At Mountain & Weather Reference
AT Mountain Reference & Field Decisions
Daily GO / NO-GO Check
- What’s today’s summit elevation?
- Town temp minus (3.5°F × elevation gain in thousands)
- Wind forecast?
- Any exposure above treeline?
If wind >30 mph or ice on rock: → Delay or bail
Major AT Climbs with Start Elevation
GEORGIA
| Peak | Start Elevation | Summit | Net Gain |
|---|
| Springer Mountain | ~3,200 ft | 3,782 ft | ~580 ft |
| Blood Mountain | ~3,100 ft (Neels Gap) | 4,458 ft | ~1,350 ft |
NORTH CAROLINA / TENNESSEE
| Peak | Start Elevation | Summit | Net Gain |
|---|
| Standing Indian Mountain | ~3,500 ft | 5,499 ft | ~2,000 ft |
| Wayah Bald | ~3,800 ft | 5,342 ft | ~1,540 ft |
| Cheoah Bald | ~1,700 ft | 5,062 ft | ~3,300 ft |
| Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) | ~5,000 ft | 6,643 ft | ~1,640 ft |
| Snowbird Mountain ✓ | ~2,200 ft | ~4,260 ft | ~2,060 ft |
VIRGINIA
| Peak | Start Elevation | Summit | Net Gain |
|---|
| Mount Rogers Area | ~4,000 ft | 5,729 ft | ~1,700 ft |
| The Priest | ~650 ft | 4,063 ft | ~3,400 ft |
| Three Ridges | ~1,500 ft | ~3,970 ft | ~2,470 ft |
MID-ATLANTIC
| Peak | Start Elevation | Summit | Net Gain |
|---|
| Blue Mountain (PA) | ~800 ft | ~2,300 ft | ~1,500 ft |
NEW ENGLAND
| Peak | Start Elevation | Summit | Net Gain |
|---|
| Mount Greylock | ~1,800 ft | 3,491 ft | ~1,700 ft |
| Mount Moosilauke | ~2,000 ft | 4,802 ft | ~2,800 ft |
| Franconia Ridge (Mt. Lafayette) | ~3,000 ft | 5,249 ft | ~2,250 ft |
| Mount Washington | ~2,400 ft | 6,288 ft | ~3,900 ft |
MAINE
| Peak | Start Elevation | Summit | Net Gain |
|---|
| Bigelow Range | ~1,300 ft | 4,145 ft | ~2,800 ft |
| Mount Katahdin | ~1,200 ft | 5,269 ft | ~4,000 ft |
Ranked Difficulty (Reality-Based)
TIER 1 — LEGENDARY
- Mount Washington
- Mount Katahdin
- The Priest
TIER 2 — MAJOR GRINDERS
- Snowbird Mountain
- Cheoah Bald
- Mount Moosilauke
- Franconia Ridge
TIER 3 — HARD BUT MANAGEABLE
- Blood Mountain
- Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome)
- Bigelow Range
Weather & Elevation Rules
Temperature Rule
Temperature Lapse Rates by Condition:
- Standard (dry air): -3.5°F per 1,000 ft gained
- Moist air: -3.3°F per 1,000 ft gained
- Worst-case (dry, windy): -5.5°F per 1,000 ft gained
Use worst-case for safety planning on exposed ridges and balds.
Wind Chill Guidelines
| Wind Speed | Feels Like |
|---|
| 10 mph | ~9°F colder |
| 20 mph | ~15°F colder |
| 30 mph | ~19°F colder |
| 40+ mph | ~22°F+ colder |
Hard Bail Conditions
- Wind >30 mph above treeline
- Ice on rock
- Freezing rain
- Visibility <100 ft
- Rapid temperature drop (>15°F/hour)
Month-by-Month Risk Overview (NOBO)
| Month | Region | Conditions | Risk Level |
|---|
| February | GA → Southern NC | Cold, ice risk, short daylight | Moderate-High |
| March | Smokies | High elevation, severe wind chill | High |
| April | NC → VA | Wet, improving temps | Moderate |
| May | Central VA | Heat + steep climbs | Moderate |
| June | Shenandoahs → PA | Rocks, fatigue | Low-Moderate |
| July | NY → VT | Heat, storms, mud | Moderate |
| August | Whites (NH) | Exposure, extreme weather | Very High |
| September | Maine | Cold, wet rock, fatigue | High |