Mount Madison is the northernmost peak in the Presidential Range.
This photograph was taken in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The cloud cover is right at the summit altitude, roughly 5000 feet. Mount Madison is the northernmost peak in the Presidential Range. Like other summits in the Presidential Range, Mount Madison has a considerable alpine zone, sitting above the tree line.
This range is known for high winds and cold temperatures, even in the summer! In fact, nearby Mount Washington is where an impressive windspeed record was set. On April 12, 1934 they recorded 231 mile per hour wind gusts, setting a world record that would stand for over sixty years. Eventually in 1996, an unmanned instrument recorded 253 mile per hour winds from Tropical Storm Olivia. However, the Mount Washington record still stands as the highest observed surface winds by a person.
If you are looking to day-hike Mount Madison it is certainly possible. There is a loop trail that is about eight miles long. It is considered to be a moderate to challenging hike depending on the weather conditions and your experience level. This hike demands over 4000 feet of elevation gain, so it is not for everyone. Like with may outdoor activities, the weather will dictate how easy the hike is. Wet conditions are the key impediment to making good time, especially on descents. That is one of the lessons I learned in hiking the New Hampshire 48. These are the summits in New Hampshire that are over 4000 feet in elevation.
I enjoy this photograph because it feels like an “over-under” shot, but instead of water on the bottom and landscape on the top, it is landscape on the bottom with clouds on top. (Example of over-under). The patchwork of cumulus clouds goes as far as the eye can see. I enjoy watching the cloud shallows move across the landscape. I especially like when a low cloud passes through, taking visibility down to nothing. Then moments later it passes and you can see for hundreds of miles.
If you are looking to day-hike Mount Madison it is certainly possible.
Did you know?
- Mount Madison is named after the fourth president James Madison.
- The Appalachian Trail runs across Mount Madison via the Osgood Trail.
- Moose are found in the White Mountains. It is estimated that ~3,500 moose live in the state of New Hampshire.
- The highest waterfall in New Hampshire is in the White Mountains. It stands at 160+ feet tall!
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