>>1934288>underestimationThey see the height, compare it to the popular mountains in the west, and decide it must not be that bad
>changing weatherEven though it’s not very tall, it’s geographic location results in very erratic weather (more so than similar elevations).
>accessIt’s a solid days drive from NY, 4 hours from Boston or Montreal, and a few hours from dozens of smaller towns. It’s a very densely populated area.
>winter hikesIt can be insanely cold at the summit, but it’s not like a January hike of Rainier, so it can be doable. Combined with the erratic weather changes, and it’s a recipe for a possible disaster.
So it’s a seemingly easy hike/climb that’s visited by a ton of people, even in winter, in an area with possible extreme weather changes. It’s not just a factor of elevation.
