Good Friends 2009-01-18 17:39:22.000 - Mike Finnegan,  IT Observer The last day has been filled with the opportunity to spend some quality time with a few good friends I have not seen in quite a time. It is certainly one of the best parts of the job up here - the number of great folks one is able to meet and form lasting relationships with, brought together by the love the outdoors and the love of the mountain. The first meeting yesterday came around 10 in the morning when Chris from State Park arrived for their shift change. He brought

Cold, busy shift 2009-01-17 20:29:49.000 - Brian Clark,  Observer This shift has certainly been the busiest one so far this winter for visitors. Wednesday night we had one of the USFS Snow Rangers, Jeff Lane, stay overnight with us to get a glimpse into what we do and how we do it. Thursday night we had 8 participants and 2 leaders (including former observer and current meteorologist for channel 13 WGME, Sarah Long) for an EduTrip, and then tonight we have 9 participants and 2 leaders staying for another EduTrip. When this trip leaves tomorrow, it won't end there. Tomorrow

Interns thoughts 2009-01-16 16:24:32.000 - Ali Boris,  Summit Intern Looking East Thursday afternoon Current conditions: cold, white, and amazing. I've just moved from the "left coast" all the way to New Hampshire to get the experience of a lifetime at Mount Washington. So far, it's been just that.On the drive to the base of the auto road, Brian Clark told me that one of his favorite things about working up here is that everything is so dynamic. I totally agree with him --something new happens every day in the weather, in our duties, and in our outreach schedule. Granted, I've

National Geographic Article 2009-01-15 08:54:10.000 - Scot Henley,  Executive Director National Geographic photographer Jose Azel Today is a big day for all of us here at the Mount Washington Observatory.You see, today is the day that the February 2009 edition of NationalGeographic Magazine is released, which includes a fantastic 12-page featureon Mount Washington. Through impressive photography by Maine-based photojournalist Jose Azel andthe first-hand accounts of the author, Neil Shea, the article illustratesthat New Englanders and visitors need to look no further than their ownbackyard to find Arctic conditions that rival any other extreme location onthe planet. Hey, we already know

vol. info 2009-01-14 18:34:43.000 - Summit Volunteers,  Summit Volunteers NULL The wind is blowing, the snow is snowing, but I can weather the storm, I got my love to keep me warm. Wow, that would make a great song, ummm. Jeanine and I are finishing, yet, another week and the wind has, indeed, been blowing and there has been some snow, but Saturday was absolutely stella. The Edu-trip that arrived Friday morning in 300' visibility had the pleasure, the next day, of walking off the summit under glorious skies. Saturday morn the sun was rising and the moon setting in

Distance learning launch 2009-01-13 18:26:10.000 - Stacey Kawecki,  Observer Unrelated to the comment, but beautiful moonset! '30 seconds!' The words everyone on shift wants to hear as they all, painfully, sit without chairs against the wall. It feels like an eternity, your knees start to tremble, your heart pumps a little harder, and a fine sweat breaks out on your brow.'10 seconds!'You're almost done, if you can somehow get your trembling, aching legs to maintain that position for another of Jordan's ten seconds, you're in the clear, you're finished. You breath slowly in and out, hoping your breaths equal more

Shift Swaps 2009-01-12 23:18:21.000 - Mike Carmon,  Observer Pileus Cloud A few weeks ago, Mike Finnegan wrote a comment about his thoughts on switching shifts. For better or for worse, members of a shift get to know each other well, develop a rapport with each other, and settle in to a comfortable routine. I spent four months on a shift with Brian Clark and Ryan Knapp as an intern, getting to know them and how they operate on the summit. Well, those 'winds of change' that Mike was talking about that landed him on Brian and Ryan's shift have landed

Plymouth State intern Ross Fessenden 2009-01-11 11:53:24.000 - Ross Fessenden,  Summit Intern We can see the Northern Presidentials! Hello. My name is Ross Fessenden and I am a Plymouth State junior majoring in meteorology and interning here at the summit of Mount Washington. So far it has been an incredible experience. I arrived on Wednesday and quickly familiarized myself with the surroundings. That afternoon and evening I had the opportunity to go out and de-ice and take hourly observations with Jordan while withstanding winds around 80 mph. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced in my life. In the

Glorious 2009-01-10 15:54:45.000 - Jordan Scampoli,  Summit Intern Rime on the rocks...Shaken, not stirred. Big things are happening at the summit today...SUN! It's been close to three shift weeks for me without a full day of clear skies, so needless to say today has been a good day. The morning started off with a gorgeous sunrise and low winds for our EduTripping group of science teachers. It was even a balmy 1 degree Fahrenheit above zero! Around 10 am Steve went for a walk about the summit, so Plymouth State intern Ross Fessenden and I decided to follow Steve's lead.

what's up on the summit 2009-01-09 15:16:40.000 - Stacey Kawecki,  Observer Its not that cold! What does one write about when it is merely cold and windy? When there are no spectacular sunrises, sunsets, snowfall totals, winds, or temperatures? This is precisely my predicament. It doesn't even feel right to say its cold and windy compared to last week's condition, considering temperatures are only in the negative single digits and winds are only gusting to the 80's. So, in other news, we are finally fully staffed, for the first time since June. This is perfect timing, since things look like