Mt. Washington Alpine Expedition
Trip Overview 📌
Mount Washington has a reputation, and it earned every bit of it. At 6,288 ft (1,917 m) it is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States, and the weather that collides on its summit has produced some of the most extreme conditions ever recorded on the planet. It is also, on a clear September morning, one of the most spectacular places you can stand on this side of the country.
We're basing at AMC Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch, directly at the foot of the mountain. The Tuckerman Ravine trailhead is a two-minute walk from the door, which means no shuttles, no repositioning, and no wasted daylight. Drive up, drop your bag, and start walking.
Three days, three hikes, one big one. Day 2 is the objective: 4,250 vertical feet from the lodge to the summit, up the exposed spine of Lion Head and back down through the Tuckerman Ravine headwall. Eight to ten hours on the move, much of it above treeline, watching the weather do what it does.
This is an intentional expedition, not a vacation. Come prepared and it will be one of the best weekends of your year.
Itinerary 🏔️
Dates: Friday, September 11 to Sunday, September 13, 2026
Three days, two nights, roughly 14 miles (23 km) of hiking and 5,500 ft (1,675 m) of climbing, with Day 2 carrying most of it.
Day 1: Drive North & Low's Bald Spot
We meet in New York City at 6:30 AM and drive north in two vehicles, roughly 330 miles (530 km) with a coffee stop and lunch built in. Check in at Joe Dodge Lodge in the early afternoon, then shake out the legs on the Old Jackson Road, a section of the Appalachian Trail that starts directly behind the lodge.
The target is Low's Bald Spot, a small open crag at 2,875 ft with an outsized view north into the Great Gulf toward Mount Adams and Mount Madison, and west up at Nelson Crag on the shoulder of Washington. Roughly 4.4 miles (7 km) round trip, 850 ft (260 m) of gain, 2.5 to 3 hours. A perfect first look at the terrain we'll be climbing tomorrow.
Back to the lodge for hot showers and dinner in the Pinkham Notch dining room.
Day 2: Mount Washington Summit Day
The big one. We leave from the lodge door and climb the Tuckerman Ravine Trail past Crystal Cascade to Hermit Lake, then break right onto the Lion Head Trail for the steep, exposed scramble up the north wall of the ravine. Above treeline the terrain opens completely: the Alpine Garden, the ravine falling away beneath you, and the summit cone above.
We descend through the Tuckerman Ravine headwall, which is a very different mountain looking down than looking up.
Approximately 8.5 miles (13.7 km) round trip, 4,250 ft (1,295 m) of gain, 8 to 10 hours on the move. Early start, non-negotiable. Dinner back at the lodge, well earned.
Day 3: Square Ledge & Drive Home
A short, high-payoff walk before we head south. Square Ledge sits directly across Route 16 from the lodge, about 1.1 miles (1.8 km) round trip with 400 ft (120 m) of gain and a short rock scramble at the top. The reward is a head-on view straight into Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines and the full east face of the mountain you stood on the day before. An hour, maybe a little more.
We'll stop at Glen Ellis Falls on the drive out, then roll south by late morning and land back in New York City between 6:00 and 7:00 PM.
Optional swap for Day 3: if the group wants a bit more, we can route home through Crawford Notch on Route 302 and hike Mount Willard instead, 3.2 miles (5.1 km) round trip with 900 ft (275 m) of gain and one of the best views-per-effort ratios in New England, looking straight down the notch.
Accommodation 🛏️
Two nights at AMC Joe Dodge Lodge, at the base of Mount Washington in Pinkham Notch. A mix of private rooms and bunkrooms, hallway bathrooms with hot showers, linens and towels provided, a common room and library, and no televisions anywhere.
Hearty breakfast and a four-course dinner are included and served in the Pinkham Notch dining room. The Black Moose Deli on site handles trail lunches, and you can order them the night before for an early start on summit day.
The Pinkham Notch Visitor Center is a few steps away and open from 6:30 AM, with current summit forecasts, trail conditions, and staff who know exactly what the mountain is doing that morning. That last part matters more here than almost anywhere else in the Northeast.
This is basecamp comfort, not backcountry austerity. After a 4,250 ft day, you will appreciate the difference.
Transportation 🚙
Transportation is not included, but we will coordinate carpools once the roster is set. We travel in two vehicles with four participants each.
The lodge is directly off Route 16 with parking on site, so once we arrive, the cars stay put until we leave. Every hike on this trip starts on foot from the lodge.
Approximately 330 miles (530 km) each way, 6.5 to 7 hours of driving.
Difficulty ⛰️
Challenging. Recommended for hikers with previous mountain experience and a solid base of fitness. Day 2 is a serious day by any standard.
You should be comfortable with:
8 to 10 hours of continuous movement on steep, rocky, uneven terrain
More than 4,000 ft (1,200 m) of elevation gain in a single day
Hands-on scrambling on exposed rock
Sustained time in an alpine zone where the weather can turn in minutes
Descending steep, technical terrain on tired legs
If you are unsure whether you're ready, reach out. We'd rather have that conversation now than on the headwall.
What to Bring 🎒
Because we're based at a lodge, you only carry a daypack on the trail. Everything else stays in your room.
Waterproof hiking boots, broken in
Trekking poles (strongly recommended)
Waterproof jacket and rain pants
Warm insulating layers, including a hat and lightweight gloves
25 to 35 L daypack
2 to 3 liters of water
Headlamp
Personal first aid kit
Sunglasses and sunscreen (the alpine zone is fully exposed)
Change of clothes and footwear for the lodge
Cost 💰
Total Cost: $750 / person, based on a group of 8 participants
Includes: Two nights at AMC Joe Dodge Lodge, all breakfasts, all dinners, trip planning and reservation coordination
Does not include: Transportation to and from New York City, trail lunches and snacks, professional guides, personal hiking equipment, travel insurance, personal expenses
Good to Know 🧭
Group size is capped at 6 participants
Joe Dodge Lodge books out well in advance for September weekends, so this trip is confirmed on a first come, first served basis
Trail lunches are available on site at the Black Moose Deli, orderable the night before
Weather on Mount Washington is genuinely unpredictable, and the summit sees hurricane-force winds in every month of the year. We build in flexibility and will adjust or turn around the summit day plan if conditions require it. The mountain decides.