A Member’s Comments
2012-06-19 23:10:18.000 – Charles G. Staples, Mount Washington Observatory Member
Mount Washington has always been a source of inspiration to me. I got my love of the mountains and hiking from my father Harold. He was a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club and Green Mountain Club. When I was 7, he signed me up for membership to the Observatory and I’ve been a member ever since. That was 75 years ago.
I’m 82 now and have climbed Mount Washington about 60 times. That’s just a guess. I haven’t climbed it for about 12 or 13 years now. But last month I climbed Mount Monadnock, the Dublin Trail. My heart and muscles felt fine. I didn’t feel fatigued. It took me two and half hours to get to the top.
The first time I came to the summit was 1939 with my family. We drove to the base and then took the Cog up. In 1941 while attending Camp Tohkomeupog in Madison, I climbed it for the first time.
I didn’t know about me being a long standing member until I got a letter marking my 50th year and an invitation to a dinner. I couldn’t go since I was working and living in Chicago. But since then, we’ve marked the milestone and this is the third overnight my wife Joan and I have spent at the summit.
I really have a fondness for the the mountains. They are a special thing in my life. I admire the Observatory, and its work. I like to get back up here whenever I can. Hopefully in another five years.
Charles G. Staples, Mount Washington Observatory Member
Adjusting to Life on the Summit
Adjusting to Life on the Summit By Charlie Peachey Working on the summit of Mount Washington is not your average job. There aren't too many other places where the employees work and live together for
A Surprise Aurora
A Surprise Aurora By Francis Tarasiewicz After 17 months of working at New England’s highest peak, it finally happened. On the night of November 12th, 2023, I was lucky enough to view the famous and
A Glimpse at METAR Reports
A Glimpse at METAR Reports By Alexis George, Weather Observer & Meteorologist METAR observations are submitted every hour of every day at Mount Washington Observatory. METAR is a format for reporting weather information that gets