The Mount Washington Observatory Overnight is one of our most spectacular trips! Climbing in the winter to the summit of the tallest peak in the Northeast at 6288 feet above sea level and spending the night in the world famous Mount Washington Observatory is a truly unique and special experience.
The frequent combination of cold temperatures and high winds, especially in the winter, has earned Mount Washington the title, “Home of the World’s Worst Weather”. The famous Mount Washington Weather Observatory was founded in 1932 to conduct meteorological observations and scientific research. In 1934 the station experienced the highest wind velocity ever recorded on the surface of the earth at 231 MPH! This record stood for most of the 20th century, and still stands as the highest recorded winds outside of a tropical cyclone.
Join IMCS this winter for a very special adventure as we make a one-day ascent of Mount Washington and spend the night on the summit. We will meet here at IME at 7am the day of the climb for a gear check and outfitting (please look at our required gear list; IMCS will provide double boots, crampons and ice axes for the ascent). We also have a rental program for any clothing items you may not have. We will arrive at the OBS in the early afternoon after climbing 4 miles up the Tuckerman Ravine to Winter Lions Head trail, including more than a mile of travel above tree-line. Observatory staff will be on hand to welcome us with hot chocolate, conduct a tour of the facility and answer questions about the meteorological equipment and research being conducted. The Observatory will provide the evening dinner and morning breakfast. The opportunity to view the late evening lights from as far away as Canada and then watch the sunrise over the ocean from the summit is a special treat. After breakfast we will pack up and hike back down to the AMC Pinkham Notch Camp and then return to IME where we will end our adventure.
Due to our limited dates and requirements from the Mt. Washington Observatory, we must include a strict cancellation policy for this trip. Cancellations we receive more than 2 weeks prior to the trip’s scheduled departure will require a $50 administration fee. We will need full payment 14 days out from this course. Cancellations made 14 to 8 days prior to the start of the trip will result in a $250 deposit forfeiture. If you must cancel with 7 days’ or less notice there is no refund. If we are not able to leave the observatory due to extreme weather there will be a $195 charge per person for each additional night.