Not soon after I started on the mountain, I got my first view of lenticulars spread over the northern Presidentials. The winds that day were about 40 mph, something I didn’t realize would become rare later on in the summer. Most days were light and variable until this last week when the summit got back up to 74 mph.

 

 

The summit is in the clouds 60 percent of the time, but sometimes it briefly clears and reveals some amazing atmospheric phenomenon like thunderstorms, or rainbows.

 

 

 

However, nothing compares to crystal clear skies and temperatures in the upper 40s.

 

 

My last week on the summit was bittersweet. The weather had a nice return to the beginning of summer conditions with high winds, cooler temperatures, and clear skies returning to the summit. It was a nice reminder of where I’ve been over the summer and what I’ve seen. I’ve been waiting to be up here my whole life, but I also miss everyone back in Illinois and want to go back. As hard as it is, I have to go finish my degree, and then I can come back. I’m already making plans to come back and volunteer next summer. I thought it would be good to leave as I came, so goodbye, I’ll be back someday.