After Boston, Choppy and I headed to Maine, via Vermont and New Hampshire. One thing I really wanted to do while in New Hampshire was visit Mount Washington, the highest mountain in the Northeastern U.S. On its own, that fact is, at best, not terribly impressive. However, Mount Washington bills itself as having the worst weather in the world, which (besides being a nice piece of marketing) is certainly a claim it has a chance at living up to, as Choppy and I discovered when we visited on June 4.

On the way to Mt. Washington, Choppy and I saw this moose. Choppy promptly decided it would be a good idea to bark at an animal that injures more people than any other in North America (fun fact brought to you by the good folks at Wikipedia).
On the way to Mt. Washington, Choppy and I saw this moose. Choppy decided it would be a good idea to bark at an animal that injures more people than any other in North America (Wikipedia fun fact!). I would suggest this statement doesn’t apply to dogs, but the next statement on Wikipedia suggests dogs are the jerks responsible for this: “When harassed or startled by people or in the presence of a dog, moose may charge.” Great, Choppy. You clearly are looking for a way to get me back for all that dressing up I make you do.
The toll booth for the toll road to the top of Mt. Washington lists the current summit weather conditions (as if I was going to hike up to the top of a mountain that has a road). I *may* have thought this sign was a bit of an exaggeration when I saw it.
The toll booth for the toll road to the top of Mt. Washington lists the current summit weather conditions. I took the auto road to the top, as opposed to the hike to the top, because if they wanted me to hike, they shouldn’t have built a road to the same place. Also? I *may* have thought this sign was a bit of an exaggeration when I saw it.
As Choppy and I drove to the summit, the weather got progressively worse. As in, it was June and there was ice.
As Choppy and I drove to the summit, the weather got progressively worse. As in, it was June and there was frost, as you can see from this picture.
As we got progressively closer to the summit, the weather got progressively worse. As in, this was the visibility situation well before we reached the summit. After this, the road became grave, the visibility got worse, and I decided taking pictures while driving a road with sheer cliffs, icy conditions and a lack of a guardrail was the sort of poor idea that even I am unwilling to engage in.
This was the visibility situation well before we reached the summit. After this, the road became gravel, the visibility got worse, and I decided taking pictures while driving a road with sheer cliffs, icy conditions and no guardrails was a poor idea.
Once we got to the top of Mt. Washington, I decided Choppy and I should go for a little walk. I was dressed in a sundress and sandals. I got out of the car, promptly had a gust of wind blow my skirt up (a sight no one could see thanks to the visibility situation), and realized that the weather condition sign at the bottom of the mountain was telling the truth. After getting back in the car, I recombobulated and dragged Choppy out of the car.
Once we got to the top of Mt. Washington, I decided Choppy and I should go for a little walk. I was dressed in a sundress and sandals. I got out of the car, promptly had a gust of wind blow my skirt up (a sight no one could see thanks to the low visibility situation), and realized that the weather condition sign at the bottom of the mountain was telling the truth. Definitely not sundress weather. After getting back in the car, I recombobulated and dragged Choppy out of the car for a quick photo op, and decided we would drive around the summit rather than walk. Choppy appreciated this.
On the summit of the mountain. I was probably not allowed to drive around up here, but considering you couldn't see more than a few feet, it's not like anyone could see what I was doing.
On the summit of the mountain (a view from the car). I was probably not allowed to drive around up here, but considering you couldn’t see more than a few feet, it’s not like anyone could see what I was doing.
In case you're wondering what it's like to have winds over 70 miles per hour, check out the sideways ice on these road markers. In related news, having a car top carrier on your car while experiencing 70+ mile per hour winds is exciting. Especially when you are on a road with sheer cliffs and a lack of a guardrail. Also, this is what the place looks like in June. I think I can cross Mt. Washington off of the list of places I would like to visit in the winter.
In case you’re wondering what it’s like to have winds over 70 miles per hour, check out the sideways ice on these road markers. In related news, having a car top carrier on your car while experiencing 70+ mile per hour winds is exciting. Especially when you are on a road with sheer cliffs and a lack of a guardrail. Also, this is what the place looks like in June. I think I can cross Mt. Washington off of the list of places I would like to visit in the winter.
And then, as you descent the mountain, the weather goes back to normal. Erratic weather: Mount Washington has it.
And then, as you descent the mountain, the weather goes back to normal, and I go back to taking pictures while driving (I really, really need to stop doing this).