Where I Take In The Beautiful Views

Our last stop is arguably our coolest. The top of Mount Washington. This hike is no joke. It takes about six hours on a good day to get up the mountain from the visitor center where one learns about the history of the mountain. The Algonquian Native American name for the mountain is G8dagwjo or K8daakwaj (Hidden Mountain Always in the Clouds). It could also have been known as Agiocochook (Home of the Great Spirit or Mother Goddess of the Storm), or Waumbik (White Rocks). In fact, the first European ascent of the mountain was performed in June of 1642 by Darby Field accompanied by two Native American guides. “It is said that Field wanted to prove to the local Abenaki Chief Passaconaway that he was not subject to the same rules as the Indigenous peoples, who did not climb the summit of the mountain believed to be the realm of divine powers. By climbing the mountain Field dismissed these Indigenous beliefs and assisted the colonists’ northern expansion.” I found this super interesting, while also disappointing as this information is not told to hikers. There is a lot of information about the history of the mountain at the top of the summit, but none about the indigenous tribes that used to live there.

Citations

https://indigenousnh.com/2018/12/06/the-wobanadenok/

https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/17428

https://www.forbes.com/sites/everettpotter/2019/09/08/migis-lodge-maines-classic-lakeside-resort/?sh=52b294bc5882