Tim

2006-09-06 08:10:04.000 – Tim Markle,  Chief Meteorologist

One Last Sunrise

Sitting in the weather room getting ready to take what is likely to be my final observation up here, I could not help but reminisce about what it was like during my first week on the summit back in July of 2003. Looking back upon it all made laugh for, you see, my last observation was almost exactly the same as my first! It was foggy and drizzling, with a light northwesterly breeze. The only difference was that is was three degrees warmer during that July observation. It was a fitting send off to what was a great three years atop New England’s highest peak!

My love for this mountain occurred much later in life for me than for my co-workers. I knew nothing about New Hampshire, let alone this mountain, before my decision to visit Plymouth State College (now University) almost ten years ago. Yikes! Has it been that long? After a long, eight hour trek from the suburbs of Philadelphia, I got out of the car and marveled at the sights of a small college town nestled on the outskirts of the White Mountains. It didn’t take much convincing to go to Plymouth, as opposed to the other, more famous PSU. Soon after settling into college life, the Plymouth chapter of the American Meteorological Society scheduled a hike to the summit of Mount Washington. It was during this hike and visit to the summit that I fell in love with the mountain.

It was two years after graduation that one day while perusing the MWO website I came across an observer job opening. I applied immediately. The next day I received an email from Ken to schedule an interview. Two weeks later I was back on the summit interviewing for the job, and two weeks after that I began my training!

Since that first week of fog I have been lucky enough to see some of the most extreme weather known to man (and woman), and some of the most picturesque, too! Some of these weather events will forever live in the record books, while most will be doomed to obscurity, only to be documented in the hourly weather reports. The best part about experiencing these events, though, has been having the privilege to share the extremes of Mount Washington with a public who loves this mountain as much as I…and maybe even more!

Ever since my first day I have been ever grateful to be a part of this organization and what it stands for. It has been a pleasure to work and live with those who share the same passion and dedication to weather and education as I have had while working here. The best part of this three year journey, however, has been building friendships with those whom I have had the opportunity to work with; friendships which I hope will last a very long time!

Now it is time for me to head south to begin a new adventure on a different continent, and share what I have learned here with those who will call the South Pole home for the next 12 months.

Tim Markle,  Chief Meteorologist