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Entering the Alpine Zone: Hiking and Weather with MWOBS & the AMC

Join the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and the Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) for an educational day hike up the Rock Pile! 

Enjoy exclusive place-based weather programming from MWOBS educators with the trail guidance of AMC staff. The information you learn during your hike evolves with the slope of the mountain as you approach 6,288 feet above sea level. 

At the summit, you’ll receive a tour of the MWOBS weather station and get access to the weather tower, the highest standing point in the northeast! 

What’s Included 

  • Access to the AMC Gear Library for needed items 
  • Shuttle transportation from the AMC Highland Center to the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead 
  • Trail lunch as needed 
  • Tour of the MWOBS weather station and tower 
  • 1-2 dedicated AMC guides 
  • MWOBS Lead STEM Educator 
  • The opportunity to experience Mount Washington’s striking environment with those who know it best! 

IMPORTANT: Please read all background information and requirements for this joint program with MWOBS and AMC. Click through each drop-down menu below to find more information about dates, topics, cancellation policies and more.

Each hike begins on the day of your trip at 7:00 AM in the AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch. After a brief introduction and gear check, you’ll travel by shuttle to the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead. Your up-mountain journey up the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail includes stops at serene pools, mighty waterfalls, and changing ecozones. Weather-permitting, you’ll see the southern Presidential Range and the rare plants that the mountain brings above one of the lowest tree lines in the world. 

4.5 miles and 3,800 vertical feet later, you will find yourself at the highest peak in the northeast after traveling through the northern hardwood forest, trekking in the boreal forest, traversing the krummholz zone, and, finally, Entering the Alpine Zone! Your summit stay lasts 1-2 hours and involves a weather station tour that grants access to the MWOBS living quarters and tower. You will have ample opportunity to face Mount Washington’s famous winds head-on at the summit! 

  

While your up-mountain journey granted you views from Mount Washington’s south, your down-mountain journey along the Jewell Trail runs toward the north. The Jewell Trail provides a more moderate grade with new but equally spectacular views and terminates at the same spot at which your hike began. Upon concluding your hike, a shuttle will be waiting to return you to the Highland Center by 7:00 PM.  

Please note that the exact timing of your ascent and return is conditional on weather, hiking ability, and preparedness within each group, so participants should be prepared for schedule changes. Safety trumps all other concerns, so please bring your sense of adventure and a willingness to go with the flow. 

Please note that each trip has scheduled rain dates to ensure participants get the best experience possible. Please leave both dates available so you don’t miss your mountain adventure! Rain date notifications will be sent from two days up to a week in advance of the trip date. 

FALL HIKING DATE: Saturday, September 5, 2026 (7:00 AM – 7:00 PM) 

RAIN DATE: Sunday, September 6, 2026 (7:00 AM – 7:00 PM)

$270* per person.  

*Program rates do not include an additional administrative processing fee charged by our online booking service. This service reduces administrative time and helps Observatory educators, educate! 

**Tips for your trip leaders and/or instructors are not expected, but if you wish to provide one, they are appreciated. 

Reservations may be made through this website or by phone at (603) 356-2137, ext. 215. Trips are limited to a minimum of five participants, and we maintain waiting lists for trips that are full. 

REGISTER

Mount Washington is one of the most extreme and remarkable places on the planet, but not everyone is suited for this environment. 

The New Hampshire Fire Marshall’s Office requires that all summit visitors and volunteers meet one basic requirement: In the event of an emergency, you must be physically able to “self-evacuate” from the summit. This means you must have the physical ability to get yourself down the mountain, even in extreme conditions. We urge all participants to take this requirement very seriously. 

This hike is classified as strenuous, the most physically demanding classification assigned by the AMC. Fitness for this activity is required, with direct experience in the activity highly recommended and potentially mandatory. In the event of slow ascents or rapid changes in weather, participants may be asked to hike down the Cog Access Road, a shorter but significantly steeper and more gravelly trail along the Mount Washington Cog Railway. 

Note: Trips will not be made far above tree line if the weather is judged to be too severe, but even typical weather on Mount Washington can prove lethal to those who are unfit or poorly prepared. 

For the safety of all our staff and guests, Mount Washington Observatory does not permit the consumption of controlled substances in or around our summit weather station or in any of our facilities. Alcohol should not be brought to the summit by visitors or guests. 

Cell Phone Use: Cell coverage is not guaranteed during your visit. We recommend turning your cell phone to airplane mode for the duration of your adventure. 

For those with Cat Allergies: Please note that the summit weather station is home to our resident cat Nimbus. If you are sensitive to cats, or have an allergy of some kind, we recommend that you reach out with any questions or concerns. 

Winter Weather 

Our winter operating season is defined as the time when ice and snow engulf the summit, and the Mt. Washington Auto Road is closed to private vehicles. Generally, this is mid-October through mid-May. 

An average mid-winter day on Mount Washington finds the summit in rime-ice producing fog, with visibility limited to 100 feet or less, a temperature of about 5°F, and a wind speed near 50 mph. Gusts of 70 mph or greater are likely. A typical wind chill would approach -25°F. It is not uncommon to experience temperatures as low as -45°F, with winds gusting over 100 mph 

Hiking conditions may include drifted snow, glaze ice, sub-zero temperatures, hurricane force winds, and near zero visibility. 

Summer Weather 

Our summer operating season is defined as the time when the Mt. Washington Auto Road is open to private vehicles. Generally, this is mid-May through mid-October. 

An average mid-summer day on Mount Washington has a high temperature of about 53°F and an overnight low of about 42°F, but freezing temperatures can occur during any month of the year. Winds average about 25 mph, with hurricane-force gusts possible. Thick, wet fog occurs on about 90% of the days in summer, and measurable precipitation is recorded about every other day. 

Hiking conditions may include frigid temperatures, high winds, blowing precipitation, and limited visibility. 

Due to the severity of these conditions, we require that all participants: 

  • Are at least 18 year of age. Younger participants must be at least 16 or 17 years old and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times 
  • Are ready, willing, and able to hike to safety amidst extreme weather conditions, such as thick fog, near-freezing temperatures, and high winds 
  • Are properly prepared with all the required clothing and equipment (some, but not all, equipment may be supplemented by the AMC) 
  • Understand the risks and hazards of participating in a visit to the Mount Washington Observatory 
  • Have to the best of their knowledge, completely filled out any pertinent health and safety information upon registration. If significant changes in health have occurred, please contact education@mountwashington.org with this information. 

The minimum age for this trip is 16. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and must meet all full health and safety requirements. 

The following information is provided by the AMC: 

Clothing 

□ Base layers: short or long sleeve top and bottoms 

□ Mid layers: lightweight jacket/sweater 

□ Insulating layers: warm jacket  

□ Outer layers: waterproof rain jacket and rain pants  

□ Hiking pants or shorts 

□ Warm hat 

□ Neck gaiter 

□ Lightweight gloves or mittens 

 

Footwear 

□ Socks 

□ Hiking boots or trail shoes 

 

Gear 

□ 2 L capacity for water: bottles and/or hydration bladder 

□ Backpack, around 20 to 30L capacity 

□ Backpack cover or trash bag liner for waterproofing 

□ Sun protection: sunglasses, sunscreen 

□ Bug protection: head net, spray 

□ Trekking poles 

□ Personal bathroom kit for trail: toilet paper, waste bags 

□ Personal medications 

 

Guides carry a group first aid kit, emergency communication devices, and emergency supplies 

Most everything on this list is available to borrow from AMC. If there is anything on this list that you need or have questions about, please let the Program Manager know and we will work with you to make sure you have all the essentials 

See the AMC’s Highland Center page under “Getting Here” for directions to our start and end point.

Extreme weather may occur at any time and may delay a trip’s descent. For this reason, we recommend that you remain flexible with your travel plans for the day or two after your trip. Weather-related changes are an inherent part of any true alpine adventure. 

For a list of area lodging options, visit our lodging partners. Participants are welcome and encouraged to stay at the AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch prior to their hike. AMC members who stay at the Highland Center receive discounted rates.

Participant Cancellation: Trip fees will be refunded for cancellations made at least 30 days before the trip date will be credited at 95%. Cancellations less than 30 days but more than 14 days before the departure date will be credited at 50%. Cancellations made within 14 days of the trip date will result in forfeiture of the entire trip fee. 

Observatory Cancellation: A minimum of five participants is required for a trip to run. If we do not reach that minimum by one week before the trip, the trip may be cancelled. All registrants will be offered the option of a refund or a re-booking on another available trip that same season. 

The safety of our guests and employees is of utmost importance, so trips may be cancelled due to extremely inclement weather. We will do our best to notify all participants of the cancellation in advance, but mountain weather is notoriously unpredictable, so we cannot guarantee advance notice. The decision to cancel a trip could be made on the morning of the trip, or even during the ascent. In the event of a cancellation, a rain date for each trip has been provided. You are required to attend this backup date if your trip is cancelled or postponed. Mount Washington Observatory is unable to provide refunds or re-bookings for participants that cannot participate in the backup date provided. 

Have a question? Contact us by email at kmarsh@mountwashington.org or by phone at 603-356-2137 ext. 215.