As Sayen said, “These lands rightfully belong to the flora and fauna that are hardy enough to flourish there.” Just because there is demand does not necessarily mean it should be met.Īs Mt. Humans do not have a “right” to sleep on Mt. But when that development starts irreparably harming local fragile ecosystems, it becomes harder to justify. This is not to say that there should not be beautiful natural places accessible by car, for those who might not be able to make the difficult treks (even more accessible would be public transit to trailheads, but that’s another conversation). At the time, he said to hikers who opposed the hotel, “Maybe you shouldn’t be climbing on Mount Washington.” Of the AMC’s primitive backcountry Lakes of the Clouds Hut, the only overnight accommodations in the area, he said, “why should the AAC be the only one offering a hut? …I wouldn’t want to stay there.”Īppalachian Trail hikers crossing the tracks of the Cog on Mt. “I know people are concerned about the impacts on the area up there, but there’s been a lot of impact there over the years anyway, and there continues to be,” said Presby of the original hotel plan, as reported by Backpacker Magazine in 2017. Washington, saying that the railway and the proposed Lizzie’s Station were “relics of the nineteenth century’s exploitative land ethic.” The petition opposing the development emphasizes that “the ecological impact…cannot be understated,” and that the impact on the viewshed could also be significant. In an op-ed in the New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism, Jamie Sayen called the Cog Railway a “vertical scar” on Mt.
It could cause significant disturbance to the ecosystem to install the waste-water pipe and upgrade the existing fiber-optic cable necessary for the project. But both expressed hesitation about the plan and its potential impact on conservation efforts. Chris Thayer, the AMC’s representative on the commission called the plan “creative,” and David Govatski, a local retired U.S Forest Service forester expressed hope that it could ease congestion on the summit. This current proposal would need less development near the summit. The current proposal to station sleeper cars on the mountain from May-October was met with reactions ranging from hesitant neutrality to vehement opposition. The opposition groups included The Nature Conservancy, The Audubon Society, The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Conservation Law Foundation, Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and a grassroots coalition of activists called Keep the Whites Wild. There are several endangered species of plants and animals that could be irreparably harmed by extensive destruction of their habitat. Presby’s December 2016 plans to build a 35-room luxury hotel fell through amid harsh criticism from individuals and environmental groups that the construction would harm the fragile tundra alpine ecosystem. He has tried to establish lodging near the summit since 2016, wanting to replicate the Gilded Age vacation destinations that used to grace the mountain. This is not the first time Presby has proposed luxury accommodations in the Mt. Washington’s summit is the second-highest point on the 2,194-mile long Appalachian Trail and an iconic waypoint for backpackers and thru-hikers. In addition to drawing hundreds of thousands of tourists per year, Mt. These would be granted on the condition that the Cog settle property disputes with the state and agree to not engage in further development on the Mt. While Lizzie’s Station would be built on land owned by the Cog, the project requires a variety of permits from the New Hampshire government. Presby proposed his plan on March 4th to the Mount Washington Commission. Critics argue that increased development would damage the fragile alpine tundra ecosystem, and a petition opposing the proposal has already garnered over 25 thousand signatures. The $14 million dollar proposal would station the cars at 5,800 ft elevation from mid-May through October and would have the capacity to host 70 guests a night. Washington summit in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Wayne Presby, owner of the Mount Washington Cog Railway, announced plans to establish “Lizzie’s Station,” 18 railway cars that would provide “upscale” accommodations and a restaurant near the Mt.