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Our 10th Annual Summit Mt. Washington is next Saturday! As you prepare for the hike, we ask you to make one last push to share your fundraising page and encourage your friends, family, co-workers and followers to consider making a donation. We hike for many reasons - as many reasons as there are hikers - and one reason we hike for mental health to raise funds for brain & behavior research and wilderness trail conservation. If these reasons resonate with you too, we encourage it give your page one more share. Every donation helps, and 100% will go your mission. Thank you.

Now, here again is some important information from hike organizers, Suzanne Gould and Dana Kedziora.

Getting Started on the Hike

The hike on Saturday, August 28, will start with registration at the lower parking lot of the Cog Railway, off Base Road. Click here for directions. If you plan to park a car while you hike, bring $10 for the parking fee. If you arrive early, you may not have to pay, but bring the cash just in case.

The hike will start at 7:00 AM. Registration will start at 6:15 AM and will take approximately 10 minutes so please arrive no later than 6:30 AM. Suzanne and Dana will both be there to greet you in orange tutus! Since we have such a large group, we will take a series of team photos and head out on the Jewell Trail in 35-40 member hiking groups.

Due to different hiking speeds, we will likely reach the summit at different times. We have excellent hike leaders and experienced sweep hikers to make sure everyone arrives at the summit safely. It is important to stay on the trail. Please do not follow the railway tracks down the mountain. This is not a race so everyone can proceed at his/her own speed and hike with others that maintain a comfortable pace.

Summit Team Group Photo

Because we tend to arrive at different times it is difficult to take a full group picture on the summit. If you see a large group of HFMH hikers when you’re at the top, please ask someone to take a group photo! We would like to see as many group photos at the summit as possible.

Everyone should begin to make their way down the mountain no later than 1 PM. Most of the group should be back to the starting point by around 4:30-5:30 PM. Please take pictures when you get to the top and share them on our Hike for Mental Health 10th Annual Mount Washington Summit 2021 Facebook page for all to enjoy!

If you arrive at the summit after 1:00 PM, we highly recommend taking the Cog Railway down the mountain and meeting us at the bottom. There is a fee (approximately $50 but bring extra - price subject to change). This is due to the likelihood you would not complete the descent before dark. Getting caught on the mountain after dark is not recommended! The last steamer train will depart around 4:30 PM.

If the Cog is fully booked for some reason, a Hiker Shuttle Service is also available. The Hiker Shuttle runs from approximately 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily, weather permitting. On busy days - which are most summer weekends - they stay open until 6PM. One-way tickets are $50 and can be purchased at the Summit Stage Office.  After 4:00 PM ticket prices increase to $75. Dogs are permitted on descent for $20. Shuttle price includes transportation to the Base of the Auto Road, AMC Pinkham Notch Camp, or Great Gulf Trailhead; but not back to the COG Railroad Parking lot. Fortunately, our absolutely awesome volunteer Joanne has generously offered to pick up hikers at one of these locations and drive them back to their automobiles at Cog Railway. This is about a one-hour drive so we will implement this option only if necessary. If you have any questions about the Hiker Shuttle, visit their website.

What to bring

Clothing

The weather on Mt. Washington can be VERY unpredictable. While the temperature for the start of the hike at the bottom of the mountain will be similar to our normal daily temp’s, the average temperature at the top of Mt. Washington in August is only in the 40’s with 24 mph winds. The temp has varied from a low of 20° F to a high of 72° F – in August. It can rain and snow – yes, snow – as well.

Last year, we had a totally gorgeous day and hope that we will again this year, but BE PREPARED. Dress in layers. At a minimum, bring:

• a warm under-layer (not cotton)
• comfortable, loose outer clothing, and
• a waterproof shell or windbreaker
• a wool or synthetic sweater, a warm hat (think winter), and light gloves
• good walking/hiking shoes or boots (unless you are one of the brave barefoot hikers!)

Depending on weather, you may not need everything listed, but as I said, you can’t depend on the weather. The day can start out beautiful and turn challenging very fast.

Food & water

• Bring at least 1 quart of water for the hike. If it is a hot day, you may want a second quart. You can refill water bottles at the top.
• Bring a couple easy-to-digest energy snacks for the hike up and down. Tom prefers items wrapped in bacon and dipped in chocolate but we cannot recommend that approach.
• For lunch at the top, you can either bring a lunch with you, or bring money to buy food at the cafeteria which is part of the weather observatory there. There is not a lot of variety but they usually have hearty soups, hot dogs, chili, sandwiches, and the like.

Other items you may want to consider

Try not to bring too much other weight unless you are accustomed to hiking with a pack. After all, it is all uphill, so no sense in lugging extra weight. Having said that, a few items you may want to consider are:

• cell phone / camera
• personal first aid supplies – aspirin, band-aids (we will have a group first aid kit on the hike)
• sun screen
• trekking poles or hiking sticks
• there is no need to bring a compass or a map unless you like that sort of thing

Wear your HIKE for Mental Health Shirts!

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Hikers staying at the Twin Mountain KOA Campground

Suzanne and Dana are staying in Rustic Cabin #3. Saturday night we will have a campfire going with s’mores (graham crackers, chocolate, lemon curd as well as both regular and vegan marshmallows), if you would like to come and participate. If you’re interested, please bring your own camping chair.

After the Hike

Please feel free to join us for free refreshments provided by the Littleton Coop and a post hike celebration in the Cog parking lot when you’ve finished the hike. We want to hear all about your adventure!

If you’re staying at the KOA, be sure not to miss the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at the main lodge from 7:00 to 9:00 AM on Sunday morning. It costs $4 a person and it's worth it! KOA checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Again, Suzanne and Dana will be in Rustic Cabin #3. Please feel free to call or text with questions or concerns. Thanks so much everyone! Thank you for being part of the hike and for helping raise $$$ and awareness to help eliminate the suffering from mental illness and the stigma that surrounds it. Let's make this a super fun weekend & a hike to remember!!

Dana Kedziora and Suzanne Gould 10th Annual Mt. Washington Summit Co-Coordinators

Dana Cell - (267) 254-9490  Email - dmkedz@gmail.com

Suzanne Cell - (603) 305-5773  Email - ihikewithpug@gmail.com

HIKE for Mental Health

Hikes that bring hope.

www.hikeformentalhealth.org