How the Auto Road Made Mount Washington for Everyone

(Durham, NH, May 14, 2020) - For over 150 years, the Mt. Washington Auto Road has guided millions of visitors to the top of the highest peak in New England, developing a culture all its own along the way. In the upcoming New Hampshire PBS documentary MT. WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD TO THE SKY, Auto Road employees, historians and a variety of thrill-seekers celebrate the unlikely journey of this New England icon.

To long time Mt. Washington Auto Road Stage Driver Rik Dow, the appeal of The Rockpile is timeless. “Once the mountain gets its hooks into you it doesn’t let go,” he says.

That might explain how the Road came to be, despite the odds against it when construction began. “You have to remember this was the 1850s,” says Mt. Washington Auto Road General Manager Howie Wemyss. “No mechanized equipment whatsoever. Everything was done with horse drawn or oxen drawn carts and raw muscle power.”

By 1861 the road was opened to carriages. It wasn’t until 1899 that the carriage road began its transition to an auto road when Freelan Stanley made the ascent in a steam car.

In 1904 the Auto Road hosted one of the first auto races in the United States – The Mt. Washington Hillclimb – a tradition that continues to this day. 2017 Hillclimb champion Travis Pastrana say the race has a special significance. “To get the record here is something that’s real close to everyone’s heart.”

For those taking on the Auto Road without an automobile the route has a punishing 12% grade incline, but the challenge is part of the appeal. “It’s one of the toughest hill climbs in the world,” says Sean Snow, a cyclist in the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb. “This is one of the first race’s I’ve done that I’ve never thought about my competitors at all. I have one competitor and that’s Mount Washington.”

While there are many who love the challenge presented by the Auto Road, part of its enduring appeal is that it makes the spectacular beauty of Mt. Washington accessible to everyone. “This is a way to get to the top of the mountain and experience that no matter how old or young you are,” says veteran Stage Driver Dave Roy.

If you’d like to experience more of the history and magic of the Mt. Washington Auto Road, MT. WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD TO THE SKY premieres Thursday, May 21 at 8 pm on New Hampshire PBS and online at nhpbs.org/autoroad.

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