First Time As A Summit Volunteer

2014-07-28 18:31:28.000 – Rich Sullivan,  Summit Volunteer

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To begin, I need to thank my wife and children for allowing me this time to fulfill my desire to spend the week on the summit of Mt Washington. It is the longest I have ever been away from them and I know it is a very huge sacrifice on their part.Lots of preparation was put into this week, along with 8 months of planning. I was able to become a member of Mount Washington Observatory and partake in this weeklong volunteer program. I made a small change in the week that I initially chose and then stuck to my second choice.

The week started off with me being very nervous and not knowing what to expect. I also wanted to do a good job since my prime responsibility would be to cook dinner for the Observatory Crew. Soon after meeting everyone and getting all unpacked up, nerves calmed. You can tell that everyone loves what they do here and really welcome you as a part of their team.

I have really enjoyed my time here meeting new people, cooking for the crew, and having some time for myself to read, relax and explore. Meeting Marty the Cat was a highlight and something I looked forward to. I have been an avid hiker for the past four years and this was the ultimate experience to come up here and have the opportunity to hike on my own.

I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know Aylmer, my volunteer partner for the week. Thank you for your extensive culinary knowledge and all the personal goodies you brought along for the ride.

Finally, thanks to Mount Washington Observatory for this amazing opportunity and experience. It is a great program and I would love to come back again next year!

Observer Footnote: The Mount Washington Observatory will be hosting the seventh annual Science in the Mountains lecture series this summer! This free, informative lecture series is open to the public. The next presentation, Forecasting Wind Gusts at Mount Washington, will be Wednesday, Aug 30! We hope to see you there!

Rich Sullivan,  Summit Volunteer