Mount Washington is well known for having some of the worst weather in the world.
The 6,288-foot New Hampshire peak is the highest point in the Northeast, and its location at the confluence of three major storm tracks means weather changes on the mountain can be sudden and wild.
Winds hit a mind-blowing 231 miles per hour on the summit in April 1934. The summit also received more than 4 feet of snow in a 24-hour period in 1969.
Even when Mount Washington’s weather isn’t breaking records, it can still be brutal and dangerous. The mountain frequently experiences hurricane force winds (considered to be winds above 75 mph) and dangerously cold conditions.
But for hikers who spend most of their time at lower elevations and in less volatile environments, it can be hard to comprehend what strong winds can do to a person. And hikers who are unprepared for Mount Washington’s conditions often run into trouble.
Thankfully, the folks at the Mount Washington Observatory recently put together a video to demonstrate how various wind speeds affect a person.
They recorded staff members walking (or attempting to walk) in wind speeds of 30, 50, 70, and 100 miles per hour.
The footage below should make anyone think twice about venturing into high peaks when the weather is bad.