Quote of the day:
"Is hiking Mount Washington safe? No."
Just cruising the web looking up some hiking stats on Mt. Wash. Interesting comments from MWO. It's great reading for the non-hiker. Betcha few people read this.
"Part of its draw is that it is the highest peak in the Northeast – and people are attracted to superlatives."
...
"Hikers should not confuse the trails on Mount Washington with smooth "nature walks". All the trails on the mountain are rugged, rocky, muddy and slippery when wet, and steep."
...
"Before hiking Mount Washington, it is recommended that hikers gain at least some basic experience in hiking on rough terrain, be familiar with their clothing and equipment, and be in good health and good physical condition. A few "shake down" hikes elsewhere in the White Mountains (or on similar terrain elsewhere) are good training "
...
"Is hiking Mount Washington safe?
No. There are no guarantees that hikers will escape the mountain unscathed, so if absolute safety is what you require, then avoid a visit."
"It is estimated that about 50,000 people hike up the mountain each year, and most of those do so without accident or injury. "
" If, during the course of your ascent, you find you are traveling at a much slower rate, you should reconsider your plans and think seriously about turning back – to arrive at the summit late in the day, exhausted, and with four or five rough miles to descend would be unenjoyable at best and dangerous at worst. "
50,000...The odds have it in the cards. 140/day, but let's discount half the year, Nov-March, and it's more like 300/day.
Source,
http://www.mountwashington.org/about/visitor/summer_visits/hiking.php
Oh yeah, I'm doing Mt. Clay tomorrow. But I have a fallback plan below the treeline if the weather is entirely ridiculous. I take pride in the number of times I've turned around... //off soapbox//
