![]() ![]() The region, which has among the state's lowest median income, is heavily reliant on tourism. It would also bolster the Cog Railway's role as an economic engine, something the company has prided itself on since the train first started running more than 150 years ago. Among them was the Summit House Hotel, which burned down in 1908. The 65-year-old Presby, who has owned the railroad for nearly 40 years, said the project would partly fulfill his vision of bringing back hotels that once graced the mountain in the 1800s. The mountain draws over 300,000 visitors a year. Mount Washington has been attracting more tourists in New Hampshire’s North Country since the loss of the Old Man of the Mountain, a granite profile and state symbol that crumbled in 2003. “I remain neutral until I can really study what the impacts are.” “You have to balance the economic value of a railroad like that against the potential for the environmental impact, of increased usage at new location near the mountain top,” he continued. That is what we want to work out,” Govatski said. The concept looks good on paper but the devil is in the details. There are fuel tanks there, a helipad and there once were barracks for a jet engine testing lab. The Mount Washington Auto Road is nearby. The area where the rail cars would sit has had its share of activities over the years. Other people worry plans for brightly-colored rail cars - something Presby said could change to more neutral colors - would be out of place on the mountain. Currently, the cog goes right to the summit, resulting in hundreds of people getting on and off trains at one time.īut he worries hotel guests could damage are alpine plants including Bigelow’s sedge on the mountain and stress out the rare American pipit that nests in the area. ![]() Govatski believes the project could ease congestion from the throngs of summer tourists on the mountain, since it includes a shuttle from sleeper cars up to the summit, the highest peak in the Northeast at 6,288 feet (1.91 kilometers). But he remains undecided this time around. ![]() Forest Service forester who can see the site from his home in Jefferson, opposed the larger hotel. That project came under widespread criticism from environmentalists and hikers, who argued the 25,000-square-foot (2,300-square-meter) hotel would damage the fragile alpine ecology and destroy the scenic views.ĭavid Govatski, a retired U.S. The project, presented earlier this month to the Mount Washington Commission, comes several years after Presby scrapped a plan to build a 35-room hotel on the mountain. “They want better facilities than what are being offered up there by the state of New Hampshire and everybody else.” People want to stay up on the mountain,” Presby said of the project that will require state and county permits and take up to seven years to complete. Nine sleeper cars would accommodate up to 70 guests who would pay similar rates to those charged on other sleepers. Mount Washington Cog Railway owner Wayne Presby said the nearly $14 million project would station 18 rail cars at an elevation around 5,800 feet (1,670 meters) from mid May through mid October. The elevation gain is 3500 feet.The owner of a historic railway that runs up Mount Washington is proposing to build upscale accommodations and a restaurant near the summit of New Hampshire’s highest peak. The race course is about 2.75 miles long and follows the tracks the entire way. Within 7 days of the event you will not receive a credit. If you withdraw from the race within 7 days of the event you will receive 50% of your entry fee towards the next years race. In addition anyone else that runs both races will receive something small but cool. (1000 for first place, 750 for 2nd place, and 500 for third.) Top 3 men and women with the lowest combined race times will win. Anyone that runs both races is eligible for a cash prize. If you are registered for the Northeast Delta Dental Mt Washington Road Race then make sure you sign up for Race the Cog the week after as well. ![]()
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