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2011-08-30 23:24:59.000 – Joe Dipoli,  Summit Volunteer

Pete and I arrived on Tuesday of this week at the Joe Dodge Lodge in time to celebrate the 89th birthday of a hiker finishing up the Appalachian Trail from Georgia.

On Wednesday we drove up on the shift change and set to work planning meals and getting into the flow of operations on the “Rockpile”.

While our friends and family fretted about the forecast “Hurricane Winds” forecast for Sunday we looked at the windgauge and just shrugged. “Yeah, so what’s your point”?

On Friday, I decided to hike to the Lake of the Clouds to enjoy the view. About halfway down the mountain, Pete convinced his panting, perspiring companion the wisdom of turning back and returning to the observatory. Saturday we bid goodbye to Erin and hello to Rebecca.One of the unappreciated wonders of the summit, the waterfall began flowing outside of our quarters quite appropriately near the submarine door, adding bailing to our routine.

All in all, the best place for us amateur meteorologists to be this week was with the weather observers on the mountain.

Joe Dipoli,  Summit Volunteer