Hiking in the White Mountains: hiking mount washington with a dog

Sarge Washington #100. It's been a grand adventure over the past 6 1/2 years watching Sarge rock hop up Mount Washington 100 times. I never intended for him to hike to the summit that many times but living ten minutes from Pinkham has its perks.

Most of our hikes started at dawn, allowing us to get up and down during the cool morning hours over quiet trails, only seeing familiar faces from the valley who are regulars on the mountain. Mainly, we hiked up and down the Sherbie and Tuckerman Ravine Trail. Although #100 was from the west side via Ammonoosuc Ravine and the Cog Railway on an incredible morning.

We started just before 5AM on a cool and dry comfortable morning, cruising over the first two miles to the Gem Pool before the steep one-mile climb to Lakes of the Clouds Hut. Once we broke above treeline we were treated with unique views from the Canadian wildfire smoke slowly overtaking the White Mountains. As we made our way past Lakes of the Clouds and up the summit cone, temperatures dropped to the mid 40's with winds around 20 to 30mph, perfect hiking conditions for the Dood!

Sarge topped out at 6:30AM, I snapped a few pictures before high-tailing it out of there since the wind was cutting through us. After we dropped off the summit cone and hooked onto the Cog Path, the winds died down, and Sarge set a great pace back down, reaching the bottom around 7:15AM.

It was a quiet morning and a perfect outing for W #100.

A week later, Sarge and I went back for hike #101, which was our #100 together, as hike #1 was with mommy.

1st Hike: 3/20/2019 with mommy

100th hike: 7/26/2025 with daddy

Monthly numbers

Jan 1

Feb 0

March 4

April 2

May 12

June 18

July 26

August 7

September 8

October 13

November 8

December 1

Back to Back Days 8

Hiking Log & Notes

Sarge scampers up the Ammonoosuc Ravine trail

Closing in on Lakes of the Clouds Hut

Passing by Lakes of the Clouds Hut

Lakes of the Clouds with Mount Washington in view

Enjoying the breezy morning

Canadian wildfire smoke closing in from the west

Sun starts to shine over Mount Monroe as Sarge takes it all in

Heading up the summit cone

New summit sign in honor of Sarge!

Sarge hooks onto the Cog Railway

Heading down the Cog past Jacob's Ladder

Sarge at Marshfield Station

Heading up the Sherbie for Sarge 101 and hike 100 as a duo

Classic Sarge Bowl Pawtrol pose!

Looking out towards Boott Spur

Above Tuckerman Ravine with Lion Head in view

Basking in the sun high above treeline on Tuckerman Ravine trail

#101 & 100

Time to hitch a ride back down

Sarge has been joining me twice a week for hikes up Mount Washington throughout June and July. We have been starting around 5AM, Usually summitting just before 7AM and back down to Pinkham Notch around 8AM.

It was a quick melt out in Tuckerman Ravine this spring and we were able to access the Tuckerman Ravine Trail safely by mid-June. This is the preferred way up for the Dood as it is less steep than Lion Head and there are plenty of water spots to cool off in along the way.

Sarge turned seven in June and has not showed any signs of slowing down or has had any hip issues over the rugged terrain. Hopefully he still has a couple of more summers rock hopping in him before he retires to the Great Glen Trails which he currently enjoys on his off days from the mountains.