Normal is Not Boring

2015-02-07 19:02:09.000 – Adam Freierman, Summit Intern

Our last shift week, my first as a summit intern, was one of endless extraordinary sunsets and sunrises, winds of over 100 mph, a few bluebird days with views of New York and the Atlantic, and a much anticipated blizzard that put us in an exciting media spotlight. It was just about everything I could have hoped for on top of Mt. Washington. I suppose this week things have been a bit more “normal”, but that’s not to say it hasn’t been exciting.

As my off week came to an end last Tuesday, still riding the high of a Patriots Super Bowl win, I was looking forward to returning to the summit with a better expectation of life at the Observatory. Every new day on the summit there is a new job to become familiar with, and the ever-changing weather means no two days are the same. This week we have been in the clouds quite a bit, and it has been a blast climbing up into the tower to deice, searching for the precipitation can in the fog, and watching the rime coat my clothes within one minute of being outside.

 

Much like our last shift, we are settling in for a snowstorm as the new week begins. I’m quickly learning that no two storms are the same up here, and the ones approaching are no exception. While the “Blizzard of 2015” was a fierce Nor’easter that blasted the coast, this coming weather pattern can be described better as a string of clippers that will wash over New England in waves. As someone who does not have much of a background in meteorology, it’s a pleasure to experience the variety of weather in the Whites, and Tom, Kyle, and Caleb are great teachers. Even on my off week I couldn’t let a day pass without looking at models or reading forecasts, and I’m a little worried that the crew up here might be turning me into a weather junkie. I’ll keep you posted.

Adam Freierman, Summit Intern