The Wild East

Repeat after me: “The temperature at the summit, is different than that on the ground.”

So many hikers come to The Whites unprepared because they packed based on what they feel at sea level rather than what they might experience at elevation. In general it’s usually windier and colder as you reach the top of a mountain, especially if that mountain peak sits in the alpine zone.

A mistake like this could be fatal. Failing to realize this might keep you inside in the AC in the summer thinking it’s too hot to hike in 90 degree temps when in reality, the mountains could feel more like 70!

Here’s how I research expected temperature and fees-like conditions before I set out on my hike.

Firstly, I get a baseline temperature by looking at ground temps for the exact town in which the trail head resides for the day of the intended hike. It’s easy to just have “Franconia” saved in your weather app and check that whenever you’re heading “up north” but locations in and around the notches in the Whites can feel quite different. I find the locations of the trailhead using Alltrails. Sometimes it’s listed right in the description of the mountain and other times I need to open the directions or map to see.

The ground temps will help inform you what your layering system should look like near the foot of the mountain at lower elevations.

Ultimately, I check the Mount Washington Observatory’s Higher Summit Forecast for a glimpse at what alpine temperatures could reach. They have data on temp and windspeed for Mt Washington as well as other high summits in the The Whites.

Last Saturday (6/15) is a great example of how these two data points vary. Bretton Woods was forecasted to be 62 and sunny on the ground, while summit temps and wind chills take the feels-like down to 20-30 degrees F.

With all weather conditions including precipitation, windspeed, and temperature, be sure to check these often as you approach your hike. The weather changes often in the White Mountain National Forest and in New England more generally!