I’ve got a couple of secrets I’m going to share

2012-09-01 19:39:56.000 – Roger Pushor,  Weather Observer/IT Specialist

Waiting for geographic Summit – Tower in the back

Labor Day weekend is the last big weekend of the summer before all of the kids who haven’t already gone back to school head back so the Summit has been bustling with visitors today and with tomorrow predicted to be partly sunny I would expect more of the same tomorrow.

As you can see from the picture the line to get to the geographic summit has been long today. After making their way up the mountain everybody wants to get their picture taken at the highest point east of the Mississippi and north of the Carolinas – Well here’s the first secret – The geographic summit is at 6288 feet above mean sea level however the top of the Observatory Instrument tower is at 6310 feet above mean sea level so that’s 22 feet higher if you want bragging rights for having your picture taken at the highest point all be it man made north of the Carolinas and east of the Mississippi. Now here is the second secret – If you’re a member of the Observatory you can get a complementary guided tour of the inner workings of the Observatory which includes access to the top of the instrument tower if you have time for that. If you bring your own camera it makes for a great souvenir shot. And guess what – There’s no waiting line for Observatory tours – Just go down to the Observatory Museum and check in with one of the attendants’ and they’ll get you on the next tour which is usually at five past the hour unless you came to the Summit by Cog Railway or Auto Road Stage Auto Road Stage than we may need to make special arrangements to work with your transportations schedule.

Roger Pushor,  Weather Observer/IT Specialist