FRANKLIN JOURNAL • February 26, 2026
Winter trips on the Mount Washington Auto Road typically stop at treeline, about 4,200 feet above sea level, where stronger winds, drifting snow and changing visibility can make summit travel unsafe. But on Feb. 3, the combination of sunshine and low winds allowed vehicles to climb the full 6,288 feet to the summit. “This is a pretty rare occurrence on the Auto Road,” said Don Bilger, events manager for the Mount Washington Auto Road. “… Well worth the trip when you get a clear blue sky day on the summit.” The tracked vehicle climbs steadily through forest and into alpine terrain, revealing increasingly expansive views of the Presidential Range and valleys below. Sean Birkel, Maine’s state climatologist, said Mount Washington’s elevation influences weather across the region, including western Maine.