold enough. Add to this hurricane strength winds and you get a wind chill factor that doesn’t make you shiver – it freezes you on the spot. Imagine a wind chill factor of −20 °F  – permanently, for days.

So my advice is to visit in the summer. But still, be ready for the wind:

You can hike the mountain via Tuckerman Ravine Trail (about 4 miles).

You can also hop on the train called Mount Washington Cog Railway – the second steepest in the world with the maximum grade close to 40%.

Or you can drive (or ride) your vehicle using your own or rented vehicle. Just remember that there are some restrictions on vehicle types allowed on the road. This is due to the fact that the ascent is also steep and there is an unpaved section of the road.

So whatever your choice of getting to the top of the mountain – go for it and enjoy the views.