Among The Clouds

Optical Illusion on Mount Washington

There is a peculiar optical illusion attendant upon the view from the Summit. Of course, Mount Washington is higher by some hundreds of feet than its nearest rival, and yet to look off at a distance of twenty miles or thereabouts the surrounding mountains seem to surpass it in height, and give it the appearance of being in a hollow; especially is this illusion heightened by going down the mountain for a short distance. Even then, when above all neighboring heights, one seems to be far below them. But this illusion vanishes upon ascending one of the nearest peaks, for then Mount Washington rises up alone and unapproachable in height. On a few mornings during several summers these conditions have been reversed and the Northern Peaks, the Carter Range and the Kearsarge, Moat, Chocorua, Passaconaway, and the other neighboring mountains have assumed their smaller proportions. It is when the atmosphere conditions permit such a view, that one standing on the summit of Washington seems to be very high up in the air indeed.