Full Circle on the Summit

By Peter Edwards

Growing up in New England as a weather enthusiast, I always viewed the Mount Washington Observatory as a mythical place of meteorological extremes that inspired endless curiosity for me. That curiosity was propelled even further during my 7th grade Earth Science class when my teacher at the time showed us an episode of an educational program called “The Voyage of Mimi.” They took at trip to Mount Washington to visit the observatory in the middle of the winter, giving a glimpse of what their operations were like and what life entailed stationed on the highest mountain in the Northeast. The insider look at the snowcat ride to the summit with Ken Rancourt (now one of my research advisors), the hurricane force winds, the rime ice and the comradery of a small group of rugged meteorologists captivated me. So, when I was given the opportunity to intern this winter at the observatory, I was not just given an opportunity to further my career but to fulfill a curiosity I’ve held for a long time.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait long to experience Mount Washington’s extreme conditions. On January 2^nd (my second day), wind speeds were sustained well over 100mph and a peak gust of 142mph was recorded. Going up to the tower during near peak winds was a little scary as I could feel the winds attempting to peel me off the ladder heading up to the top of the parapet. But thankfully, that was exactly the type of experience I was looking for.

Giving a weather station tour to an EduTrip.

Outside of the extreme weather, my internship was an incredibly rewarding learning experience. I had the opportunity to conduct my own research project, gain forecasting experience, as well as learn more about the observatory’s operations and its long history.

Finally, I want to thank the entire staff. Everyone, from the valley to the summit was a pleasure to work with, and I’m grateful to have experienced this remarkable place alongside such a dedicated and passionate group of people.

To learn more about Peter’s research examining the 20-year climatology of upslope snowfall events on Mount Washington, visit our intern research projects page.

Me (center) with fellow winter interns Frank Vazzano (left) and Mees Franssen.