Again, we got up really early (0600). My dad suggested that we try another AT hike today and I replied that it might be a good idea if we visited Crawford Notch and/or Mount Washington. He liked this plan and we left my condo by 0700 (my dad wanted a "real" cup of coffee). Used I-91 to reach VT/NH-25, then took back roads to NH-10. Got on NH-116, which we used to reach Wells Road (near Franconia Notch). Then took NH-141 to US-3 and later switched to US-302 in Twin Mountain. Our drive was pretty easy and the weather looked nice. There were some clouds on the Presidential Range but I thought I could tolerate the weather, especially after I left the top. We stopped (0845) to check out the Cog Railway and found we could ride up to the Summit almost immediately (0900). Because of the heavy cloud cover up high, I made the split-second decision to leave all my hiking gear behind and just enjoy a scenic trip. This ultimately proved to be a very good decision… The Railway is over 150 years old and, in addition to being a technological marvel (at least to me), has a rich history. Our guide was entertaining and we had fun watching the world from a 25-30 percent grade. The ride was pleasant and appealing until we passed the tree line but then the temps dropped significantly and the wind speed increased. By the time we got off the train, visibility was almost zero and the wind appeared to be about 35-40 mph. My dad headed inside the Summit House quickly and stayed there until it was time to leave (about an hour later). Meanwhile, I braved the elements and explored the AT signs and landmarks. It was SO COLD and windy! Every Thru hiker I saw (and there were a lot) looked miserable. At that point, I decided to go back inside where it was warm. Got food at the snack bar (1015) and looked around at some exhibits. At 1045, my dad and I got back on the Railway - it was kind of a relief to have tickets for a comfortable ride back down through the clouds... My dad told me he really enjoyed our excursion and "never got cold." We got off the train at 1130 and explored the museum (history of the railroad and work on the mountain). Satisfied, we drove back to US-302 and explored the area around the Mount Washington Hotel. Then continued south on US-302 to the Railroad Station - I wanted to stop but my dad took one look at the traffic and refused. Instead, we checked out the little flume cascades nearby and later stopped for ice cream at Willey House in Crawford Notch State Park (1325). We ate on a bench with overlook of Webster Cliffs and later went for walk around pond near Willey House (Saco River). Once finished with our sight seeing in the area, we continued south to NH-16 and then drove through North Conway - Dad got a gas fill-up there (meanwhile, I talked to Mollie). Next, we continued south until we were able to turn west on NH-113 and proceeded southwest, passing through the edge of the town of Sandwich (my dad liked that). We switched to NH-25 and continued west. Along the way, we saw the northern end of Lake Winnipesaukee but then ended up taking NH-25B by accident. Fortunately, we still made our way back to US-3 and found ourselves in the town of Meredith. We parked on the waterfront and spent some time walking along the water (it was VERY crowded). There was a nice 9/11 tribute (flags across a huge grass park) there - amazing to think it had been 20 years since that terrible day... We got back on US-3 and took NH-104 to continue west. In Danbury, we switched to US-4 and eventually took I-89 to Lebanon. After we arrived home (1700), I made dinner (pizza) and my dad spent over an hour relaxing on my deck. We later played my new "AT Game" and had a fun time. I went to bed at around 2230. Today was very memorable and fun! Later, though, I realized this was my second visit to the summit of Mount Washington, a NH 4000 Footer (my #1 of 48), but still haven't done a real hike. Hopefully, that changes in 2022!
