LLBean Hiking Trip 2009-02-27 18:31:16.000 - Mike Finnegan,  IT Observer Here on the summit the winter is filled with trips; day trips, EduTrips, climbing trips, among others. Last night we had an unusual hiking trip up here. It consisted of 6 LLBean folks and a guide, Nick. LLBean is a major corporate sponsor of the Obs and we are extremely grateful for all they do for us. They allow us to use and test their gear, both on and off the mountain, which saves us from having to use personal gear all the time while allowing them to implement suggestions

Lots of New Snow 2009-02-26 20:51:14.000 - Brian Clark,  Observer and Meteorologist Some sleds just don't hold up on Mt. Washington When I left the summit last Wednesday February 18, we had only recorded one day with snowfall of greater than 2 inches since January 28th. For Mount Washington, this is definitely a bit of a snow drought. The amount of snow that then fell during my week off is a great testament to how quickly things can change on this mountain. From February 18 to February 25, a total of 31.6 inches fell, including 16.2 inches in one day

NULL 2009-02-25 03:01:31.000 - Steve & David Craig,  Summit Volunteers NULL It is truly with a sad heart that I realize our volunteer week has come to an end. Some of you, out there, know me from the Mt. Washington forums as 'Trekker'. My son, David, and I have been fortunate enough to have experienced a full week of Mother Natures awesome winter, from here at the top of the world. It's been an intense week, allowing us, at times, an opportunity to wander around the summit, checking out the fascinating rime formations, with great views extending, seemingly, forever. At

Castaway! 2009-02-24 11:37:24.000 - NULL,  Stranded Germans Stranded! Cast away on Mt. Washington can be fun. After a great week here on the summit with sunshine, snow and winds up to 95 mph we should have left on Saturday. But the world's worst weather likes us and we like Mount Washington as well. So we extended our time here for a while because the snow cat didn't make it up. After a week of experiments in cold weather conditions we are now getting into what it is like to be an observer. Who are we? We are a group of

Marooned 2009-02-23 02:23:10.000 - Mike Carmon,  Observer NULL A typical shift at the Observatory averages about 5-7 staff for the week. During the winter months, however, we receive guests of all sorts: EduTrips, Climbing Trips, Day Trips, and this week, a group of students from Germany. Even though one would expect the summit of Mt. Washington to be a place of isolation, there is no hint of that in the winter at the Observatory.Some would call it an ironic parallel to our last shift, when an EduTrip remained on the summit for an extra night because of winds topping out

Off weeks 2009-02-21 11:46:36.000 - Jordan Scampoli,  Summit Intern NULL Believe it or not, members of the summit crew actually do things on their off weeks. To some, they are weeks off work, others they are simply weeks off the summit. To me it is a great balance - every Wednesday when I'm at home I'm ready to come up to the summit and 'enjoy' the company of my friends up here and the weather. Then every Wednesday after a week on the summit I am ready to get away from my friends and spend some quality time with me.

stormy weather 2009-02-19 17:25:20.000 - Stacey Kawecki,  Observer NULL The calm before the storm.It is a simple phrase, and possibly over-used. It can allude to the obvious application, the weather. It can also lend itself to more complex themes involving action-packed thriller movies or tear-jerking dramas. Today we are going to take it at face value with a twist. Up on the summit, we are literally enjoying the calm during the storm.There's something completely wonderful about being outside on the summit when winds are nearly non-existent, the temperature is a balmy twenty degrees, and it's snowing. First of all, the

NGM Event 2009-02-18 16:20:25.000 - Scot Henley,  Executive Director NULL Despite the winter storm, Thursday night's special National Geographic event is going on as planned. The storm should be cleared up and gone mid-day, so we're ready to go. Please join us!Advance ticket sales for 'An Evening with National Geographic Photojournalist Jose Azel' will come to a close at 9:00 AM Thursday. If you don't already have tickets, they will be available at the door for $20. Doors open at 6:30 PM with a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres, and the program begins at 7:30 PM. There will be a

A Week on the Summit 2009-02-18 11:00:48.000 - Win Dodge,  Summit Volunteer NULL Greetings from the summit on Wednesday. If it's Wednesday it must be shift change day and we get to go home. But it's also time to reflect on a great week here on the 'rock pile'. As a volunteer my tour could not have been better. Paired with Chef John, we couldn't fail in the meal department and we were lucky to have our German university students, 14 in all, who not only ate everything in sight but helped out at every turn. TheyAre easy going, fun

A Week on the Rockpile 2009-02-17 14:27:46.000 - John Bauhs,  Summit Volunteer There is a weather link that exists within everything in our life. Our economy, comfort, safety, and health can all be tied to the natural forces that we call weather. Fortunately, even for us "non-meteorologists", weather is pretty easy to understand…just open your eyes and look outside! I recall, as a child, visiting a tourist gift shop and seeing a "weather rock" (basically a rock on a string). If the rock was icy...it is cold, if it was warm...it is sunny, if it was swinging...it was windy...you get