Snowfield Traversal

Lore & Background

The Snowfield Traversal is the penultimate area of Journey, where the player climbs the final mountain peak. The deep snow and relentless wind force the player to conserve scarf energy, using brief moments of shelter to recharge. The journey through this frozen wasteland is a test of perseverance, culminating in a final ascent that leads to the game's emotional conclusion.

In Their Own Story

The classic Presidential Traverse kicks off from a trailhead on U.S. Route 2 or at the Dolly Copp Campground, then claws its way across the great ridge of the range before plunging down to Crawford Notch at the southern end—or you can run it in reverse. Covering roughly 23 miles with 9,000 feet of elevation gain, this route demands you bag the summits named after U.S. presidents. From north to south, that gauntlet includes: Mount Madison (James Madison), Mount Adams (John Adams), Mount Jefferson (Thomas Jefferson), Mount Washington (George Washington), Mount Monroe (James Monroe), Mount Eisenhower (Dwight Eisenhower), and Mount Pierce (Franklin Pierce). If you're short on time or grit, you can trim the distance to 20.4 miles by sticking to standard through trails—but you'll skip the summits and miss the full experience.

Reader's Guide

A full presidential collection, bagging every trail-accessible peak in the range, adds one more from north to south: Mount Clay, named for Henry Clay, a Kentucky senator and contemporary of Daniel Webster. Strictly speaking, Clay lacks the 200 feet of prominence needed to stand alone—it's really just a shoulder of Mount Washington. (In 2003, the New Hampshire legislature tried to rename it "Mount Reagan," but the U.S. Board on Geographic Names voted it down in 2010, so it remains Clay.)

Did You Know?

• The Snowfield Traversal was designed to evoke a sense of isolation and struggle, with the wind mechanic directly affecting player movement and scarf energy.
• The scarf energy system in this section forces players to carefully plan their route, using rocks and ruins as windbreaks.
• The music in the Snowfield Traversal dynamically shifts based on the player's progress, building from somber to triumphant as the summit is reached.
• The snow particles and wind effects were created using a custom particle system to simulate the harsh mountain environment.
• The final climb in the Snowfield Traversal is a single, uninterrupted sequence that lasts several minutes, emphasizing the player's determination.