Spectators gather in dense fog Aug. 9 near the summit of Mount Washington as race vehicles from the 2026 Climb to the Clouds are barely visible through the clouds. The steam locomotive was noisier and noticeably bumpier, with the whistle, smoke and coal cinders providing reminders of an earlier era of Mount Washington travel. Washington Auto Road and the Sports Car Club of New Hampshire share a commitment to veterans and their families. Mounted there was the signed hood from the Subaru that Travis Pastrana drove when he set a Mount Washington course record in 2021. For us, it capped a day that showed nearly every personality Mount Washington has.