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Step 1
Get in shape. While the trails at Mt. Washington are only about 4 miles each way, you will climb nearly 4,000 feet in the process. In order to successfully hike up Mt. Washington, you will need to be in excellent physical shape.
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Step 2
Prepare for the crowds of dedicated hikers that flock to Mt. Washington all year long. While it is easier to be motivated to complete the trail along with a few hundred other hikers, these conditions can become hazardous, especially along the more narrow pathways on the edge of the mountain. Space yourself a good distance from other hikers at all times.
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Step 3
Start your hike up Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, from Pinkman's Notch, along the Tuckerman's Ravine Trail. This is the most common way to hike up the mountain, with the trail ascending at a rapid, yet steady, pace. Avoid some of the lesser-known paths unless you have climbed Mt. Washington several times in the past and know your way around.
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Step 4
Complete the trek up Mt. Washington, New Hampshire in 2 days, reaching Lakes Hut the first day, and then proceeding to the summit on the second day. Not only will this help your body acclimate to the gain in elevation more easily, lessening the effort required to make it to the top, but the campground at Lakes Hut also offers a relatively comfortable way to spend the night.
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Step 5
Stay motivated if you can't make it to the top of Mt. Washington on your first try. Sure, the views from the summit are spectacular, with wide panoramas of the entire White Mountain range, but it's better to attempt the hike gradually than it is to become exhausted and collapse.
