Mount Washington Auto Road (Portsmouth, Conway: appointed, safe, budget)

[minibrings]

Hello All

I did a search first for Mount Washington Auto Road and no specific threads came up on this road.

Can anyone tell me how long the drive from where you pay to get on the road to the Summit? How scary is the road? I was told no barriers and parts of it are gravel? Going down the mountain, any tips?

Finally I went to 2 sites and one said it would take 3 hours from Portsmouth, another said a little over 2 hours to get to the road. Which is right?

I found out they are open at 3:30am this Sunday for the sunrise and I am keen to go. Hopefully the weather will hold up!

I have always wanted to have a This Car Climbed Mount Washington bumper sticker!

[rscalzo]

It will take some time to get to the entrance if you go on a weekend. Traffic stops when you get near Conway on a nice day. If you go at the 3:30am time, you should be able to do it in two hours. Budget three for a morning start.

Going up isn't bad. yes, some isn't paved near the top and their are no guard rails. I've never heard of anyone going off...don't be the first!!. The road is narrow and certain cars are prohibited either on side or transmission type which is outlined in the website.

Coming down you may have to stop every so often to let your brakes cool. Low gear all the way down is the way to go. the view from the top is great.

[Easybreezy]

It really isn't that difficult to drive. Just be careful. Do keep an eye on your engine temperature gauge.

You are advised to put your car in either first or second gear on the way down and NOT to ride the breaks. This advise works very well.

The summit is an interesting place. Very often it is very foggy at the very summit, but clear directly below. On a clear day, the view is awe inspiring. Another interesting element is the combination of people on the summit. You have the real hikers, the wannabe hikers, tourists, families, etc. It's a great place to people watch!!

[minibrings]

Thanks much. I just checked the weather forecast and not good. Rainy, occassional lightning, heavy gusts.. I may go in August on the last sunrise early open (or just go up after sunrise). Am disappointed! I had bought new hiking boots, etc. as I had wanted to hike around the summit.

[Tin Knocker]

Its an awesome place. We've been up a few times & it took several to get a clear day. On a clear day its breathtaking. Heres a few pictures from the summit area,

[BF66389]

It's fantastic.

3 hours sounds safe from Portsmouth

I believe its 12 miles long from bottom to top

You pay right when you are about to head up, they give you an informational CD to listen to, some other information, and a bumper sticker.

It is scarier the first time (been up 3 times). First time up was a perfect day...second time was dense fog/rain/wind...but was less scary. Honestly even the scariest time it wasn't bad...I just had some guy stop in front of me on the steepest grave grade on the way up and another guy got RIGHT behind me- and the car was a manual with poor low-end torque. So my "worry" was getting going forward without rolling back the 6" to hit him.

So in short- stay calm, no-one has died on it in a car (ever), take your time...keep space between you/car in front of you (plenty). Use low gear. Don't use A/C (roll down windows). Stop on way down periodically in pull-offs to let brakes cool off (some nice places for pictures/short walk). Turning on the heater to full will help keep the engine cooler.

...and honestly- in all of our VERY well maintained vehicles- we've never had any brake overheating or engine overheating issues...ever. But that does't mean to "push it".

And bring plenty of wind-friendly warm clothes...first time up it was 87 at the base and 30 up top...not counting the 70mph winds...

Originally Posted by minibrings

Hello All

I did a search first for Mount Washington Auto Road and no specific threads came up on this road.

Can anyone tell me how long the drive from where you pay to get on the road to the Summit? How scary is the road? I was told no barriers and parts of it are gravel? Going down the mountain, any tips?

Finally I went to 2 sites and one said it would take 3 hours from Portsmouth, another said a little over 2 hours to get to the road. Which is right?

I found out they are open at 3:30am this Sunday for the sunrise and I am keen to go. Hopefully the weather will hold up!

I have always wanted to have a This Car Climbed Mount Washington bumper sticker!

[CrazyDave]

You gotta ride/drive it. The key is slow and safe, use the turn offs on the way up to view and on the way back to keep things cool ( brakes that is )

These were taken before I got a good camera, gotta do it again with vids sometime.

[minibrings]

Thanks all. I finally made it up there and I was stunned at how gorgeous it was up there. I think my car will be making fewer trips to Maine from now on.. and more trips north. Highlight for me was doing hikes up above the tree line.

[CrazyDave]

Sad day there yesterday

PINKHAM NOTCH, N.H. -- A motorcyclist from Massachusetts died in a crash on Mount Washington after he lost control around a curve, drove off the road over an embankment and crashed into a tree late Saturday morning.

State police were called to the Mount Washington Auto Road about 2 miles away from Route 16 at about 11:50 a.m.

Paul West, 65, of Brockton, Mass., was about to be flown to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center when paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

State police continued to investigate a cause of the crash Saturday afternoon, saying brake failure and/or speed are possible factors.

[GregW]

A few years ago a friend of mine wadded up his race care during practice for the Mt. Washington Hillclimb Race. Until Crazy Dave's post ihad not heard of anyone even being injured. The climb is about 8+ miles long and just takes some concentration. The drive down is trickier because you are on the outside most of the time and the car can speed up if you do not pay attention. Just use low gear on the way down and let the engine readjust itself ar the bottom.

This drive, along with Mt. Ascutney in Vermont is a great way to see the North Country.

PS: This road is nothing like the Road to Mongollon in New Mexico.