Snow-capped mountains in the White Mountains National Forest in New Hampshire during the autumn foliage season
Long before settlers arrived in the region, the present-day White Mountains were home to Native Americans. In the 19th century, sailors named the mountains after the snow-capped peaks they could see from the sea. Today, the rugged, mountainous terrain of the White Mountain National Forest is popular for its wide variety of year-round outdoor activities. It will be honored on one of the 2013 National Park quarters, as the first release of the year (16th in the series).
The region’s tall mountains – many over 4,000 feet – provide superb panoramic views. In fact, on a clear day, one can see all the way to Canada and New York from on top of Mount Washington! From mid-September into October, tourists flock to see these mountains ablaze with the vibrant red, orange, and yellow colors of the fall foliage season.
Amazingly, for over 60 years, the top of Mount Washington held the record for the highest wind speed on land. In April 1934, a gust of 231 mph was recorded by the Mount Washington Observatory. Today, that record still stands as the northern hemisphere’s fastest wind. And with an average of more than 20 feet of snow annually, and 300 days of fog cover per year, Mount Washington is also said to be home to the world’s worst weather!
