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
Ride the wave above the White Mountains.
Flights to over 30,000 feet have been made in the atmospheric waves generated by Mount Washington and the surrounding peaks. Each October, glider pilots gather at Gorham, New Hampshire, to fly them again.
Next wave camp
Loading countdown…
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. All that is required for membership is an interest in flying in and around the Mt Washington valley, and a willingness to contribute to the annual wave camp that brings us all together each October.
During the weeks leading up to each encampment, information — including a signup sheet — is distributed via an email list. Sign up by sending an email to 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.”
Get on the list
Camp information and signups go out by email.
A few weeks before each encampment, the mailing list gets the signup sheet, schedule and logistics. Any interested pilot is welcome — you do not need to belong to one of the founding clubs.