Things that are Short

2009-12-21 17:47:15.000 – Mike Finnegan,  IT Observer

Alpineglow on Adams

It has been a quiet week here on the summit. Just four folks up here – myself working days, Ryan working nights, our volunteer Pete, and a state park employee. You might be wondering what has happened to our other observer and intern. Brian is off on vacation to Wyoming, probably getting totally worked ripping some of his first turns this year in deep powder. I’m sure the face shots make all the burning worthwhile though. With any luck, he will have taken some photos during rest stops for our viewing pleasure in a week. Our intern, Will, opted to head home a bit early. Living down south (no, not Manchester, NH…South Carolina), he would have had a 1,700 mile drive to complete Wednesday night into Thursday. If conditions were anything but perfect, he wouldn’t make it in time to be home for Christmas Eve. There was a chance he could get a ride down with State Park yesterday and drive back then, but then again, there was a chance he might not – it’s a tough call with weather this time of year. Because of these factors, he came up Wednesday on shift change, grabbed his gear, and headed southbound. It has been nice working by my lonesome this week though. It reminds me a bit of when I worked nights for eight months.

On the topic of things that are short (the staffing on the summit, my…hrm…what was it…oh, right…memory), today happens to be the solstice, the shortest day of the year. It arrives a day after my Papa’s birthday every year, who is now 92! Happy birthday, Papa! From here on out (well, until summer solstice), the daylight hours will get a wee bit longer each day. For some this means more time to play and work outside (before donning a headlamp) or less time to drive in the dark in the morning or night on the way to or from work. It also marks the official start of winter, which I am quite excited about. Now all we need are a few of these storms to not track right off the coast and hit us with some snow! I guess it’s really just a game of patience as no matter how well I observe the weather or forecast it, it’s going to do what it’s going to do.

Mike Finnegan,  IT Observer