Mount Washington Observatory Observer Blog
Avalanche Deaths a Tragic Part of Mount Washington History
Avalanche Deaths a Tragic Part of Mount Washington History By Peter Crane, Curator, Gladys Brooks Memorial Library | June 15, 2021 Mount Washington and Ammonoosuc Ravine (looking from the west). The large dot marks the approximate site of the Forgays tragedy. Bradford Washburn photo. On Monday February 1, 2021, an avalanche in Ammonoosuc Ravine took the life of Ian Forgays, 54, of Lincoln, Vermont. Forgays, a very experienced backcountry skier, was skiing alone in this ravine on the western side of Mount Washington. Weather conditions were favorable with the temperature in the single numbers and teens and winds averaging
Visibility from Summit Increasing Over Time
Visibility from Summit Increasing Over Time By Brian Fitzgerald, Director of Science & Education | June 15, 2021 Weather Observer Sam Robinson stands above the clouds in December 2020. Observers record prevailing visibility at each of their 24 hourly observations, every day of the year. Visibility appears to be generally increasing over time on the summit of Mount Washington since our continuous record of visibility began in 1943. This noteworthy finding comes in the wake of an initial data exploration and analysis of Mount Washington Observatory’s (MWO) long-term visibility records, completed by Weather Observers Jay Broccolo and Sam
Cycling the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail to Support Seek the Peak
Cycling the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail to Support Seek the Peak 2021-06-14 16:01:13.000 - Marty Basch, Windswept Editor Spring was being snarky. Outside our Woodsville, NH motel room, the temperature was a wintry 37 degrees. The Presidential Rail Trail between Whitefield and Gorham showcases the splendor of the northern Presidentials with Mount Washington’s summit towers in view. Not what you want to see when you’re starting a bicycle trip from the banks of the Connecticut River on the Vermont border, heading east on the 83-mile Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail (xNHAT) to Bethel, ME. So we donned
From the Western Foothills of Maine to the White Mountains of New Hampshire
From the Western Foothills of Maine to the White Mountains of New Hampshire 2021-06-08 09:57:13.000 - Madeline DeGroot, Summit Intern Hello from Mount Washington! My name is Madeline DeGroot, but everyone calls me Maddie. I just graduated from Northern Vermont University – Lyndon with a B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences, Concentration in Private Industry, and a Minor in Mathematics. I am from the Western Foothills of Maine and attended Dirigo High School. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a meteorologist, and now here I am, an intern at the Mount Washington Observatory! For pretty much
Choose Your Adventure for Seek the Peak
Choose Your Adventure for Seek the Peak 2021-06-03 12:16:23.000 - Marty Basch, Windswept Editor The venerable Seek the Peak is now a multi-sport expo complete with activities like hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, paddling and more. The beloved event to benefit the science and research work of the Mount Washington Observatory on July 16-17 is now a chance to explore familiar or new pastimes within sight of Mount Washington. Along with its generous partners and sponsors, Seek the Peak is a valuable opportunity to connect with trusted weather reports, trail information, and local tour operators loaded with knowledge. You
Mountain Life Quirkiness
Mountain Life Quirkiness 2021-06-01 09:27:42.000 - Michael Brown, Summit Intern What’s up! My name is Michael Brown, and I am one of the many interns working at the Mount Washington Observatory this summer. While I am a life-long New England resident from Shelton, Connecticut, and no stranger to the cold, Mount Washington truly lives up to its phrase of the home of the world’s worst weather! I am a rising second-year meteorology major at North Carolina State University, with a special love for extreme weather. Some of my personal hobbies include biking, playing sports (especially volleyball), and storm chasing. After
From the Panhandle to the Presidential Range
From the Panhandle to the Presidential Range 2021-05-25 17:19:01.000 - Alex Branton, Summit Intern Hello, my name is Alexandra (Alex) Branton and I am so excited to be interning with the Mount Washington Observatory this summer! The summit is a huge change of scenery for me, as I am from the panhandle of Florida. I have just completed my junior year studying aviation meteorology and air traffic control at the Florida Institute of Technology. My hobbies include running, hiking, climbing, paddle boarding, watching New Girl, and almost anything outside. I recently ran in the Florida Marathon this past February
Mountains aren’t funny…
Mountains aren’t funny… 2021-05-17 12:20:59.000 - A.J. Mastrangelo, Summit Intern They’re hill areas. Greetings all and now that that’s out of my system, my name is A.J. Mastrangelo and I could not be more excited to be a summit intern with the Observatory for this summer! Although I am originally from Massachusetts, I’m no stranger to the White Mountains as I have spent a great deal of time in the region year-round since I was a kid. Currently a rising senior at Penn State University, I am a meteorology major with a concentration in weather forecasting and communications.
Summer Changes
Summer Changes 2021-05-03 13:55:24.000 - Nicole Tallman, Weather Observer/Education Specialist As we approach the warmer months, relatively speaking, the summit has begun some of the prep for summer! The first in line on our list of transitions was roping off an area on the observation deck. This is done to prevent damage to our very valuable instruments. There is a list of changes that occur in the months to come including removing our winter storm windows from the weather room and offices. This is an extra layer of protection that we install to protect our primary windows from scratches
Local Partners to help you Seek Your Peak this Summer
Local Partners to help you Seek Your Peak this Summer 2021-04-27 13:22:02.000 - Stephanie Fitzgerald, Director of Development Winter may have returned to the summit last week, but those of us at lower elevations are thinking of warmer days ahead. Many of our members and friends have been reaching out about when to visit and what conditions are like in the mountains. For Obs staff, the warmer weather of shoulder season means Seek the Peak is just around the corner. Seek the Peak is our largest annual fundraiser and this year we have expanded our Expo on Saturday, July
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