Mount Washington Observatory Observer Blog
Supporter Spotlight: Ryan Shepard
Supporter Spotlight: Ryan Shepard By Ryan Shepard and Carissa Milliman Ever since I was a kid, living in Western New York and growing up with lake effect snow, I thought harsh weather was incredibly cool. There is nothing like witnessing incredible feats of weather and how nature affects day-to-day life. And frankly, who doesn't just dig snow days, both as a student and then (sometimes) as an adult? I still remember snowstorms from the late seventies, and the ice storm that hit my area back in the early nineties. When I moved to the Mount Washington Valley in 2021,
Supporter Spotlight: Erik Rider
Supporter Spotlight: Erik Rider By Wendy Almeida For Erik Rider, supporting Mount Washington Observatory comes from a lifelong fascination with weather and how it shapes daily life. Growing up along the Massachusetts coast, he remembers being introduced to “lovely hurricanes,” an experience that stayed with him. When he moved north and began recreating in the White Mountains, discovering the Higher Summits Forecast deepened that connection. “I’ve used pretty much all of the Observatory's resources,” he says. As a self-described “weather geek,” he attends Science in the Mountains programs to keep learning. And he always makes a point to “check
An Autumn Above the Clouds on Mount Washington
An Autumn Above the Clouds on Mount Washington By Cassie Farnsworth I don’t know how many times in life you get to say “it was exactly what I hoped it would be,” but my internship on Mount Washington was undoubtedly one of those rare moments. From the moment I first learned about the Observatory’s internship program, I had a feeling it would be a perfect fit. What I didn’t anticipate was just how deeply this experience would impact me. I arrived in September, right as the mountain was preparing to become busy with fall foliage visitors. I was giving
2025 Holiday Staff Picks
2025 Holiday Staff Picks By Brandi Malloy 2026 is just a few weeks away, and the season of giving is in full swing! From Nimbus plushies to yeti beanies, we're incredibly grateful for your holiday gift purchases this season through the official MWOBS online store. Now that I've shared my personal favorites, I've turned to the rest of the team for their intel on top Observatory gifts and gear, and they had some fantastic recommendations! Read below to hear from more MWOBS team members across the organization for our Holiday Gift Staff Picks. I also wanted to send along
Supporter Spotlight: Colleen Gendron
Supporter Spotlight: Colleen 'Coco' Gendron By Wendy Almeida In the 1970s, Colleen 'Coco' Gendron was introduced to hiking by a close friend’s father, an avid hiker and Appalachian Mountain Club instructor, who shared stories of Mount Washington and the White Mountains. Her first hike up the mountain was memorable: “I was completely unprepared and naïve, but fortunately in the company of a few seasoned hikers, we made a successful trip.” That experience “gave me the hiking bug,” she says, and soon she learned more about the Observatory during a visit to its North Conway office and speaking with curator, Dr. Peter Crane. She then signed up
I Did Not Get Blown Off, I Persisted
I Did Not Get Blown Off, I Persisted By Alyssa Bélanger Hello again! To write this farewell blog summarizing my three months on the remote summit of Mount Washington, I decided to take a good bit of time to reflect. I thought about my emotions during the plane ride out to the northeast, the challenges I faced, and looked through the insane amount of pictures on my camera roll. Fear not, I will not post all 878 and counting photos, just the highlights from my time on the rockpile. Too many pictures from my time up here.
An Experience Worth 1,000 More
An Experience Worth 1,000 More By Mitchell Tsokatos Me and the summit sign once winter really got going. Taken 11/2/25. Unfortunately, my time on Mount Washington as an intern has come to an end. After six weeks of living atop the tallest mountain in the northeast, I can safely say that I will never experience anything else like it in my life. From the beginning, we were introduced to the amazing sights that being atop the summit of Mount Washington provides with a clear day. After one of the driest Octobers on record, me and my co-intern
Supporter Spotlight: AJ Mastrangelo
Supporter Spotlight: AJ Mastrangelo By Wendy Almeida A young AJ on the summit with Rebecca Scholand. AJ Mastrangelo’s relationship with Mount Washington Observatory began long before his internship—or his current career as a meteorologist. It started with a childhood visit to the summit. “My family had a seasonal place on Squam Lake in Holderness,” he recalls. “We’d always make trips up to Bretton Woods and that area, so I knew of the Observatory since I was a kid. I think I was about eight or nine years old when we drove up the Auto Road and took
Supporter Spotlight: Angelo Decrisantis
Supporter Spotlight: Angelo Decrisantis By Wendy Almeida For Angelo Decrisantis, Mount Washington has been a lifelong connection. It began in 1965, at age 15, on a family drive to the summit. “My first experience with the Observatory was in 1965 when I drove to the summit with my family while on vacation. I instantly fell in love with the mountain and everything else about it,” he recalls. Angelo became a member soon after and has supported the Observatory for nearly 50 years, hiking to the summit in all kinds of weather -- even sub-zero winter climbs with his son.
2025 Holiday Gift Guide
2025 Holiday Gift Guide By Brandi Malloy There’s something magical about Mount Washington, especially during this time of year. Thanks to our online store, you can bring a little piece of that magic home— and gift it to your loved ones. As Retail Manager for Mount Washington Observatory, I have the unique pleasure of sharing our work through fun and engaging products, publications, partnerships, and souvenirs so that you can celebrate its mission the whole year through. During my time here, I have grown familiar to the hundreds of products we offer, so I thought it might be fitting
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