Vol experience

2009-07-21 22:19:30.000 – Summit Volunteer,  Summit Volunteer

Out hiking!

Observer’s Note:Don’t forget to join us Wednesday evening at the Weather Discovery Center in North Conway Village at 7PM for Science in the Mountains: A Passport to Science. Through video conferencing technology, we’ll travel to science centers around the world to learn about our environment from the experts in the field! Join us on July 22 at 7PM when we visit the Biospheré in Montreal to talk to René Brunet about the latest scientific information on air quality and climate change, their impacts on the environment and what we can do about it. The Weather Discovery Center is located next to Citizens Bank in North Conway. Admission is FREE! Seating is limited, so please arrive early. For more information call (800) 706-0432 ext. 225

This is my first volunteer week at MWObs. Now on my last full day on the mountain. I have been asked to reflect on the experience. I have not had to cook every night for so long that I was worried it wouldn’t come back to me. However, it was like having my kids home again but they brought their friends with them. The kitchen was well stocked and the work load was not very strenuous. There was only seven of us. They tell me other times there are a lot more people.

Apart from Edutrips, there is no other way to stay overnight on top of Mount Washington unless you work here. You can visit in winter when there is at least two feet of snow on the ground but the building is closed.

It has been thrilling at times. The wind at the top of the observatory that first night was about 70 miles per hour. I was looking forward to more challenging wind but the rest of week didn’t have really bad weather. My interests were in the challenges of the mountain and overcoming the weather. The cooking and the cleaning was well worth the opportunity to attack the trails. I attacked several and the good weather made it easier. The staff was helpful, patient, and appreciated my work.

I highly recommend volunteering. Many of my associates at work, friends, and relatives may ask why I would give up personal time to cook for and clean up for a bunch of strangers. I will answer that I wanted to be on the Mountain and volunteering got me there. In the process I met people and made new friends.

The older I get the more I find that many good things have already been said. So I can quote Abraham Lincoln who said “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be”. Anybody with the means can write a check and give money. How happy does it make them? Do you long to be a part of something bigger than yourself? Can you give of yourself?

Pete Roy

Summit Volunteer,  Summit Volunteer