The mountain
At 6,288 feet, Mount Washington anchors the Presidential Range — the highest peak in the northeastern United States and home to some of the worst weather on Earth.
Mt Washington Soaring Association
2026 Wave Camp
camp logbook · Glen Kelley
Monday, October 12
We had an interesting day at Wave Camp today.
Thomas Van de Velde entertained us with the latest technology for towing out to the grid — an e-bike with a tow bar. It worked surprisingly well.
Our weather forecast suggested difficulties. The day would start weak and get stronger. Unfortunately, cloud cover, low ceilings, and gusty conditions would move in and shut us down as the day went on.
Rick Roelke called it accurately. Early low launches found it difficult to stay airborne in the weak conditions. An early trip to the summit indicated the wind was too light for effective wave. As the day went on, conditions improved and tows to the primary began to connect.
Unfortunately, the low ceilings continued to threaten and the wind gusts got exciting enough for our tow pilots to recommend a recall and end of the day. At this point, the wave was really starting to cook, and despite a clear window over the Rt 16 valley, our pilots did the right thing and performed an orderly recovery in sporty landing conditions. Well done!
Current conditions
See what the wind is doing right now.
Wave days are written in the vertical wind profile — a steady cross-ridge flow at altitude, with stable air through the layer. This is the live column of wind over Mount Washington from the latest model run: the same first look pilots take before heading to the field.
Vertical wind profile
Mt Washington
The club
A soaring club with only members.
The Mount Washington Soaring Association is unique amongst soaring clubs: it has only members — no dues, and no officers. Its whole undertaking is the annual October wave camp at Gorham, and everything about it is voluntary.
During the weeks leading up to each encampment, information — including the signup sheet — is distributed on the email list: mwsoaring@googlegroups.com.
1938
The first wave flight in the United States — Lewin Barringer, in the lee of the Presidential Range.
231 mph
The highest surface wind speed ever measured — recorded on the summit in 1934.
32,513 ft
The New Hampshire altitude record — Timothy Chow, in the Mount Washington wave, October 2018.
10+ days
Of flying each October, based at Gorham Municipal Airport (2G8).
Why here
Mount Washington makes the wave.
Three things come together at Gorham: a mountain that disturbs the wind, a standing wave that reaches the flight levels, and a group of pilots who show up every fall to use it.
The wave
Winds forced over the ridges create a standing mountain wave. In its lift, gliders have climbed past 30,000 feet above sea level — some without ever starting an engine.
The camp
Every October since 1966, pilots gather at Gorham, New Hampshire, for the annual wave camp — more than ten days of tows, briefings and diamond climbs.
“On the last and strongest thermal I climbed over 1,500 feet above the sea of clouds until my altimeter read just over 9,500 feet.”
Photos
October at Gorham.
Gliders on the grid, lenticulars over the valley, and the summit from 30,000 feet.
Who makes it happen
Four clubs, one camp.
Founding clubs (GBSC, FSA, PMSC and NESA) and their members provide the necessary resources toward the organization, carrying out and oversight of the wave camp.
“There are many people who get together to make this happen: arranging availability of facilities at the airport, moving equipment to the airport (tow planes, gliders, golf carts), moving the runway cones to make the airport more glider friendly, then moving them back at the end, acquiring oxygen, renting porta potties, coordinating with the FAA and more. The list is extensive.”
Camp information
Camp information and signups go out by email.
A few weeks before each encampment, the mailing list gets the signup sheet, schedule and logistics.