A "pleasant" weekend in the whites coming up

[peakbagger]

Current forecast for Mt Washington on Saturday is -60 to -90 below wind chill factors.
Forecasts like these on long holiday weekend are not a good combination. If someone is considering a hike up on the summits this weekend about the best advice is leave a name and next of kin so they can ship the body home


The NWS is bit more conservative

Here is the NWS take


...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS...

ANYONE CONSIDERING CLIMBING OR HIKING IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF
MAINE OR NEW HAMPSHIRE THIS WEEKEND SHOULD CONSIDER CANCELLING OR
POSTPONING THEIR TRIP. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES
WILL AFFECT THE REGION...ESPECIALLY ABOVE TREE LINE. THE
COMBINATION OF THE COLD AND WIND WILL CREATE LIFE-THREATENING
CONDITIONS FOR ANYONE CAUGHT OUTSIDE AND UNABLE TO REACH SAFETY.

WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES SATURDAY WILL RANGE FROM ABOUT -30 IN THE
LOWER ELEVATIONS TO ABOUT -60 IN EXPOSED AREAS NEAR THE PEAKS.
WIND CHILL VALUES SATURDAY NIGHT WILL DROP TO -40 IN THE LOWER
ELEVATIONS TO NEAR -70 NEAR THE PEAKS. WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES
WILL CLIMB ONLY TO THE -20 TO -50 BY SUNDAY EVENING.

A WIND CHILL TEMPERATURE OF -35 CAN FREEZE EXPOSED SKIN IN 10
MINUTES. WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES BELOW -50 CAN FREEZE EXPOSED SKIN
IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES.

BE SAFE...DON`T TAKE CHANCES.

[Kaptainkriz]

Brrr, tomorrows high on Washington is forecast to be -25 and the low overnight Sat -35 without wind chill.

[Puddlefish]

So I should wear my mittens with the strings attached?

[JohnHuth]

Yeah, I'm scheduled for an XC ski near Flagstaff Lake in Maine this weekend, only 1100 ft, and in the trees but that forecast is making me think. Possible option is an in-out of 2-3 miles from the trail heads to the huts - limits the exposure somewhat, but still.

[egilbe]

Its a wooded trail, except for the one that skirts the lake.

[kf1wv]

I'm south of you, Peakbagger. I'm not even planning to step outside this weekend; lotsa luck to my "winter weekend" neighbors heading up to our mountain to ski. Tomorrow p.m. into Sunday a.m. is gonna be really, really dangerous. I'm feelin' for my fellow lifties, particularly the internationals.

[BillyGr]

Sounds like a good chance for those in the Northeast who always thought they'd like to be one of the mushers in the Iditarod to practice without having to go far

[4eyedbuzzard]

Sounds like a good chance for those in the Northeast who always thought they'd like to be one of the mushers in the Iditarod to practice without having to go far

When it gets that cold and windy, my dogs usually mush me back inside after a few minutes.

[Feral Bill]

I expect a few people will take the opportunity to test themselves, or to prove something. For good or ill they'll most likely survive. If not, another lively discussion here.

[rafe]

And now I'm seeing forecasts of torrential rains on Monday/Tuesday... "a potpourri of heavy rain, sleet, freezing rain, and snow" along much of the eastern seaboard. Strange.

[LoneStranger]

And now I'm seeing forecasts of torrential rains on Monday/Tuesday... "a potpourri of heavy rain, sleet, freezing rain, and snow" along much of the eastern seaboard. Strange.

I've been watching this week approach on the long range forecasts as my daughter is out of school and I'd intended to spend most of it in the Whites. So far I've pushed my start from Saturday to Wednesday, but the way this Winter has been going I won't be surprised if I have to cancel entirely due to floods or wildebeest migration.

[Slo-go'en]

Looks like the forecast scared most everyone away. Only one car parked at Lowe's Garage (parking for the main trail to Gary Knob) with a small group with a "Guide". Normally there would be 20 cars there for this weekend. Apparently they want to summit tomorrow, but hopefully they will turn around once they poke their noses above tree line and the wind knocks them to their knees.

[psyculman]

I was up to Grey Knob last weekend, via Lowe's Path. It is ice and rock, it took out our crampon sharpness in short order, very little snow. Some ice bulges above Log Cabin are difficult, up and down.

[egilbe]

This wind is pretty brutal and its not even sub-zero yet.

[ALLEGHENY]

[kf1wv]

At 6:30, temp was -10 and is dropping steadily. Wind has cranked up. Slo-go'en, howz it up your way?

[tiptoe]

Even here in SW Connecticut it's already down to 4 or 5 degrees, with negative 11 predicted by morning. I ventured outside for the mail, a quick visit to the neighbors, and firewood. Period. It's a day for feeding the woodstoves.

[peakbagger]

I was somewhat surprised today, my house is on the broad ridge between Randolph and Gorham and usually when there are high winds forecast I feel them at the house. The wind at 1400 feet really wasn't that significant until late this afternoon. I have been watching the winds on Washington and they really haven't cranked up to what was forecast but with dropping temps its still nasty.

[kf1wv]

I'm 13 miles northeast of Campton at 1,500 ft., surrounded by 4,000-footers. Tucked in a valley but still exposed as heck. -12 right now.

[Kaptainkriz]

-37 on the summit of Washington....will need to see the official log when they post it, but I think that beats the record for today.