Staff
Marty Basch, Windswept Editor
An avid cyclist, he's ridden in many places including from Maine to Alaska, Canada to Mexico and in Arctic Scandinavia. He once competed in the bike race up Mount Washington, stopped to eat lunch and didn't finish last. Marty also skis, snowboards, hikes and paddles. He gives humorous storytelling programs about his cycling adventures and has a web site: www.onetankaway.com.
Marty is a Boston University graduate and Explorers Club member. He lives on a Mount Washington Valley dirt road with his mortgage mate Jan Duprey.
Abby Blackburn, Membership & Events Coordinator
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Abby moved from the desert to the wilds of New Hampshire at the age of eight. She immediately fell in love with the mountains, forests, wildlife and skiing.
An internship in Glacier National Park, Montana while a senior at the University of New Hampshire cemented her love of the outdoors. Returning east to graduate, she served for several years as Sunday River Resort's competition and events manager, then as an independent contractor managing Maine Handicapped Skiing's popular ski-a-thon event. The opportunity to manage events and member relations for Mount Washington Observatory was a natural fit.
Abby plans to spend her life surrounded by the mountains. When not working, you can find her skiing, snowboarding, painting or just spending time outside watching the wildlife.
Dr. Peter Crane, Curator
Peter oversees the Observatory's Gladys Brooks Memorial Library, which features books, maps, prints, photos, and other material relating to the Observatory, Mount Washington, and the White Mountains. The collection is the largest, publicly-accessible trove of its kind in the White Mountain region, and serves the Observatory, its members, and the public as a resource for the history, literature, and science of Mount Washington and the White Mountains.
Peter has lived in the White Mountains for more than thirty years, and served the U.S. Forest Service and the Appalachian Mountain Club in resource management, public information, and educational roles before coming to work for the Observatory. He began his Observatory career in 1988 as a weather observer, museum manager, and Summit Shift Leader. After three years of summit duty, he focused on the Observatory's educational activities, based at the Observatory's valley office. He served for several years as Director of Programs before transitioning to his current position. Peter did his undergraduate work at Harvard College, and earned his doctoral degree in Folklore and Folklife from the University of Pennsylvania. An avid year-round hiker, he is also a volunteer trail maintainer for the Appalachian Mountain Club, a member of Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue (AVSAR), and serves on the board of the New Hampshire Outdoor Council.
Jeff DeRosa, Outreach Coordinator
Weather in Antarctica is almost as severe as the summit of Mount Washington—just ask Jeff who spent nearly two years conducting surface and upper atmospheric observations at the South Pole where he endured a low temperature of -108 °F (Wind Chill = -160 °F). After Antarctica, Jeff explored opportunities found in travel, broadcast weather forecasting, and higher education. Now, Jeff returns to the Observatory where he served as an observer from 2002 until 2005. Always eager to meet people, share experiences, and answer questions, Jeff is excited to serve as the Observatory's Outreach Coordinator.
Jeff earned his Bachelor's degree at the University of Southern Maine and his Master's degree at Newcastle University in northeast England. Originally from Bath, Maine, Jeff and his partner, Sarah, now live in Intervale and enjoy exploring all northern New England has to offer.
Linda and Hank Dresch, Valley Volunteer Coordinators
Linda and Hank have been married almost 40 years; have one daughter and two very active grandsons. During Hank's 30-year U.S. Coast Guard career they lived in several locations including Alaska and England. Linda held various positions including ones with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska and the Editorial Staff of the Wall Street Journal. They also had "retirement jobs" in Portland, Maine, where they continue to volunteer as ushers at Merrill Auditorium. In addition both have been very active volunteers wherever they have lived. Linda has had a lifetime connection with Mount Washington as the daughter of Robert S. Monahan, one of the Observatory's founders. Linda and Hank enjoy living in Jackson, New Hampshire and participating in local year-round activities.
Peter Gagne, Information Technology Manager
A former microwave radio equipment technician for the Air National Guard, Peter has traveled all over the world installing and reparing equipment. With a degree in Industrial Technology from the University of Southen Maine, he worked as a consultant in the optical disk field and then as a field engineer for Netflix before joining the Observatory staff in 2010.
Peter and his partner, Kathy, are avid hikers and winter sports enthusiasts. The Maine natives moved to Jackson, New Hampshire in 2009 to be closer to their favorite outdoor playground, and one year later Peter completed his goal of hiking all 48 four thousand footers. He describes the mixture of field and office work he enjoys at the Observatory as "a dream come true."
Kim Henry, Administrative Assistant
Kim has finally been able to realize her dream of moving to the North Country where "they have real winters". Relocating to Fryeburg, ME from Farmington, CT, she left a management career of retail credit; was on the board of directors for the Farmington Land Trust, Consumer Credit Counseling Service; was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and a volunteer for the American Red Cross, Hospital for Special Care, and the YWCA.
She is actively pursuing her pleasures of swimming, hiking, kayaking, walking, and her passion of bicycling. Bike packing for vacations; and commuting to work by bicycle for more than 30 years, she is now among others who do the same and truly appreciate the love of outdoors.
She is enjoying and appreciating her new role in the non-profit weather world of MWO, and is anxiously awaiting snow shoeing and cross country season.
John Mitchell, Facilities Coordinator
John first came to the White Mountain Region from the Chicago area since 1977, as a photographer seeking to expand his portfolio. Like many others who are associated with the Observatory, he rapidly fell in love with the White Mountains, and stayed to establish a career in the two pursuits of photography and woodworking.
John has expertise in many areas of woodworking - general carpentry, historical restorations, sign making, furniture building, and architectural woodworking - and he finds he can use various aspects of these to help make building the Weather Discovery Center exhibits interesting and fun.
Cara Rudio, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Born and raised in upstate New York, Cara blames her obsession with mountains on summers spent on Mt. Hood, Oregon. Her love of the alpine environment has grown through participation in her college's alpine ski racing team, as well as backcountry trips in the Tetons, Rockies, Cascades, and of course, New Hampshire's White Mountains.
A graduate of Syracuse University, Cara comes to the Observatory from Lander, Wyoming, where she worked as Publications Manager at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). The decision to move "back east" was based on her desire to work at the Observatory, and fueled by rumors of great skiing and rock climbing. She is happy to report that the rumors are true, and is thrilled to be able to help others connect with and enjoy the Mount Washington region through her role as Marketing and Communications Coordinator.
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