My Volunteer Week on the Summit 2013-08-12 19:13:07.000 - Julie Beal,  Summit Volunteer A View of the Summit from Jefferson Greetings from the Rock Pile!(I've really wanted to say that!) If you've been following along reading the observer comments, you know that it has been quite the exciting weather week here up on the summit. This is my first time volunteering for the Observatory Crew, and hopefully it will not be my last; it has been a truly remarkable experience. It took me long enough to get around to it, but I will not wait too long to do it

A Summer on the Rockpile 2013-08-11 21:52:05.000 - Luke Davis,  Summit Intern On Top of the World It's amazing how fast time has passed up here; this will be my last shift of the summer. With my research wrapping up and my internship coming to an end, it was great to not only see one of the biggest rainfall events in the summit's recent history, but also enjoy another breathtaking cloudscape on the very same day. On top of that, I experienced one of the summit's most impressive wind events since the winter; I even had the chance to brave

Soaking Friday, Gusty Saturday. 2013-08-10 15:55:05.000 - Brian Fitzgerald,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist One active Hays Chart! The final totals are in, and yesterday on the Rockpile we recorded 4.15 inches of rain over a twenty-four hour period. This total represents the most rainfall we've recorded in that time span since Hurricane Irene dropped an estimated 6.66 inches back in 2011. With relatively light winds yesterday, no estimation was needed to capture all four plus inches, with our average wind speed at 24 miles per hour (so far we're averaging 59mph for today). Today, Saturday, was a much different story wind-wise,

Not all rainy days are boring! 2013-08-09 16:42:36.000 - Tom Padham,  Summit Intern Flooding on a mountain peak? Today is a very rainy day on the summit. In fact it's probably the rainiest day so far this summer, with over 3.43 inches of rain falling so far today and still more falling as I write this. Rainy days in most locations mean time spent indoors watching movies, but up here on the summit there's still plenty of work to be done rain or shine, and our observers still need to go outside to do hourly weather observations. Although today has

Thoughts From Marty Kitty Himself 2013-08-08 17:27:58.000 - Marty,  Summit Cat In All Meow Glory Meow from the summit of Mount Washington!I don't know what the big deal is, but all of the sudden, folks have begun to trek up to see me in droves! Purr-haps it's something to do with the warmer weather, but from my purr-spective, it must be my radiant fur coat, irresistible yellow-green eyes, and delightful mug that shines in the summer sunlight. But I'll let you be the judge of that, when you come up and visit me at the Observatory!This kitty hasn't had much

Science in the Mountains 2013-08-07 17:09:42.000 - Mike Carmon,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist NULL If you're in the North Conway area tonight, be sure to swing by the Weather Discovery Center for the continuation of the Science in the Mountains lecture series!Tonight's lecture will be 'State of the Loon: The Natural History, Challenges, and Successes of Loons in New Hampshire'.The speaker will be Harry Vogel, the Biologist and Co-chair of the Northeast Loon Study Working Group.Have you ever wondered why a loon's eyes are red? Why loon chicks ride on their parents' backs? What loons are saying with those eerie calls in

Sunrise 2013-08-06 18:10:59.000 - Kaitlyn O`Brien,  Summit Intern Daybreak on the summit This morning I woke up early to catch the sunrise. Sometimes getting out of bed seems to be the hardest thing to do, especially after a previously long day. Nonetheless, a quick glance at the subtle light coming through the window indicated the beginnings of dawn and provided enough motivation for me to hustle and make my way up to the Observation deck. After grabbing my camera, I stepped outside into the cool air. The wind had died down overnight and the air was still. The sun was

Cold Temperatures 2013-08-05 20:12:07.000 - Rebecca Scholand,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist NULL It is now August 5th and I awoke to cold temperatures. Not only were they cold, but they reached a low for the day of 31F. Personally, I was enjoying them but now they are already rebounding. Being a winter sports enthusiast, it is the first sign that winter is just around the corner here on the summit. While I think we all want summer to hold on for a bit longer, I will admit the chilly air felt great. So, as a friendly reminder please make sure you

Last Week On The Mountain 2013-08-04 17:59:59.000 - Alex Carne,  Summit Intern NULL This is my last week on the summit of Mount Washington, and yet it feels as though my internship started just yesterday! Time really flies here on the Rockpile, and as I pass the half-way point of my final week as a Mount Washington intern, I reflect on my adventure here on the summit. My first week here on Mount Washington was a hectic one, as we were short a staff member and winter was making a brief return visit to the summit. Mount Washington quickly lived

Do You Have A Lawn? Well We Don't. 2013-08-03 17:03:39.000 - Rebecca Scholand,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist NULL Do you have a lawn? Well, here on the summit, we don't; and that might be a good thing. With the limited amount of clear weather and sun we get, it might not do well. Luckily there is a type of vegetation that thrives on the higher summits of the Presidential Range and its called alpine vegetation. While this vegetation can withstand the harsh weather, it struggles to grow when trampled. This is why it is so important to stay on the trails