When's the best time to go hiking at Mt. Washingtin?

Question

my fam. and i are thinking about going to mt. washington. we want to climb it, but what's the best time to go and approx. how long will it take?

we've looked at the websites, but still wanna know from the people who have went.

Answer 1

Don't even think about doing Huntington Ravine

For your first time up the mountain use the classic route  of

Pinkham Notch > Hermit Lake>Tuckerman Ravine  to summit  and then do your downhill run using Lions Head  & then back to Pinkham Notch

Get an early start and allow about 8-9  hours

Don't push your luck above timberline  .If the weather is junk turn back  immediatley .!!!!

Those signs aren't there to amuse you ,they are there to save your life

One of the really nice things about Lions Head Trail it that the summit cone keeps you out of the wind almost until you reach the Lions Head itself.

Personally I really like the middle of September for hiking b/c usually there is this high pressure stable air mass over the NH

The disadvantage of summer  is of course the real danger of T-storms and  you haven't lived until you've run into a T -storm above timberline>

Here's something interesting about the weather

http://www.mountwashington.com/weather/i...

Be careful up there

Answer 2

If you're in decent shape and pack light you can probably go from Pinkham Notch visitors center to the summit and back via Tuckermans ravine in 6-8 hours. Going up Huntington might be faster, but I believe you'll need protection, never been that way myself, but that's what I've heard. The trick is to get an early start so you don't have to rush. Pack a day bag with windbreakers, sunscreen, snacks, and headlamps. If you want to know more about some of the other routes, email me.

For the best time to go, summer's best but it can still get pretty chilly and the weather turns pretty quick there so be careful.

EDIT- Like Danger says, watch out for the T-Storms, it sounds like he's talking from personal experience! The worst storm i've ever been caught in was on Mt. Madison above tree line. I over estimated my brothers fitness and we  had to stop half way between tree line and the Madison Hut. When we set up camp everything seemed fine, but as soon as the sun went down we got ravaged. Our tent was destroyed and we were very lucky no one got hurt.