The Woes of the Transition Seasons

2012-05-11 23:46:32.000 – Brian Clark,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist

I have a love-hate relationship with transition seasons. I love fall, because of the colors of the leaves, the cool, crisp air, and the prospects of the forthcoming winter season. I hate (well, more like dislike) fall because it’s difficult for me to deal with the anticipation of the upcoming ski season. As for the transition season we’re in now, spring, I love it because even I need a break from the snow and cold. The warmer weather also allows me to get back into soccer and golf, among other outdoor activities. Oh, and I absolutely love spring skiing on Mount Washington. I dislike spring because of the mud, the bugs, and because I do ultimately have a hard time letting go of winter some years.

Regardless of which transition season we’re talking about, when it comes to our operations here at the Observatory, I have never been a big fan of the difficulties with transportation that come along with spring and fall. Putting chains on the tires of the four-wheel drive van halfway up the mountain can be a time consuming process. When we have to do it for a few shift changes in a row, it’s not a big deal. But, when we have to do it for a couple months in a row, it becomes a bit of a pain, so to speak.

Given that, I know that the time of year when we can drive to the summit without any problems is coming very soon, although the snow and ice of the last few days may make it seem further off than it actually is. In reality, it is the middle of May, and the average daily temperature continues to rise every few days. Soon enough, the snow and ice of the winter will be an occasional memory of the past, and the relative ease of transportation of the summer season will arrive before I know it!

Brian Clark,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist