Mount Washington via Nelson Crag Trail

At 6,288 feet, Mount Washington is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River and north of the Carolinas. It has been called the most dangerous small mountain in the world and is famous for having "the worst weather in the world," as it is routinely raked by wind and clouds, with hurricane force gusts recorded 110 days per year on average. The Mount Washington Observatory is a weather station located at the summit (see official website). The area features alpine flora and fauna, with a climate similar to northern Labrador. This trail represents one of several paths up the top portion of Mount Washington that can be accessed from the Mount Washington Auto Road (see official website, including the FAQ regarding hiking). The Auto Road requires a toll and has limited hours and days of operation. The full map shows other route options, and the satellite view shows the location of pullouts where parking is possible (elsewhere, parking is not allowed, the road is too narrow). Further up from this trailhead, at the next bend, the road intersects the Nelson Crag Trail. The initial portion of that path is quite steep and requires a rock scramble. Even further up the road is a large pullout that again accesses the Nelson Crag Trail where it runs parallel to the Alpine Garden Trail, cutting this hike to less than half. Regardless of the distance and elevation attempted, this is adventure hiking on rocky, exposed trails above the tree line, challenging even when the weather is ideal. Conditions can change without warning, bringing not only strong winds and wind gusts, but also very large drops in temperature, and clouds that can reduce visibility to less than 10 yards. Finally, the fact that the Auto Road closes every evening is a constraint to be managed.