Observation in Life

2008-03-25 21:48:49.000 – Mike Finnegan,  IT Observer

Silver Lining on North Baldface

There’s always something new to see and observe. In the past week, we’ve seen the summit lose a fair bit of its’ snow depth due to rain. Not long after we saw wind reach 123 mph, the highest I had ever seen. This was quickly overshadowed by winds that climbed to 149 mph, sustained in the 120 mph range. We’ve seen cap clouds and clouds just a bit closer to us…we’ll call it fog. Visibility has ranged from 120 feet to 120 miles.

Now it’s Tuesday and we’re all looking forward to drinking that one more cup of coffee before we go to the valley below. The nice thing about observing is that it doesn’t have to stop when you come off the mountain. It’s something one can continuously do. Check out the clouds and see how they change each time you’re done taking a run at the mountain. Take a minute each night to give a look towards the sky and see how the moon is doing. If you can form a “D” out of it, it is Dilating and growing towards full. If you can form a “C” out of it, it is Constricting and getting to be a new moon. Maybe it’s snowing, but what kind of snow is it? You’d be amazed at the number of different formations of snow.

Now that it is spring, there is quite a difference between the summit which is still in winter and the valley that is warming more rapidly. Hopefully when I return to the valley tomorrow, the sap will be running and I can soon observe the transformation from sap to syrup.

Mike Finnegan,  IT Observer