The Butterfly Effect 2007-12-04 14:17:32.000 - Linnea Koons,  Summit Intern NULL The Butterfly Effect; Noun; a term attributed to Edward Lorenz and used to describe the effect a small disturbance can have on a non-linear dynamical system (the atmosphere for example). Also called “sensitivity to initial conditions”, it refers to the idea that the tiny perturbations in the atmosphere caused by the flap of a butterfly’s wings can ultimately set off a tornado or other high powered storm (conversely, it can also prevent such an event). I was reminded of this phenomenon when Karen and I took a walk down

Expect the Unexpected. 2007-12-02 18:07:21.000 - Zach Allen,  Meteorologist Descending from above. As everyone up here anxiously waits for the first winter storm of the season, today was filled with surprises! First was being free from the fog which provided for exquisite views. As the sun rose around 7 AM, we witnessed a sun pillar far off to the southeast. The tall orange tower illuminated the clouds. Quite different from twenty four hours before when bitter cold and whipping winds grasped the summit. A few hours later in the morning, Chris Uggerholt from the Mount Washington State Park, stopped by

Blustery! 2007-12-01 08:50:38.000 - Zach Allen,  Meteorologist Pegged! Some of you are probably wondering where I am lately. Well this week Kyle and I are trading places! That’s right Kyle is working the night shift as I am working with Stacey on days. It is a nice change and gives me a chance to get some sunlight this week, if we see anymore. Yesterday the summit saw a break from the clouds providing for forty-five minutes of sunshine and there hasn’t been much more since this past Thursday began. The short break was good to see where the sun is

NULL 2007-11-30 18:28:32.000 - Karen Thorp,  Summit Intern Super Sonic Speed Today has been filled with shoveling, de-icing, and electrical wiring. The shoveling and de-icing took place despite the extremely cold temperatures (0.2 °F) and high winds with gusts up to 79 MPH. The combination of the two parameters dropped the wind chill down to -36 °F. Working outside for five minutes easily chills you to the bone. All skin from the nose to the toes must be adequately covered to prevent rapid frostbite. Regardless of the artic conditions, we ventured outside to manually remove snowdrifts from exits, take hourly

Sub-Zero 2007-11-29 08:32:29.000 - Stacey Kawecki,  Observer NULL It is November 29, 2007. It’s almost impossible for me to believe that four months have gone by since beginning here. It was either Brian or Ryan who said to me, during my first week, “Days won’t go by fast, weeks won’t go by fast, but months will fly”. It’s completely, undeniably true. In the past four months, I’ve experienced rain, snow, hail (for the first time in my life), lightning storms, winds over 100 mph, sleet, treacherous trips to the precip can, single digit temperatures and then some. One thing remains:

A Mountain 2007-11-28 01:34:29.000 - Kevin Talbot,  Summit Volunteer A MWO profile A Mountain I know a mountain that holds a river in its arm;Whose mother-breast keeps tenderly wee, slender birches warm!I know a mountain crowned with laurel, pink and white;That gleams a friendly shadow against the velvet night!Whose mighty song the wind-gods catch and blow a-down the world...Whose hearty breath is caught in tears to see the fern fronds curled!Whose love leaps swift and sure of foot down countless moss-grown trails;Whose patient trees uphold the snow, whose springtime never fails!I know a mountain that holds communion with the stars;Receives

Project 2007-11-26 18:32:58.000 - Peter Sciola,  Summit Intern NULL The shopping season is upon us, shop at our online store today for all your holiday needs!Intern’s log: stardate -315096.5 – The intern tasks of the day: shovel entrances and exits, work on forecast verification project.After returning from changing the filter for AIRMAP, shoveling became the next task on the list. It seems easy enough: insert shovel in the snow and throw. This is until you realize you are wearing far too many layers and begin to feel the onset of heat stroke. Thermal underwear, pants, bibs, fleece, down jacket, shell,

Shoveling 2007-11-25 21:01:15.000 - Aubrie Pace,  Summit Intern NULL The Shopping Season is upon us, Shop at the WeatherStore.org Today for all your Holiday Needs!Today, we woke up to howling. The strong western push of the wind was moving the snow, old and new, into every pocket and door frame. I began to dress: long underwear, thick socks, a fleece, bibs, heavy snow boots, a down jacket, face mask, hat, goggles, and gloves, each piece well worth its weight and bulk. I started my shoveling on the far end of the Sherman Adams Building. Walking through the vacant State Park

Goodbye 2007-11-24 15:20:25.000 - Lynn Metcalf,  Former Summit Lynntern Sunrise shinning through deck rails For the second day in a row, I rose at 6:30 to witness the sunrise. It was crystal clear outside, with a view much more worthy of leaving a warm bunk than yesterday’s; however, the weather was not quite hospitable. When I first stepped out onto the deck and into the 60mph winds, I realized that I had lost my “wind legs”, which is perhaps the Mount Washington equivalent of sea legs. The wind chill was 35 below while I traversed the summit, snapping photos. After

Thanksgiving 2007-11-23 07:59:28.000 - Lynn Metcalf,  Former Summit Lynntern Snow-turkey I was admittedly a bit nervous on Wednesday when I boarded the snowcat for the trip up the rock pile. It wasn’t the ride I was nervous about, or the weather. Wednesday was my first day back to the summit after my internship this summer. What I was truly nervous about was how it would feel to return to the place that was my home for almost three months; this time not as an employee, but as a spectator. Well, spectator is the wrong word, as I have been earning