Editing Mount Washington (section)

==Geographical features==
Although the western slope that the Cog Railway ascends is straightforward from base to summit, the mountain's other sides are more complex. On the north side, [[Great Gulf]]—the mountain's largest glacial [[cirque]]—forms an [[amphitheater]] surrounded by the Northern Presidentials: Mounts [[Mount Clay|Clay]], [[Mount Jefferson (New Hampshire)|Jefferson]], [[Mount Adams (New Hampshire)|Adams]] and [[Mount Madison|Madison]].<ref name="bruceheald3" /> These connected peaks reach well into the treeless [[tundra#Alpine tundra|alpine zone]]. Massive Chandler Ridge extends northeast from the summit of Washington to form the amphitheater's southern wall and the incline is ascended by the [[Mount Washington Auto Road]].<ref name=bruceheald3 />
[[Image:First Aid cache on Mt Washington.jpg|thumb|right|[[First aid]] cache]]

East of the summit, a [[plateau]] known as the Alpine Gardens extends south from Chandler Ridge at about {{convert|5200|ft}} elevation. It is notable for plant species either endemic to [[alpine meadow]]s in the White Mountains or outliers of larger populations in arctic regions far to the north.<ref name=nhdfl>{{cite web| title=Alpine Garden: Alpine Zone| url=http://nhdfl.org/events-tours-and-programs/visit-nh-biodiversity/alpine-garden-images.aspx| publisher=Division of Forests and Lands| access-date=March 29, 2016| archive-date=March 24, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324200701/http://nhdfl.org/events-tours-and-programs/visit-nh-biodiversity/alpine-garden-images.aspx| url-status=live}}</ref> Alpine Gardens drops off precipitously into two prominent glacial cirques. Craggy [[Huntington Ravine]] offers rock and [[ice climbing]] in an alpine setting. More rounded [[Tuckerman Ravine]] is New England's best-known site for spring back-country skiing as late as June and then a scenic hiking route.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Skiing in Tuckerman Ravine|url=http://www.tuckerman.org/tuckerman/history.htm|website=Tuckerman Ravines|access-date=March 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317054647/http://www.tuckerman.org/tuckerman/history.htm|archive-date=March 17, 2007}}</ref>

South of the summit lies a second and larger alpine plateau, Bigelow Lawn,<ref name="pb2">{{cite peakbagger |rid=16124 |name=Presidential Range |access-date=February 12, 2015}}</ref> at {{convert|5000|ft}} to {{convert|5500|ft}} elevation. Satellite summit [[Boott Spur]] and then the Montalban Ridge including [[Mount Isolation]] and [[Mount Davis (New Hampshire)|Mount Davis]] extend south from it, while the higher Southern Presidentials—Mounts [[Mount Monroe|Monroe]], [[Mount Franklin (New Hampshire)|Franklin]], [[Mount Eisenhower|Eisenhower]], [[Mount Pierce (New Hampshire)|Pierce]], [[Mount Jackson (New Hampshire)|Jackson]] and [[Mount Webster|Webster]]—extend southwest to Crawford Notch. [[Dry River (New Hampshire)|Oakes Gulf]] separates the two high ridges.