NULL 2007-08-11 09:43:15.000 - Ken Rancourt,  Meteorologist WMC Excavator There always seems to be something happening here on the summit. The last few days have been really quite nice, with temperatures in the high 40's and with low humidities. But that is not all we have to talk about. The 'biggest' activity of all - outside of the sheer number of people here on the summit these last few days -- is certainly the effort put forward by White Mountain Communications. WMC is the company that is installing the new power line to the summit, and they are making great

NULL 2007-08-10 05:19:42.000 - Ken Rancourt,  Meteorologist Clouds at sunrise. Like many of our members and guests who interacted with with Lynn and Cathy (the so-called Twinterns), all of us here on top enjoyed the experience too. They are the first of the summer interns to depart, as the Maria and Dan team is now on their last week -- school and life eventually beckons to all of our intern staff . The new fall interns are coming on board soon, with the first of the new group beginning next Wednesday. The fall interns typically work until the end of

Twintern Farewell 2007-08-08 12:41:27.000 - Twinterns (Cathy & Lynn),  Summit Intern Twinterns, revolutionizing fun! Time flies by up here at the summit of Mt. Washington, especially when there are hurricane force winds involved. It seems like it was only yesterday that our summer at the Obs was just beginning, and now, it has come to a close. The entire week we have been reminded that this would be our last "everything" on the mountain for the summer, and we would exchange a glance of sorrow, followed by a simultaneous whimper.So, now comes time for the final everything: the last comment

A volunteers memoirs 2007-08-06 16:16:57.000 - Matthew I. Stearns,  Summit Volunteer Nin in the sedge There are two things that I donate: Blood is one, and time is the other. Now, I know that lots of people donate money, but I'm cheap. Let's face it, it's too expensive to not be cheap ... although, my grandfather prefers the term, "thrifty". In any case, donating blood and donating time both feel very different from one another. When I donate blood, I go through a progression of feelings: First, mild and laughable annoyance at the repetitive battery of questions (no, I have

A shared sunrise. 2007-08-05 05:25:12.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Meteorologist Sunrise, a shared experience. Sunrise, it’s a time of solitude, tranquility, and awe most mornings. But this morning, I got to share the experience with those fortunate enough to drive up the auto road in time. Sunrise was at 0530 EDT (0430 EST or as we like to call it, obs time) and it could not have been better. Visibility was a bit over 120 miles in every direction with just a few clouds in the sky to provide some color. The only dust on this gem of a sunrise was

NULL 2007-08-04 08:24:26.000 - Brian Clark,  Observer Our Polycom videoconferencing system - used for Li Kids say the darndest things. I certainly found this to be the case yesterday while I was giving two Live from the Rockpile presentations, which Ryan mentioned yesterday in his comment, to a large group of young ones down at our Weather Discovery Center in North Conway.“Do you eat the snow up there?” was one question.“Where do you put your shoes?” was another.One particularly observant child (maybe we should consider him for our open observer position!) apparently noticed my voice sounded funny and asked, “Do

Record high? 2007-08-03 04:39:45.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Meteorologist Hot, humid, and hazy sunrise. “Have you exceeded any records today?”I got this question a few times yesterday while providing tours to summit visitors as well as visitors to our valleys Weather Discovery Center (WDC). In case you are wondering what the WDC is, it is an interactive weather museum we run in the valley that is free of charge thanks to sponsorship from the Mount Washington Auto Road and Great Glen Trails. Visitors that stop in there can talk to observers, like me, daily at 11 am and 2 pm. So

What I have been reading this summer. 2007-08-02 01:25:15.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Meteorologist Another day draws to a close. When I am driving, I like to read. Please, let me clarify. Growing up in California, this statement doesn’t sound too odd to me since most commuters do this when they are stuck in traffic. But living in Berlin, NH, the only time we get traffic is when cars are stopped at a stop light. So what am I reading, you ask? Business names, bulletin boards, marquees, or church bulletin boards announcing up coming sermons to name a few things. Anything

Thunderstorms, full moon, sunrise - oh my! 2007-07-31 15:23:30.000 - Maria Zatko,  Summit Intern Full Moon on the morning of 7/31 Last night was full of more exciting weather phenomena up here on the rockpile. To set the stage, the Buck moon, the full moon's name for this July, was illuminating the partly clear sky. Around 9 o'clock I went for a walk down the auto road, but stopped in my tracks at the stage coach office when I realized there was a thunderstorm in the distance. After sprinting back to the observatory and alerting the crew up here, we

C is for cookies, lots of them! 2007-07-29 00:25:24.000 - Zach Allen,  Meteorologist/ Cookie Lover Death by cookie. Hello, my name is Zach Allen and I am addicted to cookies! If it is chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, Christmas cookies or my personal favorite banana chocolate chip cookies they will be devoured quickly. Just a fun fact about myself.During a short visit from my wonderful girlfriend Colleen last week, I received a gift of four boxes of Girl Scout cookies!!! It was a great visit and thank you very much Colleen! We are enjoying what is left of them