Summit Summer

By Aspen M.

Hello everyone! My name is Aspen, I’m one of the summer weather interns here at the Mount Washington Observatory. I fell in love with weather at a young age after I watched a hailstorm decimate my mom’s vegetable garden. Such a simple yet tragic event really set off my infatuation with learning how the world works in quite a literal sense. Five-year-old me would be in awe seeing that I became a meteorologist and now pursue what I truly love. It feels like a dream getting to work at the location of some of the world’s worst weather!

Taking in the views on my way up to Lakes of the Clouds.

In 2024, I completed my bachelor’s in meteorology with a minor in mathematics from Western Connecticut State University. I’m originally from Connecticut, however last August I moved to New Hampshire and began my Master’s in Applied Meteorology at Plymouth State University. I will be finishing my thesis this December.

Although I recently started the internship, I have already experienced a variety of weather on the summit including snow, freezing rain, sleet, hail, and even a thunderstorm. When I first arrived, I was greeted by the gorgeous views and lucked out with pleasant conditions.

Views of the Cog on my first day.

About a day later, the summit was covered in snow. Of course, myself along with the other weather intern and a volunteer had to go out to build a snowman. Just a few days later on the start of meteorological summer we got to build another. It’s wild that I now can say I’ve built a snowman on the first day of June.

Our *abstract* snowman.

Making a snow angel on the observatory deck.

It still feels so unreal that I get to live up here this summer. I want to thank the MWOBS staff for giving me this amazing opportunity! I’m beyond excited to work with the observers, take in the views (if the fog clears), and continue to hike around the White Mountains hopefully knocking out more of the NH48.

Nimbus supervising my breakfast making me feel less homesick from my kitty.