Mount Washington Observatory Observer Blog
Life on Top of New England
Life on Top of New England By Anna Trujillo Hi everyone! My name is Anna Trujillo and I am one of the interns for the MWOBS winter season. I am super excited for the opportunity to spend these next few months at the Observatory! While I am originally from Massachusetts, my family moved from the East Coast to Boulder, Colorado when I was small. Growing up on the front range meant a childhood spent outdoors, as well as many fieldtrips to national institutes of climate and weather such as NOAA and NCAR. Both of these influences led me to
I Haven’t Seen a Tree in 12 Days
I Haven’t Seen a Tree in 12 Days By Ryan Steinke A photo of me hiking Cathedral Ledge during my first off week. Hi everyone, my name is Ryan Steinke, and I am thrilled to be one of the winter interns here at the Observatory this season! I graduated with my B.S. in meteorology from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, in December of 2025, just a couple of weeks before my first shift on the summit. My post-grad life is starting off with a whirlwind of new experiences as I immerse myself in the summit operations.
2025 By the Numbers
2025 By the Numbers By Ryan Knapp Mt. Washington from the Northwest on Jan. 6, 2026. January 2026 started off cold with temperatures well below normal, but as we approach mid-January, temperatures have see-sawed with the summit warming and averaging above normal temperatures. Looking at the weather maps for the rest of the month, a significantly colder pattern is taking shape. While I have glanced at the weather ahead, a good portion of this shift had me looking back and examining the weather stats for 2025 at Mt. Washington. So, let's look back at some of the
Life as a Mesonet and Information Systems Technician
Life as a Mesonet and Information Systems Technician By Colby Morris Installing an automated weather station with MWOBS Director of Technology Keith Garrett (left). The instrument I am holding is a temperature sensor. From a young age, I was always fascinated by storms and other weather phenomena like hail and ground fog. I knew I wanted to understand how the weather formed and shaped the world around us. It helped that my father is a pilot; I always sat in the front seat, peering out the big glass window watching clouds go in and out of view.
Supporter Spotlight: Ryan Shepard
Supporter Spotlight: Ryan Shepard By Ryan Shepard and Carissa Milliman Ever since I was a kid, living in Western New York and growing up with lake effect snow, I thought harsh weather was incredibly cool. There is nothing like witnessing incredible feats of weather and how nature affects day-to-day life. And frankly, who doesn't just dig snow days, both as a student and then (sometimes) as an adult? I still remember snowstorms from the late seventies, and the ice storm that hit my area back in the early nineties. When I moved to the Mount Washington Valley in 2021,
Supporter Spotlight: Erik Rider
Supporter Spotlight: Erik Rider By Wendy Almeida For Erik Rider, supporting Mount Washington Observatory comes from a lifelong fascination with weather and how it shapes daily life. Growing up along the Massachusetts coast, he remembers being introduced to “lovely hurricanes,” an experience that stayed with him. When he moved north and began recreating in the White Mountains, discovering the Higher Summits Forecast deepened that connection. “I’ve used pretty much all of the Observatory's resources,” he says. As a self-described “weather geek,” he attends Science in the Mountains programs to keep learning. And he always makes a point to “check
An Autumn Above the Clouds on Mount Washington
An Autumn Above the Clouds on Mount Washington By Cassie Farnsworth I don’t know how many times in life you get to say “it was exactly what I hoped it would be,” but my internship on Mount Washington was undoubtedly one of those rare moments. From the moment I first learned about the Observatory’s internship program, I had a feeling it would be a perfect fit. What I didn’t anticipate was just how deeply this experience would impact me. I arrived in September, right as the mountain was preparing to become busy with fall foliage visitors. I was giving
2025 Holiday Staff Picks
2025 Holiday Staff Picks By Brandi Malloy 2026 is just a few weeks away, and the season of giving is in full swing! From Nimbus plushies to yeti beanies, we're incredibly grateful for your holiday gift purchases this season through the official MWOBS online store. Now that I've shared my personal favorites, I've turned to the rest of the team for their intel on top Observatory gifts and gear, and they had some fantastic recommendations! Read below to hear from more MWOBS team members across the organization for our Holiday Gift Staff Picks. I also wanted to send along
Supporter Spotlight: Colleen Gendron
Supporter Spotlight: Colleen 'Coco' Gendron By Wendy Almeida In the 1970s, Colleen 'Coco' Gendron was introduced to hiking by a close friend’s father, an avid hiker and Appalachian Mountain Club instructor, who shared stories of Mount Washington and the White Mountains. Her first hike up the mountain was memorable: “I was completely unprepared and naïve, but fortunately in the company of a few seasoned hikers, we made a successful trip.” That experience “gave me the hiking bug,” she says, and soon she learned more about the Observatory during a visit to its North Conway office and speaking with curator, Dr. Peter Crane. She then signed up
I Did Not Get Blown Off, I Persisted
I Did Not Get Blown Off, I Persisted By Alyssa Bélanger Hello again! To write this farewell blog summarizing my three months on the remote summit of Mount Washington, I decided to take a good bit of time to reflect. I thought about my emotions during the plane ride out to the northeast, the challenges I faced, and looked through the insane amount of pictures on my camera roll. Fear not, I will not post all 878 and counting photos, just the highlights from my time on the rockpile. Too many pictures from my time up here.
Search with Text
