Joyous Vagaries took a trip to the White Mountains, and spent a few days enjoying the winter scenery. This involved driving over the Kancamagus Highway, which stretches between Conway and Lincoln in New Hampshire, as well as driving through Crawford Notch, Bretton Woods, and Franconia Notch. In addition to the drives taken, Joyous Vagaries took some excursions on the Mt. Washington Cog Railway, the Conway Scenic Railroad, and the Mt. Washington SnowCoach.
Mt. Washington Cog Railway: this excursion took us up to Waumbek Station, located at the 4000-foot elevation of Mt. Washington. There were some views from the station, along with hot cocoa and coffee in the warming hut for those who wished to partake. Temps were in the low teens, and a slight breeze that made it feel a bit colder. There was a fire pit outside for people to roast a hot dog or two while taking in the view.
Conway Scenic Railroad: This was a 4-hour excursion on the Mountaineer from North Conway to the depot at Crawford Notch. There were some sights along the way, but the best views came in the last third of the trip to Crawford Notch Depot. Tickets for the Dome seating are the most expensive, and should be providing one with a good vantage point for viewing. However, the windows were a bit dirty on the inside, and some had snow cover on the outside, making it difficult to get the best views from this car. As such, we didn’t find it to be a good value for the price that we paid.
Mt. Washington SnowCoach: This was the best experience of all 3 excursions. The SnowCoach takes riders up to the 3000-foot elevation on the Mt. Washington Auto Road. Our tour guide, Ray (a fine and formidable New England Yankee), was very informative about Mt. Washington, as well as the history of the Auto Road. As the coach travelled up the road, the wind gusts became stronger (~50-60 MPH), and temps felt like they were in the single digits. Anyone riding up in the SnowCoach is advised to dress warmly, and for good reason! The views from the 3000-foot elevation were limited due to the low cloud cover and blowing snow, but the experience of the trip was fantastic!
Be sure to visit our New Hampshire in Winter Gallery and a short video posted on our YouTube Channel.