PHOTOS

On Sunday, March 30, 2008, seven antique Polaris snowmobiles driven by members of the New England Antique Snowmobile Club traveled up the Mt. Washington Auto Road to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the first snowmobile ascent of Mt. Washington. The seven rear engine Polaris snowmobiles reached the 6.5-mile point on the Mt. Washington Auto Road before turning around due to icy road conditions. The first ascent of the mountain took place in 1963 and has only been duplicated once—in 2005.

Based in Littleton, New Hampshire, the New England Antique Snowmobile Club, whose motto is “Snowmobiling in Slow Motion,” restores and runs antique snowmobiles. If weather conditions permit, they undertake this reenactment ride to the summit of Mt. Washington annually with sleds restored to the same specifications of those that originally made the journey in 1963.

Despite not reaching the summit, the group was treated to a mild day, by Mt. Washington standards, and magnificent views in every direction, and they are already planning next year’s reenactment.