The Gradual Transition to Spring

2013-04-18 23:57:29.000 – Cyrena Briede,  Director of Summit Operations

Cog Rail Workers Clearing the Tracks

It has been far too long since I have spent a night on the summit, and I have to admit, I picked a great time to be up here. Winter has held a tight grasp on the area like it has across many parts of the country, but summer is on the horizon. We are slowly seeing the summit transform from a winter wonderland in several ways. For just over two weeks now, the Auto Road has been digging through the snow and ice. They are working on the infamous 5-mile and Cragway sections, and I can’t wait to take some photos of the snow depth once they reach the road below. The State Park has also been getting ready for opening day by refinishing the floors, cleaning, and organizing the Sherman Adams building. Today, the Cog Railway made it just a few hundred feet from the summit. The tracks are completely drifted over in places and they worked very hard to shovel through some icy sections today.

For Mount Washington Observatory, it’s business as usual. We have no volunteers this week and trip season has officially come to a close, so it’s a quiet place to be. I’m checking several items off my work to-do list up here but am also taking the time to enjoy the smaller things, such as playing with Marty, cooking dinner, standing in hurricane force winds, and spending time with our wonderful observers. The summit is a magnificent place to be and while I’m here I truly feel alive. If you’ve had the privilege of spending some time up here, hopefully you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Cyrena Briede,  Director of Summit Operations