1st Day: Mount Washington Observatory Volunteer 3-11-15

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

You may have not seen or heard from me for awhile, Have not been hiking much due to a needed hip replacement, but I do need my mountain fix!

Quiet day with just myself and friend Mark Truman and the crew. VIP trip tomorrow who we will serve lunch. We'll be feeding up to 18 people Friday when hikers arrive, after breakfast next morning they will hike down, then 12 more will show up by snow cat to spend Saturday night-lunch, dinner,breakfast and lunch before they leave... we will be busy!

Arriving at the Glen House/Auto Road at sunrise, cloud cap on Mount Washington

Jefferson Ravine

My pal Slim who drives the short bus

Climbing into the clouds at 4000'

Pan-seared Scallops for 1st night dinner-it's all down hill from here...

Observer at sunset.

Sunset over Bretton Woods

Sunset from Trinity Heights

Looking east at sunset

Stage Office at sunset

KDT

 

[jrbren]

Very nice, thanks for sharing !

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

2nd Day: Mount Washington Observatory Volunteer 3-12-15

Had a group of folks come up for lunch today, two were friends we made through our shared love of this mountain. It was great to see them get up here!

My partner Mark

Rime Ice on the summit cairn

Rime ice on the chains which hold down the Stage Office

Shadow of Mount Washington in the east at sunset

Sunset on the top of New England

Northern Prezzies

Sunset behind the Yankee Building

KDT

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

3rd Day: Mount Washington Observatory Volunteer 3-13-15

Our first views this AM from the rotunda

Frosted windows...

Self portrait

Awaiting the sunrise…

A little windy. Note outward bow of heavy chain…

Stage Office at sunrise...

Riming on the Stage Office

Marty is resting up. A black cat has much to do on Friday the 13th!

Incredible lower sun pillar created from sunlight and falling snow…

KDT

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Day 4: Mount washington Observatory Volunteer 3-14-15 Pi Day!

We fed last night's 11 guests breakfast before they began their descent on foot, great group of folks led by Mooney Mountain Guides. Soon after an Edu-trip arrived and we served them lunch and dinner and will feed them again in the AM. It is possible they will be stuck here longer than expected as the Obs snowcat needs a new water pump, not something you can stop by NAPA and pick up on a Saturday afternoon, but driver Slim has the connections and may save the day! We had pork roast and potatoes for dinner along with some great pies, all prepared by Mark as we celebrated Ryan's birthday, happy birthday Ryan! A big shout out to Chris who located and purchased a battery charger for me, then managed to find a way to get it to the top of Mount Washington! I owe you big time my kilted brother!

First light

Nelson Crag

Southern Prezzies

Boott Spur

Partner Mark

It warmed up considerably today… 19 degrees! Yes, that's me...

Can't experience MW in winter without taking this slide in front of the Yankee Building!

Stage Office

Southern Prezzies

Northern Prezzies

Adams & Madison

KDT

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Day 5: Mount Washington Observatory Volunteer 3-15-15

As expected, the Edu-trippers are again benighted on Mount Washington with us due to the Obs Snowcat needing a water pump. The current plan is for Slim to come up and get them 1st thing tomorrow, descend with them and return to the summit with the day trippers. We fed then lasagna, salad and bread, and finished off the chocolate banana pie and cheesecake with berries. We never came out of the clouds today, but took a couple of strolls around summit where they got to experience wind gusts over 65mph and feel the stinging snow pellets even through several layers of clothing.

Marty

On the deck in the wind

Marty has great taste in books

Kaitlin has Marty in the palm of her hand

KDT

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Day 6: Mount Washington Observatory Volunteer 3-16-15

Awoke to a beautiful sunrise this morning… great day on the Rockpile. Served lunch to a great group of folks who came up on a Day Trip… very quiet now, with just 5 of us here. Sigh of relief…

Pre-dawn Stage Office

Waiting for the sun

Sunrise on Mount Washington

Franconia Ridge

Sunrise

Boott Spur

At sunrise

Southern Prezzies at sunrise

Ravens over Mount Clay

Beautiful end to another great day

KDT

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Day 7: Mount Washington Observatory Volunteer 3-17-15

There hasn't been a lot to photograph today, gray and dismal, but the winds have been exciting with a peak gust of 124mph! As things look right now we will be here for another night instead of leaving during regularly scheduled shift change tomorrow morning.

Instrument tower of the Mount Washington Observatory

Drifted snow in the windows of Tip-Top House

Tip-Top House

Hayes Chart measuring windspeeds, peak gust 124mph

KDT

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Day 8: Mount Washington Observatory Volunteer 3-18-15

Sustained winds in the 80 and 90+mph range stranded us here on the summit today when normally we'd have descended during a regular shift change. Again, there was little to photograph, rime is not forming because it's too cold. However, we spent some time playing outside in the winds, -14* temps and -60 windchills. Sadly, we will most likely return to the real world tomorrow…

An observer clears rime and frost from some instruments…

Mark returns from the deck…

Bet you never had this much frost on your windows...

Marty shows us how it's done on an "inside" day...

KDT

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Day 9: Mount Washington Observatory Volunteer 3-19-15

As you know we spent an extra night on the summit due to the extremely high winds over the past 48 hours. As we awoke this morning the winds chased away the clouds which had blocked any hopes of seeing the aurora the past two nights. We made the descent in bluebird conditions while the winds continued to blow and fill the air with snow and ice. While descending we stopped to check on some instruments along the auto road. Many thanks to the Obs for allowing me another great week on the summit, and even more thanks to friend Mark who went above and beyond in helping me keep the crew and guests happily well-fed! I couldn't have done it without him!

Awoke to an awesome sunrise...

A stop to check an Auto Road Vertical Temperature Profile (ARVTP) Station

Jefferson's Knees

Cool Lenticular forming

How windy WAS it on Mount Washington?

Last look

Bluebird Day!

KDT