Having taken my Wilderness Emergency Medical Training in the White Mountains I was well aware of the weather systems that make this area so dangerous.
As we climbed Mt. Madison the weather turned extreem. Unfortunately due to winds in excess of 60 miles per hour, freezing rain, snow and temps in the 30s I chose not to stop to take pictures.
Big Ooh took a few shots and one brief video (which really demonstrates the wind's speed) but I don't have the ability to upload via wifi from his camera. What I can tell you is that it was very tough going due to the low visability, cold weather and high winds. We all made it safely over the summit and down the other side but none of us want to re-experience that day again.
Since the AMC closed the hut on the other side of Mt. Madison we were forced to climb Mt. Adams and decend down to a Randolf Mountain Club Hut (God Bless the RMC!) which provided us shelter from the weather.
It was quite an experience and one we placed ourselves in by choice. We knew the weather was slated to turn but with Mt. Washington scheduled for the next day we decided to do Madison in the weather since Washington is even higher. Plus, September 16th was forecast for a mild morning with clear skies. We wanted to hit Washington in that window and we did.
Rolling on,
Yahtzee
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