Alton Weagle Day
First ascents. Big ideas. Mountain spirit.

Saturday, May 23, 2026

A celebration of first ascents on the Mt. Washington Auto Road.

Alton Weagle climbed the Auto Road in unforgettable ways — on foot, backward, blindfolded, and even pushing a wheelbarrow of sugar. This day honors that spirit… and invites you to invent the next “first.”

Submit your first-ascent idea Official event page
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Weather can change quickly on Mt. Washington. Always check road status before you go.

What is Alton Weagle Day?

It’s a yearly celebration of the most creative “first ascents” on the Mt. Washington Auto Road — inspired by Alton Weagle’s passion for doing the mountain differently.

Next date: Saturday, May 23, 2026 (weather permitting).

Signature energy

A day for big imagination: unusual ascents that keep the mountain (and other people) respected and safe.

inventive respectful safe memorable

Submit your first-ascent idea

Want to attempt a first ascent? Email your idea to the Mt. Washington Auto Road team. If it fits the spirit of the day, you may be invited.

Email

Send your first ascent idea to: info@mt-washington.com

Include: your concept, what it uses, who’s participating, and how you’ll keep it safe and road-legal.

If you want this site to collect submissions directly, add a small server-side script or route the form through a service.

A good submission checklist

  • What’s the “first”?
  • What gear/vehicle/device is involved?
  • Who’s doing it (and how many)?
  • Safety plan + weather backup plan
  • Photo/video plan

Photo galleries (by year)

Jump straight into the official Flickr sets for each year.

2024 2023 2022 2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Prefer an on-site gallery too? Add your own images to an assets/ folder and this page can feature them in a grid + lightbox.

About Alton Weagle

Alton Weagle’s love for Mt. Washington showed up as pure creativity — climbing the Auto Road in distinctive ways like walking backward, blindfolded, and pushing a wheelbarrow of sugar.

This is a fan-style hub meant to celebrate the story and point visitors to official Auto Road resources.

The spirit of the day

“Calling all creatives.” Invent a first ascent, respect the mountain, and make a memory worth sharing.

Plan your day

Treat this like a mountain day, not a normal event day: weather swings fast, visibility can vanish, and plans should stay flexible.

Official contact

Mt. Washington Auto Road: (603) 466-3988 • info@mt-washington.com

Address: 1 Mount Washington Auto Road, Gorham, NH 03581.

A simple timeline

  1. Before you go: check road status + weather.
  2. Arrive early: parking, photos, meetups.
  3. Ascent: keep it safe, legal, and respectful.
  4. Summit time: photos, windproof layers, hydrate.
  5. Down safely: conditions can change on descent.

FAQ

How do you participate?
Come to celebrate, and if you want to attempt a “first ascent,” submit your idea by email to the Auto Road team.
What kinds of “first ascents” are we talking about?
Creative, unusual ascents (sometimes using unexpected devices) that still respect safety and the road.
Where can I see past years?
The galleries above link directly to the official Flickr sets by year.
Is the date always May 23?
The event has historically centered on May 23. Always confirm on the official event page for the current year.

For the latest updates, always check the official Mt. Washington Auto Road event listing and Alton Weagle Day page.