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2006-02-28 02:24:00.000 – Jim Salge,  Observer

Walking in 120 mph…

Another day, another record low. Today we dropped to -29F at the summit, and only managed to climb to -15 by days end. Combine this with winds that averaged 88mph for the day causing severe blowing snow, and you have some unbelievably brutal weather. To put it in perspective, it hasnt been this bad up here since well, last week!

This shift we are joined at the summit by a group of visiting students from the University of Bochum in Germany, and they got a great introduction to both the weather on the mountain as well as the culture of the summit crew. I accompanied a few brave members of the group out onto the deck around the noon hours to see what the winds felt like. Everything was going well until the days peak gust of 120 mph knocked them down like pins at the alley. Moments later though, they were back inside, and I dont think I can remember seeing smiles any bigger! Theyll definitely fit in well!

Over the coming days they will perform experiments on everything from snow density to clothing effectiveness, but today they learned why were known as the Home of the Worlds Worst Weather!

Jim Salge,  Observer