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

SeekthePeak 2007-07-27 10:46:18.000 - Maria Zatko,  Summit Intern NULL The Observatory has awoken today in a flurry of excitement in anticipation of tomorrow's seventh annual Seek the Peak hike-a-thon. The hike-a-thon is an all day event where hikers can traverse up any trail on Mount Washington. The funds raised for this hike-a-thon benefit the non-profit Mount Washington Observatory. These funds allow the Observatory to continue its scientific research and education of weather and climate.Nearly 250 hikers of all ages and abilities this year will attempt to raise a total of $50,000 to benefit the observatory. Tonight, the Seek the Peak

NULL 2007-07-26 11:30:28.000 - Kyle Paddleford,  Meteorologist NULL As Dan mentioned in his comment yesterday, Wednesday is a very important day on the summit for many different reasons. The meetings usually do take center stage, but of equal importance is the chance to see some familiar faces that I have not seen in a week, and some unfamiliar faces that I am meeting for the very first time. Traveling up the auto road the mood is very upbeat and there is always a sense of eagerness in the air. Yesterday was no exception to that. The whole trip up was

NULL 2007-07-25 17:16:55.000 - Dan Harnos,  Summit Intern NULL With Wednesday comes another shift change, and most likely the staff's most chaotic day (or at least morning) of the week. The day starts out early for at least one observer, with the duty of picking up food and supplies for the upcoming week while most are still asleep. All upgoing staff and volunteers then gather at the base of the auto road for an 8:15 AM departure time. We arrive at the summit typically around 7:45 AM (thanks to the transition from EST to EDT) at which point the massive

Lakes of the Clouds 2007-07-24 22:03:11.000 - Lynn Metcalf,  Summit Intern NULL It is not unique for Cathy and me to make the jaunt down from the summit to visit the Lakes of the Clouds hut. We often like to catch up with the “croo” and join in the suppertime festivities; however, yesterday’s trek led us to a circumstance rather different than usual. Instead of going to hang out with the croo, we were going to be the croo. The two of us got the unique experience of acting as volunteer croo members. For those of you who are not

A Summer Feeling 2007-07-23 01:28:27.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Meteorologist The transition shot A Summer Feeling Sunset: the sky’s chromatic nature wakesbright brilliance on the rocks as colors driftand glow making colorful shadows liftobserver eyes to the skies. The heart quakesfrom a peace etched in a blaze of hues. Sun,your warmth, a hug gripping and shaking soulswith an unending display. Are stoked coalsbeginning to glow an unending run?A veil: natures curtain to unendingvistas, lighting a host of paths and treesthat stand motionless and are unawarelike statues in a kings court. Trembling isjoined by a shiver that flows down to kneesas sharp

An active night for the finer things in life. 2007-07-21 23:31:25.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Meteorologist NULL “Don’t you ever get bored or lonely working nights?” This was raised by a visitor to the summit today about my twilight shift here at the observatory. The short answer is no. To best summarize why I feel this way, I will use a quote by one of my American Studies professors when I was in college: “There is never nothing going on.” Take a minute and let that sink in before continuing.So you’re your thinking, “Well that’s easy for you to say because