History of Cats on the Mountain 2017-07-03 18:50:04.000 - Jillian Reynolds, Summit Intern   One of the most commonly asked questions that I receive while working on Mount Washington is “So what is the story behind Marty the cat?” I explain when the tradition of having cats up here started and who Marty is. I never really knew much about the other cats, so I decided to research the history of cats on Mt. Washington. The history of cats on the summit starts back in the early 1930s, along with the start of the observatory. During these times, cats were

How to Spend a Night at the Observatory 2017-06-30 06:41:53.000 - Sam Webber, Summit Intern   Being a part of the crew at the Mount Washington Observatory has been one of the most unique opportunities that I have experienced in my life thus far. Not many people can say that they have lived and worked on the summit of the highest peak in the Northeast! I have spent some time up here during both the winter and during the summer, and have not been let down once. Whether it’s optical phenomena, thunderstorms, snowstorms, wind, rain, sleet, hail or even a

Life In and Out of the Clouds 2017-06-28 06:36:20.000 - Elizabeth Perry, Summit Intern   One of the most striking things about living on the summit of Mount Washington and observing the weather has been noticing how quickly weather can change up here, and the ubiquitousness of clouds (the summit experiences fog sixty percent of the year). While writing this post, the visibility has increased from a fraction of a mile to at least 30 or 40 miles as mid-level clouds pass over and around the summit.   Some of our days revolve around a window of a few hours

Under Pressure 2017-06-27 16:11:48.000 - Taylor Regan, Weather Observer   At the Mount Washington Observatory, there are quite a few instruments we employ during our hourly weather observations to help us interpret and report the conditions on the summit. The barograph is one such tool, which is used to trace out trends in the air pressure. This allows us to visually determine whether the pressure has been rising, falling, steady, or a variety of other combinations, which believe it or not, can be quite useful in monitoring the weather! Why monitor pressure? And what is a barograph exactly? Air pressure

The Climb to the Clouds 2017-06-26 11:29:47.000 - Margaret Jividen, Summit Intern   There are many things people associate with Mount Washington: terrible weather, the great views, and science. Not only does the summit claim the title of tallest point in New England, but the mountain is also home to the country’s oldest auto race: the Mount Washington Hillclimb, also known as “The Climb to the Clouds.” In less than two weeks, this historic race will return, being held by the Mount Washington Auto Road and sponsored by Subaru.   Figure 1: Kimberly “Slim” Bryant, participates in the 2014 Climb

Mount Washington Observatory Fall Internship 2017-06-25 09:32:26.000 - Tom Padham, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   Our application deadline for the fall internship is only a few short weeks away, so now is the time to apply! The fall internship runs from late August to late December, and is a fantastic opportunity to gain work experience for those with a background in any of the sciences. The fall season also often features the full range of weather the summit can experience. Early fall can still see thunderstorms or potentially even tropical systems along with “warm” temperatures in the 50s and 60s. By

The Crawford Path: 200 Years of Hiking in the White Mountains 2017-06-23 08:39:30.000 - Julia Moreland, Summit Intern   Mount Washington, and the White Mountains in general, have a long and diverse history. There are now many paths extending from the summit, leading into nearby ravines and forests, allowing travelers and hikers to enjoy the beauty and scenery that New Hampshire offers. However, there is a particularly historic and well known path that is centuries old. The Crawford Path, running 8 1/2 miles from US Route 302 to the summit of Mount Washington, will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of

Week 2 on the Rockpile 2017-06-19 18:32:41.000 - Sam Webber, Summit Intern   After spending a long six days off of the summit, we finally made it back to the top. Being up here for a week at a time gives you a sense of refreshment from being in such a cool environment. As last week’s heat wave settled into the region there was only one place that I would have loved to be, and that was up here on the summit of Mount Washington. While temperatures near sea-level soared above 90 degrees, the summit remained in the lower 60s

Adjusting to Life on the Mountain 2017-06-17 08:58:27.000 - Nicole Tallman, Summit Intern   Being from New Jersey I have not spent my life in the mountains. Accepting this internship ensured that I would be experiencing quite the adventure this summer. On the first drive up to the mountain I knew this was going to be such a new experience. Everywhere I looked was filled with natural beauty: waterfalls, trees, rocks and of course the amazing weather. The weather on the mountain changes so rapidly unlike home. It can be beautifully sunny with light winds one day and by that

Star-Gazing on Top of Mount Washington 2017-06-15 18:11:16.000 - Jillian Reynolds, Summit Intern   Going out and staring at the night sky has always been one of my favorite summer activities. Although, I usually only stargazed on the surface by a lake. Knowing that there were going to be clear skies last night, it gave me a chance to check out the sky from 6288 feet. This made me feel as though I were that much closer to the stars. My fellow interns and I went out to check the sky out on the observation deck. Since we had to