Day 42 - 7/20 - A Fitting Ending on Mt. Washington

Pinkham Notch (319.6) to Mount Washington Summit (333.1)

A sobering warning sign at tree line

Today was my last day on the trail, and it was a great way to end this amazing adventure. I started the day from Pinkham Notch after a good night of rest in a real bed and a warm breakfast. The first few miles of the morning were gorgeous trails as the AT followed an old woods road. Then, the trail turned upwards for an arduous ascent of Mt. Madison. About halfway up, I went above the tree line and got my first glances of the Presidential Range as I stood on them. These mountains are both rugged and beautiful in the extreme. Many people have lost their lives in extreme weather in the Presidentials, as many signs remind hikers (picture). The terrain up Madison was very slow going, both because I was navigating a rock field without a clear path and because I kept stopping to admire the view.

The rocky spine of Mt. Madison

Despite having a beautiful, clear summer day, which is quite rare in the Presidentials, I still got cold standing at the top of Madison and quickly descended to Madison Hut. The AMC huts attract a wholly different crowd than is typical for the AT. Thru and section hikers were vastly outnumbered by day hikers and weekend hikers who traveled from hut to hut. From Madison Hut, the AT follows the ridge of the Presidentials over Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Clay before arriving at the bottom of Mt. Washington’s summit cone. 

The view of the Presidential Range from Mt. Washington

My brother and I at the summit of Mt. Washington

The final approach to Mt. Washington is as rugged as anything along the AT, which makes the summit all the more stark in contrast, with an abundance of human structures. An auto road and cog railway deliver tourists right to the summit, which has a weather observatory, gift shop, and cafeteria. It was certainly an odd experience to wait in line to get a picture at the summit. The view from Washington, however, was absolutely fantastic. I could see the trail along the ridgeline and appreciate how far I hiked. Standing at the summit of Mt. Washington, I was immensely grateful for all the incredible experiences I’ve had this summer and all the people who helped me along the way and made the whole journey possible and worthwhile. I am leaving the AT after more than a thousand miles, but I know that there are still a thousand miles left to hike. I don’t know when, but I know I’ll be back to finish this fantastic trail.