| Mount Adams | |
|---|---|
 Mount Adams viewed from the summit ofMount Madison | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,793 ft (1,766 m) |
| Prominence | 804 ft (245 m) |
| Listing | White Mountain 4000-Footers |
| Coordinates | 44°19′14″N71°17′29″W / 44.32056°N 71.29139°W /44.32056; -71.29139 |
| Geography | |
  Mount Adams | |
| Parent range | Presidential Range |
| Topo map | USGSMount Washington |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Mount Adams, elevation 5,793 feet (1,766 m) abovesea level, is a mountain inNew Hampshire, the second highest peak in the Northeast United States after its nearby neighbor,Mount Washington. Located in the northernPresidential Range, Mount Adams was named afterJohn Adams, the secondPresident of the United States. It was given this name on July 31, 1820. To the northeast isMount Madison and to the southwest isMount Jefferson. From the summit, Mount Washington can be seen directly to the south.
There are two major subsidiary peaks of Mount Adams:Mount Sam Adams andMount Quincy Adams, named after John Adams' cousin,Revolutionary leaderSamuel Adams, and son, PresidentJohn Quincy Adams, respectively, and two minor sub-peaks,Abigail Adams (named for John Adams' wifeAbigail)[1] andAdams 5. The northern side of the mountain ridge is located inLow and Burbank's Grant, and the end of Durand Ridge, and King Ravine, on the north side of Mount Adams are in the town ofRandolph (formerly Durand). The entire south side of the mountain ridge is inThompson and Meserve's Purchase.[2]
TheAppalachian Trail traverses thecol between Mount Adams and Mount Sam Adams on the Gulfside Trail. TheRandolph Mountain Club (RMC) maintains the trails and several huts and shelters high on Mount Adams' north side, including "The Perch", "Crag Camp", "The Log Cabin", and "Gray Knob". A large network of hiking and climbing paths lead south to the huts and ridges from several parking areas located onU.S. Highway 2.
Mount Adams is a popularhiking andclimbing destination for experienced and novicemountaineers alike. The mountain is climbed in all four seasons, although it is more often climbed from late spring through early fall. The peak is known to have dangerously erratic weather, especially in winter. There is a prominent sign just prior to the most exposed section of Mount Adams urging hikers to turn around at the first sign of inclement weather.[3] Winter hiking anywhere in the White Mountains requires specialized equipment and skills, as severe storms can develop suddenly. High winds and low temperatures can combine to make winter conditions on Mount Adams approximately equal to the worst reported from Antarctica.[4]
There are numerous direct routes to the summit of Mount Adams. All routes are considered eitherClass 1 or Class 2, involve about 4 miles (6 km) to 5 miles (8 km) each way, and gain approximately 4,500 feet (1,400 m) in elevation.[5] One popular route on Adams year-round is the Valley Way, which connects with the Gulfside Trail and Lowe's Path. The Air Line is considered the standard winter route on Mount Adams, as it is perhaps the most direct route to the summit. The route gains about 4,500 feet (1,400 m) in elevation over about 4.3 miles (6.9 km) from trailhead to summit. The last 1,000 feet of this route are extremely exposed, leaving mountaineers vulnerable to the storms known to frequent mountains in the Presidential Range.[6]
Due to their relative proximity, Mount Adams and nearbyMount Madison are frequently climbed on the same day bymountaineers. A hike to both summits includes a round trip of about 10.4 miles (16.7 km) and cumulative elevation gain of more than 5,000 feet (1,500 m). The route begins on the Valley Way, which brings hikers to the Madison Hut. From the Madison Hut, hikers can then access the summits of both Mount Madison and Mount Adams.[7]
| Climate data for Mount Adams 44.3188 N, 71.2926 W, Elevation: 5,246 ft (1,599 m) (1991–2020 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 15.4 (−9.2) | 16.3 (−8.7) | 22.7 (−5.2) | 33.0 (0.6) | 46.0 (7.8) | 54.6 (12.6) | 58.9 (14.9) | 57.7 (14.3) | 51.9 (11.1) | 39.6 (4.2) | 29.2 (−1.6) | 21.2 (−6.0) | 37.2 (2.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 7.4 (−13.7) | 8.2 (−13.2) | 14.9 (−9.5) | 26.4 (−3.1) | 40.1 (4.5) | 49.5 (9.7) | 54.5 (12.5) | 53.0 (11.7) | 46.7 (8.2) | 34.1 (1.2) | 22.9 (−5.1) | 13.6 (−10.2) | 30.9 (−0.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −0.6 (−18.1) | 0.0 (−17.8) | 7.2 (−13.8) | 19.8 (−6.8) | 34.3 (1.3) | 44.5 (6.9) | 50.0 (10.0) | 48.3 (9.1) | 41.5 (5.3) | 28.6 (−1.9) | 16.5 (−8.6) | 5.9 (−14.5) | 24.7 (−4.1) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 5.74 (146) | 5.11 (130) | 6.35 (161) | 7.34 (186) | 6.95 (177) | 8.54 (217) | 8.06 (205) | 6.87 (174) | 6.78 (172) | 9.88 (251) | 8.00 (203) | 7.27 (185) | 86.89 (2,207) |
| Source: PRISM Climate Group[8] | |||||||||||||
To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clickingCoordinates (underLocation); copyLatitude andLongitude figures from top of table; clickZoom to location; clickPrecipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click30-year normals, 1991-2020; click800m; clickRetrieve Time Series button.
