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ThePresidential Range is amountain range located in theWhite Mountains of theU.S. state ofNew Hampshire. Containing thehighest peaks of the Whites, its most notablesummits are named forAmerican presidents, followed by prominent public figures of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Presidential Range is notorious for having some of the worst weather on Earth, mainly because of the unpredictability of high wind speeds and whiteout conditions on the higher summits. Because of the poor weather conditions, the Presidential Range is often used for mountaineering training for those who go on to climb some of the world's highest mountains, including K2 and Everest.[1][2]
Mount Washington, long home of the highest winds recorded on the surface of the Earth at 231 mph (372 km/h), is the tallest at 6,288 ft (1,917 m), followed by neighboring peaksMount Adams at 5,793 ft (1,766 m) andMount Jefferson at 5,712 ft (1,741 m). The range is almost entirely inCoos County.
The highest mountains in the Presidential Range are named principally for U.S. presidents, with the tallest mountain (Mount Washington) named for the first president and the second tallest (Mount Adams) for the second president.
| Summit | Named after | Notes | Peak Bagging's4,000 footers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Webster | Daniel Webster |  N | |
| Mount Jackson | Charles Thomas Jackson | 19th-century geologist |  Y |
| Mount Pierce | Franklin Pierce | formerly Mt. Clinton — afterDeWitt Clinton | Y |
| Mount Eisenhower | Dwight D. Eisenhower | Y | |
| Mount Franklin | Benjamin Franklin | N | |
| Mount Monroe | James Monroe | Y | |
| Mount Washington | George Washington | A general at time of naming in 1784, and only later a president[3] | Y |
| Mount Clay | Henry Clay | State of New Hampshire changed name toMount Reagan afterRonald Reagan; U.S. government still recognizes Clay name | N |
| Mount Jefferson | Thomas Jefferson | Y | |
| Mount Sam Adams | Samuel Adams | N | |
| Mount Adams | John Adams | Y | |
| Mount Quincy Adams | John Quincy Adams | N | |
| Mount Madison | James Madison | Y |
Mount Adams has four subsidiary peaks besides its summit that are also commonly recognized by name. Two are listed above (Sam Adams and John Quincy Adams). The third and fourth are:
Aside from the notable summits, the Presidential Range contains a number of additional named peaks. Several of these peaks, drained on their west faces by theDry River, are less accessible than the main and most-visited ridge of the range.
Subsidiary peaks of Mount Washington:
North from Mount Washington:
South from Mount Washington:
The summits marked with an asterisk (*) are included on thepeak-bagging list of4,000-foot and higher mountains in New Hampshire; the others are excluded, in some cases because of lesser height and in others because of more technical criteria.
The Presidentials separate drainage via theSaco andAndroscoggin rivers into theAtlantic Ocean on the coast ofMaine, from drainage into theIsrael andAmmonoosuc rivers, thence into theConnecticut River, and thence intoLong Island Sound.
The so-calledPresidential Traverse is ahike that traverses each major summit along the 19 miles (31 km) of the Presidential ridge. The traverse encompasses over 8,500 feet (2,600 m) in elevation gain. It can be done in a single day in summer, but during winter it is generally a two- to four-day venture. The traverse is considered strenuous.[4]
The range is notorious for its unpredictable and inclement weather, with some of the deadliest mountains in thecontinental United States. Due to its unique location relative to other geographic features, it holds the world record for highest recorded surfacewind speed not within a tropical cyclone. Fatalities in this area are dominated by those that occur on Mount Washington, the highest peak in the range. TheNew Hampshire Fish and Game Department conducts an average of 200 rescues a year for hikers in need of assistance.[5]
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