Mount Washington Observatory Forums

Everest Beyond The Limit Season 3!!!

njhiker — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:15:17 GMT

Hi All,

I just wanted to let all those of you who love the show Everest Beyond The Limit that it will be airing season 3 soon. I have been desperatley looking for info in regards to this for awhile, and the ebsite blog for the show has had no info. I am sure many have also been wondering. I finally gave up looking for info and just sent a note to Discovery Channel and got the info...

Dear Viewer,

Thank you for contacting Discovery Channel.

Everest is currently scheduled to premiere on January 6, 2010.

For programming and schedule information, please visit our website at www.discovery.com, then click on TV Schedule. Our schedules are published for the current and following month. If you are not able to locate the programming you are looking for, we recommend checking back periodically to see if it has been added to the current schedule.

For your convenience, use the "Newsletters" feature on our website to receive e-mail reminders letting you know when your favorite program is going to be televised.

Sincerely,

Viewer Relations
Discovery Channel

Enjoy the Show!!!

NJHIKER :D

Daddy/Daughter Day on Moosilauke 11/19/09

KD Talbot — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:31:05 GMT

Lengthening Shadows

Moosilauke 4802'

Glencliff Trail

7.8 Miles 3300' Elevation gain

Kevin and Emma, Jeremy, Fred, Dick, Skip, Tim, Clay, and Dave

Nope, I have no daughters just sons. My current retired status is allowing me the luxury of some mid-week afternoon hikes like this. Jude, who is still working, calls them, "Daddy/Daughter Days" because it's just me and Emma. It takes a new way of thinking on my part because Emma has always been Judy's responsibility and they both came under mine. Now I am totally responsible for her on these hikes. We've only really done a handful without Jude when compared to all the one's we've done as a trio.

Along the Glencliff Trail

Making sure I leave the house with everything I need for Emma to have a comfortable hike is kind of new to me as Jude always took care of it. Luckily she still helps me with it, I just have to remember to bring it. Last week I was so focused on this that I left my camera at home. This week I managed to remember it.

Setting Sun

The 11am northbound start of our trip was one of the easiest commutes to the mountains we've ever had. Traffic was light and we made good time. Arriving at the parking area I was relieved to find that it was just as warm at the base of Moosilauke as it was at home. I hiked to the summit in a medium weight shirt, and I changed to another at the summit. Though we had been to the summit several times, this making our third time this year, we had never been on the Glencliff Trail before. Besides being a section of the AT it is just a beautiful trail starting out through rolling farmland and entering a deciduous forest full of some huge Grey and Silver Birches before it abruptly turns over to a beautiful mix of conifers.

Enjoying the Sunset

I had met most of the group I was to meet at the summit along the trail. We continued the hike together having all started at different times. There is a very nice outlook to the west high up this trail where it passes a talus field. A quick scramble will bring you to an improvised "rampart" that makes a great lookout. Just above this the trail connects with the Carriage Road to complete the hike to the summit. We arrived at the summit, changed into dry things and donned an extra layer against the lightest breeze I have ever experienced on Moosilauke. It was a beautiful afternoon.

New Moon

We hung around the summit, each munching down on various things. Emma did her usual "Dog vs Food" show. She is ravenous after hiking to a summit. For me, there's sort of a bewilderment being on a mountainside at this time of day. I marvel at the glowing light, the lengthening shadows, the colors in the sky. There is a new moon to complete the scene. The mountains turn blue then purple. The light fades. A half mile back down the trail we are all back down to shirts, the temperature is amazingly warm. Emma leads us out in the dark.

Complete pics here:

http://ghostflowers.smugmug.com/Whit...18926574_CckV8

KDT

Truth in advertising?

spyboy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:10 GMT

Life Magazine, 1962

I guess nobody paid attention

any suggestion for a first hike?

JenCell — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:22:49 GMT

I'M from quebec, would like to hike in the white mountain this week-end.
What would you suggest for a first hike in the region ?

Leopard Seal photos

spyboy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:40:45 GMT

Off topic, but it's cool nature photo stuff ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxa6P73Awcg

I never knew leopard seals were that big, giants!

Kirk

What effects wind speed

sdways01 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:38:13 GMT

Monday while on the top of Mt. Moosilauke in the windy conditions, I was thinking about what factors affect wind speed on the summit of a mountain.

Does the shape of the mountain make a difference? Does it act like an airplane wing speeding up the wind as it goes over? Is is partially dependent on the elevation you are at? Does wind just go faster up high? Or is it more the shape of the surroundings funneling the air properly to increase the speed?

Mt Moosilauke 11-16-09

sdways01 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:33:33 GMT

Mt. Moosilauke

Glencliff Trail --> Carriage Road --> Summit --> Back

Distance: 7.232 mi.
Elevation Gain: 3263 ft.
Time: 3:30 (ascent)
4:15 (total)

The trail starts off very gentle following the edge of a couple fields before going into the woods for good. It isn't overly steep but steadily gains elevation. There are few rocks during this section of trail making pretty easy and a good warm up for the rest of the hike.

Early section of trail

All along trail there are plenty of trees that have broken off or fallen. Some have been there for many years and some have fallen recently. You will also find there are many brooks that are next to, crossing, or running down the trail. But even with this, it isn't overly muddy.

Fallen tree

After hiking for quite a while (2 miles?), you will come to the steepest section of the hike. But even this isn't that bad. There are no large rocks to climb up or over.

Steeper section of trail

Since it was a cold and windy day with some morning clouds, I started to see ice forming on the trees around 4,000 ft.

Some ice on the needles

Once you reach the junction with the Carriage Road Trail, it becomes quite easy walking. You are on the ridge between the summit and the south peak, so there is no steep sections or hard parts. This was where I started seeing many more trees with ice forming on them.

Carriage Road trail

The walk along the ridge was quite easy and made for a short trip to the summit.

Summit in some clouds

I never really did get much of a view to the North. The clouds were in and out (mostly in), making views limited. I could mostly see to the South and sometimes the East and West. Normally I would have waited a while for some better photos, but it was a little chilly and VERY windy. It was even hard to stand still at times while taking photos.

Summit

I decided it would be best to start heading back down the mountain and get to where the trees could provide me some shield from the wind.

Heading back down the trail

The Eastern side of the mountain

While hiking back on the ridge, I was able to look back and have a beautiful view of the summit I had just left. It made quite the seen with the blue sky above and the ice on the trees and rocks. This was probably the best part of the hike and I was now headed back down with a big smile on my face.

View back to the summit

All in all this was a great hike and not as hard as I was expecting with the elevation of the summit. Even with the high winds on the summit I still had a great time and enjoyed myself a lot. It was great to see everything there and even better having it to myself as I never saw a single person.

Close up of summit sign

Rime ice forming on the rocks

Ice forming on a cairn near the summit

To view the rest of the pictures from the hike, just click here.

Profile pic

Addicted — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:19:34 GMT

Why doesn't my profile picture show with my user name? Just curious. When I check my setting etc it shows that I have it set as my profile pic, but I never see it show with my posts.

A Day in the Life Of Marty, the Cat (ObsCast)

Snow Miser — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:09:31 GMT

Very nice ObsCast this week. Marty sure does have the life!:) I really enjoyed watching it, though the litterbox scene was a little too racy for my eyes.:p Thanks Obs crew for putting it together. It doesn't take much to satisfy us cat lovers. >^..^<

Is there any snow on Washington yet?

dangergirl — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:56:10 GMT

I was thinking of heading up to Mount Washington for the Turkey Day weekend (kind of a tradition now for me!) and was wondering if there is any snow or ice up there yet. We usually ice climb in Tuckermans Ravine but this year I want to try an evening ascent of Washington too, but only if there is snow! If anyone can offer some info on what it up there I would be very appreciative! Thanks! - K :)

Mts Willard, Avalon, Tom, and Field

MelNino — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:03:48 GMT

Well, just got back from our stay in Lincoln. I thought we'd only get one hike in, we got three! Yup, my leg is healed and I am hiking again. Without getting overly dramatic, dang it feels good to be be back

On Nov 9, we got Willard:

Nice lil mountain, I loved the summit....enough room to skip around. Will try in snow. We had great weather and amazing views. Easy jaunt up and down....I was happy, since both myself and my boyfriend haven't been hiking much.

On the 10th, we got Avalon:

LOVED this mountain...pity it was so cloudy, but it was great fun. Some tricky parts, but I have been out of hiking for a few months. Good views, but the clouds of course didn't help. Guess I'll have to return......

On the 13th, we got Mt Tom, Mt Field, and Mt Avalon! We actually only planned to get Tom, but since it was such a lovely day and we were so close, why not get Field? And since Avalon was on the way...well, we had to!!
View From Tom
Tom's summit...it was really windy!!!!!
We'll go there next time ;)

Summit of Field
Pearl Cascade on the descent
Beecher Cascade

Overall, an awesome trip, though I am bummed to be back. At least I am hiking again, and already have plans for next time. When we go in spring, we're gonna throw in Willey, we just didn't think we had enough time this trip. 3 4000' down!!!

I have more pix on my Facebook page, if anyone is interested, just PM me. ( I have to keep the profile private because if work, ha!)

Oh, and I was annoyed there were no summit signs on Avalon, Tom, or Field, lol....I love those summit sign pix! Oh well :)

Nor'easter comments

Brad — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:34:52 GMT

Quote:

05:16 Sun Nov 15th

Nor'easter of 1996Although the storm that visited the area yesterday was technically not a Nor'easter for New England, a bit further south, it certainly was.

What constitutes a nor'easter? In anticipation of the upcoming winter season, and for your general knowledge, here is a brief explanation of the distinctive characteristics of these sometimes-monster storms:

Nor'easters are unique to the northeastern United States and the Atlantic coast of southern Canada. Although low pressure systems with similar structures form in other places around the globe, the unique combination and interaction of the ocean, the coastal plain, the inland mountain ranges, and the effects the storm has on all of them leads to an equally distinctive result.

Nor'easters are extratropical, meaning they are not classified as a hurricane or tropical storm. Although a well-developed nor'easter can appear strikingly similar to a hurricane from the perspective of a satellite image (the most potent ones even possess what appears to be an eye), there are distinct differences. Extratropical cyclones are 'cold-core' low pressure systems, gathering their strength more from temperature gradients, or baroclinicity, while tropical storm systems are 'warm-core,' relying on warm ocean waters for fuel. In the case of tropical systems, the strongest winds are at the surface, whereas with extratropical systems, the fastest speeds are observed aloft.

Speaking of winds, they are another signature of a nor'easter, and perhaps the most infamous, as that is how they have ultimately been named. The very-often damaging winds are generally from the northeast along the affected coastlines. Winds can blow in excess of 50 mph at the surface, whipping up the waves, which frequently results in costly coastal damage, as well as inland structural damage. The strong northeast flow also serves another vital purpose--moisture. Without moisture to tap into, all of the dynamics in place will not amount to any significant precipitation. Because northeast winds allow moisture from off the Atlantic to come flooding in to the northeastern US, nor'easters very often produce widespread areas of significant snow or rain fall.

As far as precipitation is concerned, nor'easters can dump feet of snow on one place, and inches of rain on another, all dependent upon the proximity to the coastline. A track closer to the coast generally results in rain (and sometimes a wintry mix) for coastal locations with snow inland. If the low takes a track much further from the coast, very little will result, with perhaps modest snowfall amounts near the coast. However, if a track is followed in between these two (in the 'sweet spot,' if you will), significant snowfall could result for the entire northeast. And as always, the specifics change from situation to situation, such as the characteristics of the air mass that was in place, moisture availability, upper-level dynamics, and many more. So while two nor'easter-type systems may be very similar and take nearly identical tracks, the results will by no means be the same.

When the right moisture and dynamics do come together, the product can be quite extraordinary! And although not technically hurricanes, they can still produce just as much damage and disruption of daily life.

Mike Carmon - Staff Meteorologist

Question - is there a direction of travel that is required to make a storm a Nor'easter? Must they be up the coast or could they come at us from the west?

Ramsau webcam

M_Six — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:56:38 GMT

The URL has changed. The pictures are still awesome.

Nor'easter Photos from the Coast of NJ

h2oeco — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:38:35 GMT

Here are some pictures taken during the nor'easter that we're currently having...

More here...

Ed

El Nino and Mt Washington

Steve M — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:14:19 GMT

Since we are in a moderate El Nino cycle for the winter this year, what is the consensus for snow pack on the mountain? Are temps going to be above average??