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

Observing the Weather At A Different Latitude 2013-08-02 21:38:57.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist Observer the weather above Gullfoss, Iceland. For a week at a time I am on the summit of Mount Washington observing and forecasting the weather. However, when I leave the summit, my "instinct" of observing and forecasting never really goes away. When I wake up every morning during my off week, instead of reaching for a newspaper, I instead find myself downloading weather maps, pulling up various weather apps, and looking at current and future conditions in the day or days ahead. This helps bring peace

Perspective 2013-08-01 18:25:06.000 - Kaitlyn O`Brien,  Summit Intern NULL One of many intern duties is to provide tours of the Observatory to our supportive members. During the first week of my internship, I shadowed several tours given by seasoned observers and I remember thinking, 'How can I possibly remember all of these facts, dates, and the order in which the information should be presented?' Now that I have given countless tours to members of all ages, I can rehearse the entire spiel in my sleep. I've even learned how to tailor the information for different age groups as well as

August Already? 2013-07-31 18:15:20.000 - Rebecca Scholand,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist NULL Is it really almost August already? It seems like two shifts ago we were just moving into July with Seek the Peak on the horizon. There is no doubt that this summer has been busy and will continue to be. What that means for Observers is staying on top of our game and preparing for winter as it is just around the corner. Taking advantage of getting outside to fix equipment and install new data collection centers for this upcoming winter is crucial while we still have the daylight

Mt. Washington: The Epitome of New England's Variable Weather 2013-07-30 15:34:25.000 - Matthew Cann,  Summit Intern Clear View vs. Fog View New England is known for it's variability in weather; how the region can see all four seasons in a matter of days. For instance, a typical March in New England can include a blizzard, single-digit wind chills, 80 degree heat, and destructive flooding. With weather that can change in the blink of an eye, it is very important to frequently check the weather. The importance becomes even greater when dealing with severe weather. Yesterday we observed a line of