In 2006 mountain & trail running legend Dave Dunham published “Only One Hill! A History of the Mt. Washington Road Race”. Dave won this historic 7.6 mile mountain race on several occasions, represented the United States at ultra & mountain running world championship events and won a silver medal at the 1993 World Mountain Running Trophy. His book is a history of the Mt Washington road race from 1936, when nine intrepid runners completed the race, to the present, where thousands enter a lottery for a limited number of entries. Longtime member of the Central Mass Striders running club and resident of Bradford, Massachusetts, Dave still runs, races & writes regularly. Each Friday for the next 9 weeks Dave will be publishing a chapter of his book on this website and on his blog. To purchase a hard copy of this book visit the Infinity Publishing website.
The 2016 Northeast Delta Dental Mt. Washington Road Race is scheduled for Saturday, June 18th, 2016.
Only One Hill! – Introduction:
I stood on the starting line of the Mt Washington road race already drenched in sweat. It was 1994 and it would reach nearly ninety degrees that day. It was already in the eighties and word from the summit was that it would be in the sixties when we reached the top and there would be no cooling breeze today. I thought to myself “why am I doing this” and “why are the other 900 people behind me doing this”. A bunch of years have passed but my answer remains unchanged, and it is probably the answer many of the other 900 would give. I really enjoy the unique challenge of racing to the top. There are many races out there, and even many Mountain races, but Mt Washington is where it all started for me. My heart belongs to the Mountain. I ended up winning the race in 1994 through a mix of patient early running, others not running smart, and a fair amount of luck. I also started thinking about compiling the complete results of the race. What started as that thought grew, and this book is the result.
I spent an unknown number of hours combing through old magazines and newspapers to get any results I could, and then pounded away at the keyboard to enter the more than 22,000 individual results. I interviewed numerous well-known and not so well known Mt Washington runners. If nothing else, I had a great time learning more about the race I love.
Mt Washington Highway Map
Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeast United States, rising 6,288’. The mountain can be reach via Route 16 in New Hampshire. As of this writing Into the Mountains notes that “About one third of the people who climb Mt Washington do so on foot, out of a total of approximately 250,000 summit visitors per summer”.
The Summit Circa 1900
Into the Mountains also notes “the first white person to climb Mt Washington is generally believed to be an Englishman named Darby Field” in 1642. The Crawford Path, which Ethan Allen Crawford and his father cut in 1819, was the first trail up Mt Washington. Tourism on Mt Washington took a huge step forward when in 1851 the Atlantic & St Lawrence Railroad connected Gorham with Portland, ME. The following year a stone summit house was built and in 1853 the “Tip-Top House” was erected. Since 1932 there has been a permanent weather station on the summit. The summit has had many different buildings on top over the years.
Tip Top House Circa 1895
The Mt Washington Auto Road (which at the time was called the “Carriage Road) was built over the course of seven years and when completed was the world’s first mountain toll road. On July 1, 1853 New Hampshire Governor David Macomber issued a charter for the Mount Washington Road Company. Surveying the road took over a year. Construction started in 1855, with the first four miles completed by 1857. At that time work was halted as money to build the road had been exhausted. The Mt Washington Summit Road Company was incorporated in 1859 and construction continued. When the Carriage Road opened in 1861 it was the only way, other than hiking, to get to the summit. Vacationers were taken to the top in a horse drawn mountain wagon. Into the Mountains notes that “records for accomplishments on Mt Washington were intentionally set as early as 1850, when guests of the Glen House vied for who could post the fastest time walking up the carriage road.” It continues noting “About 1900, Edgar Welch of Hiram Maine, after having ‘loosened up’ in the Tip-Top House tavern, ran down the carriage road in about forty-five minutes.” Welch continued running down the mountain every year, at least until 1907, when he set a personal record of 45 minutes at the age of 51 years.
Harlan P. Amen
Some early history of the auto road includes the tale of Harlan P. Amen (1853-1913) who is credited with running up the recently completed road in 1875 in less than two hours (1:57). Amen would later become the Principal at Philips Exeter Academy and the Republican delegate to the national convention. It is also noted that on August 16, 1904 at 10:00 AM, Dr. George S. Foster of Manchester, NH ran from the old tollhouse to the Tip-Top House in 1:42 at the age of 18. Foster prepared for the race by running the hilly roads around Pinkham Notch while spending a month leading a boys group. The group, called Next-to-nature, maintained a camp at the base of the auto road. At the time of his summit run Foster’s time was faster than any vehicle had ascended. Winds that day reached gust of up to 80 miles per hour. Foster is also credited with a record breaking 42 minute descent at some point, while he was a medical student at Tufts University. There are indications that in 1929 a race was held that attracted three starters and one finisher.
Other events on the mountain include the first auto ascent by Freelan and Flora Stanley in 1899 in a steam-powered Locomobile. On July 11-12, 1904, the first “Climb to the Clouds” was held. Auto manufacturers believed that the road was a place to demonstrate the ability of the early version of the automobile. The race was held off and on throughout the years. The centennial race was held July 9-12, 2004. On March 20, 1932 a ski race was held from the summit to the Glen house, the race was won in just over 12 minutes by Edward J. Blood. A bicycle race has been held numerous times over the years and includes a category for tandem bikes.
The Stanley Locomobile ascending the Auto road in 1899.
Mt Washington has some of the most severe weather in the world. The highest wind velocity recorded anywhere in the world was recorded on the summit on April 12, 1934 when the wind gusted from the Southeast at 231 miles per hour. Typical weather for June (when the footrace is now held) features a normal daily high of 50.3 degrees, and a normal low of 38.5 degrees. The record temperatures for June are 72 degrees in 2003 and 8 degrees in 1945. Normal precipitation in June is 8.3 inches and normal wind for June is 27 MPH from the West. The peak gust recorded in June is 136 MPH.
Runners at the 4-mile turn circa 1972.
Guide to abbreviations used in Only One Hill:
With the many different teams represented throughout this book and limited space to print the full name of each I have resorted to abbreviations. I found that many of the abbreviations used in the results changed from year to year. I tried to be consistent; however I have occasionally used multiple abbreviations for the same team. I have listed them alphabetically below and listed the first year that particular abbreviation was use.
First Used – Abbrieviation – Meaning
1936 – AGR – Age Group Record
1936 – CR – Course Record
1936 – FW – Future/Former Winner
1936 – BAA – Boston Athletic Association
1936 – Cntrl CT AA – Central Connecticut Athletic Association
1936 – Del-Val AA – Delaware Valley Athletic Association
1936 – Electric Boat – Electric Boat Track Club
1936 – NETC – New England Track Club
1936 – NMC – North Medford Club
1936 – NY Pioneer – New York Pioneer Club
1936 – NYPC – New York Pioneer Club
1936 – Reipas AC – Reipas Athletic Club
1936 – Spartan AC – Spartan Athletic Cub
1936 – St. Anthony’s – St. Anthony’s Boys Club
1961 – Lynn AC – Lynn Athletic Club
1962 – NYAC – New York Athletic Club
1966 – Central Conn. AA – Central Connecticut Athletic Association
1966 – Gorham AC – Gorham Athletic Club
1966 – Metro AC – Metropolitan Athletic Club
1966 – Millrose AA – Millrose Athletic Association
1966 – Mt Park AA – Mt Park Athletic Association
1966 – Mt Royal of Canada – Mt Royal Athletic Club
1966 – NYC – Unknown
1966 – UNH – University of New Hampshire
1966 – Viking Ski Club – Viking Ski Club
1967 – Cambridge Y – Cambridge Young Mens Club of America
1967 – Hartford TC – Hartford Track Club
1967 – Mt Royal – Mt Royal Athletic Club
1967 – Ottawa Ski – Ottawa Ski Club
1967 – Waterville AC – Waterville Athletic Club
1968 – Rochester TC – Rochester Track Club
1968 – SAC – Shore Athletic Club
1968 – Salem AC – Salem Athletic Club
1968 – SJTC – South Jersey Track Club
1968 – WAC – Waterville Athletic Club
1970 – CSU – Cambridge Sports Union
1970 – Penn AC – Pennsylvania Athletic Club
1971 – CCAA – Central Connecticut Athletic Association
1971 – McGill Univ – McGill University
1971 – MRFA – Mt Royal Frans Amis – Quebec
1971 – No. Country AC – North Country Athletic Club
1971 – Strafford Spartans – Strafford Spartans
1971 – Turtletown – Turtletown Athletic Club
1972 – Augusta REC – Augusta Recreation Association
1972 – NCAC – North Country Athletic Club
1972 – Turtletown AC – Turtletown Athletic Club
1972 – UMASS – University of Massachusetts
1973 – ARTC – Augusta Recreation Track Club
1973 – MSTC – Mystic Side Track Club
1973 – OSC – Ottawa Ski Club
1973 – SSTC – Strafford Spartans Track Club
1973 – TTAC – Turtletown Athletic Club
1973 – VTRR – Vermont Road Runners
1973 – WP – Unknown
1974 – BCTC – Unknown
1974 – Bethel Bananas – Bethel Bananas
1974 – Buffalo TC – Buffalo Track Club
1974 – Mohegan – Mohegan Striders
1974 – SLAC – Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club
1974 – Triple Cities TC – Triple Cities Track Club
1974 – U of Laval – University of Laval (Canada)
1974 – Washington SC – Washington Sports Club
1975 – BRU – Unknown
1975 – CAPS – Caps
1975 – GBTC – Greater Boston Track Club
1975 – LRR – Larigmac Road Runners
1975 – LRTC – Lakes Region Track Club
1975 – LT – Unknown
1975 – MAA – Millrose Athletic Association
1975 – SMAC – Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club
1975 – SS – Shenipsit Striders
1976 – Cenleona RC – Cenleona Running Club
1976 – Larigmac RR – Larigmac Ridge Runners
1976 – Laurentian U TC – Laurentian University Track Club
1976 – OTC – Oregon Track Club
1976 – Plausted Harriers – Plausted Harriers
1977 – ECSC – Unknown
1977 – Keene State – Keene State College
1977 – Lucky TC – Lucky Track Club
1977 – Seacoast – Seacoast Striders
1978 – Onteora – Onteora Road Running Club
1978 – SSTC – Seacoast Striders Track Club
1978 – State College – Unknown
1978 – Vermont RR – Vermont Road Runners
1978 – YMCA – Young Men’s Club of America
1979 – Craftsbury – Craftsbury Ski Academy
1979 – N Carolina TC – North Carolina Track Club
1979 – Strafford AA – Strafford Athletic Association
1979 – US Ski Team – United States Ski Team
1979 – Wolfpack – Wolfpack
1980 – CRC – Cambridge Running Club
1980 – CTAC – Unknown
1980 – DOC – Dartmouth Outing Club
1980 – GRC – Unknown
1980 – JWAC – Johnson and Wales Athletic Club
1980 – ORC – Onteora Running Club
1980 – UH – Unknown
1985 – Mara Tours – Marathon Tours
1985 – Willimantic – Willimantic Athletic Club
1985 – WMM – White Mountain Milers
1986 – GSRT – Granite State Racing Team
1986 – MVS – Merrimack Valley Striders
1987 – Club Neast – Club Northeast
1987 – GLRR – Greater Lowell Road Runners
1987 – GMAA – Green Mountain Athletic Association
1987 – GNB – Greater New Bedford
1987 – US Bi – United States Biathlon Team
1987 – WCRC – Winners Circle Running Club
1988 – CNE – Club Northeast
1989 – CMeS – Central Maine Striders
1990 – BRR – Berkshire Road Rats
1990 – GCS – Gate City Striders
1991 – BC/BS – Blue Cross / Blue Shield
1991 – Berks – Berkshire Road Rats
1991 – Bridgton – Bridgton Academy
1991 – Liberty AC – Liberty Athletic Club
1991 – Maine TC – Maine Track Club
1991 – METC – Maine Track Club
1991 – RICH – Rich Classic Athletic Club
1991 – White Mtn – White Mountain Milers
1992 – AA – Athletic Alliance
1992 – BRC – Boston Running Club
1992 – CMS – Central Massachusetts Striders
1992 – HTC – Hartford Track Club
1992 – LAC – Liberty Athletic Club
1992 – RIRR – Rhode Island Road Runners
1993 – Educators – Educators
1993 – MCS – Unknown
1993 – Mercer – Mercer County Bucks
1994 – AF – Athletes Foot
1994 – OSAC – Ocean State Athletic Club
1996 – GNBTC – Greater New Bedford Track Club
1997 – BLO – Unknown
1997 – HS – Healthsource
1997 – HSK – Unknown
1997 – IATC – Irish American Track Club
1997 – NB – New Balance
1997 – NIKE – Nike
1997 – PFIZR – Pfizer
1997 – WillAC – Willimantic Athletic Club
1998 – HMRR – Hudson Mohawk Road Runners
1998 – MR – Millrose Athletic Association
1999 – AD – Addidas
1999 – BBRR – Back Bay Road Runners
1999 – HITK – Hitek
2000 – BKVR – Battenkill Valley Runners
2000 – CAA – Colonial Athletic Association
2000 – CPTC – Central Park Track Club
2000 – CVT – Central Vermont
2000 – CVTRC – Central Vermont Running Club
2000 – NYH – New York Harriers
2000 – REEB – Reebok
2000 – SAUC – Saucony
2001 – AE – Athletics East
2001 – CCAC – Cape Cod Athletic Club
2001 – Hitek – Hitek
2001 – Horst – Horst
2001 – Millrs – Millrose Athletic Association
2001 – Whirl – Whirlaway Racing Team
2001 – Willow – Willow Street Athletic Club
2001 – WMAC – Western Massachusetts Athletic Club
2002 – GUTS – Unknown
2002 – Hgel – Hammergel
2003 – AR – Unknown
2003 – MM&M – Moose Milers & Marathoners
2003 – MMM – Moose Milers & Marathoners
2003 – PWBR – Powerbar
2003 – TG – Team Gloucester
2003 – WRT – Whirlaway Racing Team
2004 – Cstal – Coastal Athletic Associaton
2004 – FLRC – Finger Lakes Running Club
2004 – Teva – Teva
2004 – WSCR – Westchester Track Club
2005 – CTVT – Central Vermont Running Club
2005 – NEW – New England Trail
2005 – RR – Rochester Runners
2005 – SRT – Saratoga
Dave Dunham post race.
