Undercast at Sunset 2013-07-29 15:44:06.000 - Luke Davis,  Summit Intern Ocean of Clouds It's been another eventful week on the rockpile. Arriving at the base last Wednesday, at 8 A.M. and after 5 hours of driving, I was as tired as ever. We were socked in by the time we reached the summit, and it seemed like another dull, drizzly day was in store. But one thing I've learned here is to always be prepared for the unexpected, and to know that the dullest days can turn into the most extraordinary in an instant. In this case, a thick fog

Making Decisions in the Backcountry 2013-07-27 18:11:26.000 - Mike Dorfman,  Weather Observer NULL After taking an AIRE Avalanche I class this winter, some of the most important material I learned wasn't about avalanches themselves but rather decision making in the backcountry. Sometimes weather changes slowly and there are subtle clues that bad weather may be moving in. If you've ever been hiking before bad weather moves through, it's easy to ignore what's happening above you until you're surrounded by fog, and possibly endangering yourself. Taking a notebook with you on your hike can allow you to jot down cloud cover,

Enjoy Summer While it Lasts! 2013-07-26 17:07:48.000 - Tom Padham,  Summit Intern Sunset and Undercast on Wednesday After two relatively nice days, (and two beautiful sunsets in a row) we've returned back to foggy conditions on the summit. A coastal system is passing by to our east, which is unusual for summer. Storms similar to this one are much more common in the winter, when they are called 'Nor'easters', a familiar term to most people in New England, which often bring heavy snow and gusty winds from the northeast. This past winter in particular saw plenty of strong Nor'easters for

Seek the Peak '13 Recap 2013-07-25 14:54:03.000 - Cara Rudio,  Director of Advancement STP '13 Despite an ominous forecast predicting hurricane-force winds, severe thunderstorms and hail, an estimated 400 hikers and their families came out for Mount Washington Observatory's 13th annual Seek the Peak hike-a-thon July 19-21. To avoid the dangerous conditions, participants were directed to hike on Sunday instead of the usual Saturday ascent, and were rewarded for their efforts with more than $30,000 in prizes and incentives, as well as a huge after party with live music and an all-you-can-eat feast. The event was presented by Eastern Mountain

ATTENTION: ALL SCIENCE LOVERS! 2013-07-24 14:22:36.000 - Brian Fitzgerald,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist An Osprey In Flight. Tonight (Wednesday) at our free Weather Discovery Center in North Conway Village at 7PM marks the second program in our annual free series 'Science in the Mountains: A Passport to Science.' Iain MacLeod, the Executive Director of the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center presents 'Project OspreyTrack: Using Satellite Transmitters to Track New Hampshire Ospreys.' Iain's program will provide an in-depth look at his research tracking the amazing and hazardous migrations of ospreys who travel annually between New Hampshire and South America. If you can't

Observing the Observers 2013-07-23 17:11:05.000 - Donald Kollisch,  Summit Volunteer Tower on the summit. Being a first-time volunteer on the summit is like being a guest in someone else's house. Our ostensible job is to cook and clean and enjoy the activities. The secret and hidden job is to figure out how to fit into a complex, efficient, and friendly system that is designed and has evolved to get certain results. We volunteers are an important part of that system, but it is important for us to figure out how to best fit in. So, here is a novice's guide

Limited Time 2013-07-22 18:03:27.000 - Kaitlyn O`Brien,  Summit Intern The Cog descending to the valley Sunday afternoon This past weekend was a wonderful experience, as it was my first time assisting with Seek the Peak activities. It was a huge success and I got to meet so many wonderful participants, volunteers, Observatory members, and all of their families. I know I'm not alone when I extend a huge thank you to everyone who made the event possible and very memorable, particularly for a first-time intern!With only two shifts left to work on the summit, the reality of my internship experience

It's A Wrap! 2013-07-21 17:23:18.000 - Rebecca Scholand,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist NULL Busy weeks on on the summit can really make a shift fly by. This week was no exception to this rule with all the fun and festivities of Seek the Peak. With cleaning and prepping to do in the tower, cookies to bake, and organizing to be done, it was a wild event. As everything finally settled down today around 5pm, I realized it was almost Monday. This is one of those weeks I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed come Wednesday, so I am

Seek the Peak 2013-07-20 21:08:53.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist Sunset this evening! Seek the Peak is more-or-less a wrap. Most of the summit staff was lucky enough to drive down this afternoon and partake in the delicious turkey dinner catered by Hart's Turkey Farm and join in the festivities held at Great Glen Trails. Thanks to all our valley staff, volunteers, sponsors, and helping hands, everything went off flawlessly. It was great seeing familiar faces and meeting several new ones. And it was great cheering on the winners of all the various prizes. Then we finished the evening helping

Seek the Peak 13 is here! 2013-07-19 14:12:01.000 - Krissy Fraser,  Events and Marketing Manager NULL Seek The Peak 13 is here!Registration is open and the kick-off party gets underway at 5pm. The goodie bags, t-shirts, and incentives are staged and ready to go - come on down and get your new gear!Though the sun is shining today, a cold front moving in tonight is expected to bring dangerous conditions tomorrow. At this time we are predicting high winds averaging 60-80mph for most of the day, with the potential for sudden gusts over 100mph. There will be periods of heavy