Comments from Summit Volunteers

2011-09-14 00:58:08.000 – Sandy Fisher & Sharon Camp,  Summit Volunteers

Sunrise

On New Hampshire’s highest peak, clouds come and go as do the view, hikers, tourists and even us as volunteers. This was our third year volunteering as cooks; each week spent on the summit is unique so we want to share a few highlights for 2011.

Saturday afternoon there was a wedding on the Observatory Deck overlooking the clear mountain view.

At Saturday evening’s Sunset Soiree, over 160 people came to celebrate the sunset with a champagne toast and they were blessed with perfect weather, 120 mile visibility and a gorgeous sunset.

11PM that night, under the Gibbous moon and starlight sky, we saw the city lights of Lancaster, Littleton, Berlin, Conway, Portsmouth, NH, Portland and Lewiston, Maine.

Despite being in the clouds on Sunday, throngs of hikers, many with flags, crowded the summit to honor the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. Fighting wind gusts of 40-45 mph, Boy Scouts held a flag ceremony on the Observatory Deck, and a flag was mounted on the summit in memory of Better Angels–the 343 firefighters who lost their lives.

Monday night’s full moon illuminated the summit and on Tuesday Morning while on top of the tower, we witnesses the sun rising up out of the clouds with the full moon behind us.As with the clouds, weather crews also come and go. It was nice to see Steve and Mike (also Marty) for our third year, and to meet the new Obs crew of Rick, Kevin and Erin. Gathered around the table for the evening meal, we enjoyed their humor and wit as well as their sounds ( mmm, mmmmm) of appreciation for our cooking.

Sandy Fisher & Sharon Camp,  Summit Volunteers