As the largest annual fundraiser of the nonprofit Mount Washington Observatory, Seek the Peak welcomes hikers of all ages and abilities to Mount Washington and its neighboring peaks and places of interest in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire. We invite you to participate and to Seek YOUR Peak... While many hikers will choose the challenge of summiting Mount Washington, others will opt for alternative mountain treks, a unique top-rope session or may even prefer a short "nature hike." Some may just want to support the Observatory as "virtual hikers," or simply join for the weekend festivities. Ultimately the weekend is an incredible gathering of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts who have come together to Seek their Peaks in support of Mount Washington Observatory. In addition to getting outside and exploring White Mountain trails, the weekend includes: Kick-Off Party and Registration at the Weather Discovery Center (Fri) Observatory Weather Station tours on the summit of Mount Washington (Fri-Sat) Top-rope climbing with Synnott Mountain Guides and The North Face (Sat) An Expo featuring premier sponsors Eastern Mountain Sports and Vasque along with several other vendors showcasing and giving away product (Sat) The famous After Party including a massive gear giveaway and dinner (Sat) All while supporting the non-profit Mount Washington Observatory with donations which in turn will earn you prizes! Registrants are asked to raise a minimum of $200 as part of their participation; in turn they are awarded with fabulous prizes and more! Be one of the first 500 to raise $200 and earn a Seek the Peak Eastern Mountain Sports backpack and exclusive Seek the Peak T-shirt. Since Seek the Peak was established in 2001, this great event has raised essential funds for the nonprofit Observatory, helping it maintain its famous weather station on the summit of Mount Washington and continue its important work collecting weather data, performing research, and educating the public about the science of climate and weather.
Schedule Friday, July 21, 2017 4:00 9:00 PM: Registration & Kick-Off Party Location: The Weather Discovery Center, North Conway Stop by to drop-off any final donations and pick-up your backpack and t-shirt. Experts from the Appalachian Mountain Club will also be on hand to provide trail information. Join us for refreshments and mingling in our interactive science museum. Saturday, July 22, 2017 6:00 9:00 AM: Trailhead Send-Offs Location: The AMC's Pinkham Notch Visitor Center on the east side of Mount Washington and the base of the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead on the west side. 9:30 AM 3:00 PM: Weather Station Tours Location: Mount Washington Observatory summit weather station When you make it to the summit, stop by our legendary summit weather station for a complimentary behind-the-scenes tour and refreshments with the crew! 9:00 AM 1:00 PM: Alternate Nature Hike to Lows Bald Spot Location: Departing from Pinkham Notch Visitors Center. Hike with Observatory Education Coordinator Will Broussard on this moderate hike and learn about the flora and fauna before reaching the peak for some beautiful views. 10:00 AM 1:00 PM: Top-rope Session with Synnott Mountain Guides Location: Square Ledge Trail (easy hike) in Pinkham Notch walk in look for TNF banners. Give Rock Climbing a try with this exclusive opportunity sponsored by the North Face. All abilities welcome. 2:00 PM 5:00 PM: Outdoor Expo Location: Base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road Meet the sponsors and partners who make Seek the Peak possible at our festive outdoor expo. Peruse the booths and enjoy product demonstrations, presentations, activities and giveaways. Free for guests friends and family welcome! 5:00 PM 7:00 PM: After Party and Dinner* Location: Base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road The culminating event of Seek the Peak, the famous after party is a celebration featuring great giveaways and a Hart s Turkey Farm dinner at 5pm! The party also includes an awards ceremony featuring hundreds of prizes worth thousands of dollars. Bring the family and plan to stay until the end; this is one event you don't want to miss! *Seek the Peak hikers who meet the $200 fundraising minimum automatically receive free entry into the after party. Friends and family are invited to purchase a ticket and join us!
Fundraising Questions, Tips, and Help How do I get one of those great hiker backpacks? Seek the Peak backpacks are guaranteed for the first 500 hikers that raise the $200 fundraising minimum. To make sure you're among the first 500 people, register now and start fundraising ASAP! Can I just turn in all of my donations on Seek the Peak Saturday? You can, but we don't recommend it. There might not be any backpacks left by Saturday, and prize eligibility is determined on Friday. The safest bet is to mail in your donations well in advance of the Friday, July 21, 2017 deadline, or just bring them with you to the Friday night registration. When can I start collecting pledge money? Ready... set... go! You can start collecting donations right now! What is a good way to fundraise? Making posters is great way to fundraise! You can download a Seek the Peak poster on our website, fill in your name, and hang it at your work, school, church, or anywhere. else you frequent! Another great alternative is using social media or email to share your fundraising page. Offline Fundraising If you collect offline donations (ie., cash or checks), you must input the donations in the "Your Fundraising" tab of your FirstGiving account dashboard and select Enter Offline Donations, then mail your donations to the Observatory with matching information. All checks should be made out to Mount Washington Observatory and mailed to: Mount Washington Observatory ATTN: Seek the Peak PO Box 2310 North Conway, NH 03860
Raise $200 Get Limited-edition STP T-shirt and EMS Backpack > And be entered to win thousands of dollars in gear and equipment > SPECIAL M&M ASSURANCE RAFFLE FOR KIDS AGES 12 & UNDER Raise $300 >Be entered to win.. A pair of Vasque hiking boots Raise $500 Get everything above plus The North Face Logo item > And be entered to win A Summer Overnight Trip for two to the Summit of Mount Washington Raise $750 Get everything above plus custom Seek the Peak cap > And be entered to win...a Perception Jetty 11 Stand Up Paddleboard Raise $1000 Get everything above plus Seek the Peak Stormtech Fleece > And be entered to win A FUJI Mountain Bike from EMS Raise $2500 Get everything above plus The North Face medium duffle bag > And entered to win an Apple Watch Series 1 Raise $5000 Get everything above plus a Diamond Back Mountain Bike > And, two front-row parking spots, reserved seating and early access to the all-you-can-eat feast at the famous Seek the Peak after party Raise $10000 Get everything above plus your photo published in Windswept Raise $20000 Get everything above plus MWObs lifetime membership Top Fundraiser Get Pinnacle Outdoor Group prize package > And, your name engraved on the Seek the Peak top fundraiser plaque 1st Place Team KEYS TO THE CASTLE The Great Prize Giveaway 2nd Place Team Each team member (max 8 people) receives $50 Eastern Mountain Sports gift card Sponsorship Premier sponsors -Eastern Mountain Sports and Vasque Footwear with support from Channel 8 WMTW - Maine's Total Weather & News, 93.5 WMWV, FairPoint Communications, NorthConwayLodging.com, White Mountain Oil & Propane, Backpacker Magazine, Mount Washington Auto Road, M&M Assurance and Appalachian Mountain Club.
Hiker Safety and Trail Information Mount Washington is a real mountain, with real, inherent risks. Visit HikeSafe.com to learn how to properly prepare for an enjoyable experience on the northeast's tallest peak! Follow the Hiker Responsibility Code. You are responsible for yourself, so be prepared: 1. With knowledge and gear. Become self reliant by learning about the terrain, conditions, local weather and your equipment before you start. 2. To leave your plans. Tell someone where you are going, the trails you are hiking, when you will return and your emergency plans. 3. To stay together. When you start as a group, hike as a group, end as a group. Pace your hike to the slowest person. 4. To turn back. Weather changes quickly in the mountains. Fatigue and unexpected conditions can also affect your hike. Know your limitations and when to postpone your hike. The mountains will be there another day. 5. For emergencies. Even if you are headed out for just an hour, an injury, severe weather or a wrong turn could become life threatening. Don t assume you will be rescued; know how to rescue yourself. 6. To share the hiker code with others. There are many trails ascending Mount Washington, each offering a slightly different experience. People often ask what the "best" trail is, but the answer to that is a matter of opinion ask five different hikers and you'll get five different answers! To choose the route that's best for you, we recommend purchasing a quality guidebook like the Appalachian Mountain Club's White Mountain Guide, and using its maps (included) and trail descriptions to devise a route that fits your ambitions. For additional guidance, you may also find it helpful to call the Appalachian Mountain Club the area's hiking experts directly at their Pinkham Notch Visitor Center: (603) 466-2721. If all you need is a map, we offer several in our online shop. You will also find many maps for purchase on ems.com and in your local Eastern Mountain Sports store or other outdoor retailer. A good map is well worth a $10 investment. Remember: There is no "easy" way up Mount Washington, but you don't have to hike to the summit. There are many, many trail options in the area. If you are unsure of your ability to make it to the top, choose an alternative hike or simply go part way up there's no sense in hurting yourself or missing the after party because you tried to hike beyond your abilities. Seek the Peak is all about having fun and enjoying a great day in the mountains!
Seek YOUR Peak While many participants in Seek the Peak will rise to the challenge of climbing Mount Washington, others will choose other goals perhaps realizing that the highest mountain in the Northeast is not for them just yet, or preferring to explore other trails and viewpoints in the area. With that in mind, here are a few ideas for other places to hike all with trailheads within a short distance of the Seek the Peak After Party: Lost Pond and Square Ledge Glen Boulder The Imp Low s Bald Spot and Hermit Lake Carter Dome and Mount High Or find other walks in the Whites Kancamangus Boulder Loop Mount Crawford Mountain Pond Trail Whittaker Woods Arethusa Falls Sawyer Pond Contact the Appalachian Mountain Club today for expert advice. AMC helps you get outdoors on your own, with family and friends, and through activities close to home and beyond. Get involved by learning more about their meet up groups and chapter hiking clubs. Happy Trails!
Appalachian Mountain Club Joe Dodge Lodge & Highland Center Eastern Inns Inn at Ellis River Nordic Village Resorts The Bernerhof Inn Inn at Jackson Attitash Mountain Village Comfort Inn & Suites Cranmore Inn Bed and Breakfast Area Lodging Buttonwood Inn Eastern Slope Inn Christmas Farm Inn & Spa Golden Apple Inn Eagle Mountain House Top Notch Vacations Attitash Grand Summit Hotel Stonehurst Manor Swiss Chalets Village Inn Lots of area campgrounds For more information on these properties please visit our website, mountwashington.org, and navigate to our Area Lodging section located under Visit Us Directions The Friday registration and kick-off party are located at the Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center, 2779 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH 03860. The Saturday expo and after party is located at the base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road. This large, open field doesn't have an address, but if you type "Glen House, NH" into Google maps it will take you to the exact location! GPS coordinates are -71.22580 Long., 44.28850 Lat.
FAQ Can my partner and I sign up as one person or team? You can, but we don't recommend it. One registration = one goodie bag, one t-shirt, one set of fundraising incentives, one ticket to the after party and one entry into the prize pool. Each hiker, as an individual, must raise that $200 fundraising minimum in order to receive their own t-shirt, goodie bag, incentives, after party ticket and prize pool entry. Do you have to be an Observatory member to hike? Nope! Anyone capable of the hike can participate. Is there a shuttle down from the summit? No shuttle will be provided for Seek the Peak hikers. You are responsible for getting yourself down the mountain. However, the Mt. Washington Auto Road does offer a hiker shuttle to the general public. Note: Capacity is extremely limited, and seats are offered on a first come, first served basis, so do not "plan" on utilizing this shuttle. For more information, visit www.mtwashingtonautoroad.com. Can children participate? Yes, we strongly encourage children to participate. Please be sure they hike a route and summit within their ability level. All children at the $200 goal get into a special drawing sponsored by M&M Assurance. What if it rains? The event is held rain or shine, so be prepared for all conditions! Check our Higher Summits Forecast the night before and morning of your hike to know what to expect. Can I bring a guest to the after party? Absolutely! Dinner tickets for non-hikers are $20 and may be purchased in advance on our After Party Ticket Purchase page. What if I can't make it to the summit? Shhh. We won't tell! Kidding aside, always hike within your own limits and abilities. Hiking Mount Washington is a formidable challenge, even for seasoned hikers. However, with the right trail selection and the proper gear, it can be a great day for everyone. If you aren't able to do the summit hike, an AMC staff member can help you select another great hike. Remember Seek YOUR Peak! Who can I speak to if I have other questions? We're here to help. Call Director of Events and Marketing Krissy Fraser at kfraser@mountwashington.org or (603) 356-2137, x231. Thank you for your interest and support of Seek the Peak and the Observatory we look forward to seeing you on July 21-22, 2017!