Mount Washington Observatory Observer Blog
A Memorial Day Remembrance
A Memorial Day Remembrance By Peter Crane, MWOBS Curator As we are about to commence the Memorial Day weekend, we should take time to recall four of "our own", previous weather observers on Mount Washington, soldiers who gave their lives in the service of their country. Three of the fallen were members of the U.S. Army Signal Service, early occupiers of the summit for scientific purposes. One was a member of the founding crew of the Observatory. On February 26, 1872, Private William Stevens died of an apparent stroke while on duty at the summit. His single shift mate,
Home on the Range
Home on the Range By Athena Hendrick Nice to meet you! My name is Athena, and I’ve just begun my climate science communication internship with the Mount Washington Observatory, Appalachian Mountain Club, and Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study. My first two shifts on the summit have allowed me a slow goodbye to winter. It’s snowed eleven out of the last twelve days! I grew up in the Northeast Kingdom of the Green Mountain State. On clear days, I could see Mt. Washington looming over fellow peaks. As many Vermonters, curiosity about our little corner is interwoven into my family and
Seek the Peak Spotlight: Sandy and Joan Kurtz
Seek the Peak Spotlight: Sandy and Joan Kurtz By MWOBS Staff Sandy and Joan Kurtz have been active supporters of Mount Washington Observatory for almost five decades. After visiting North Conway in 1980, they fell in love with the town and became members of the Observatory that same year. Among their many contributions, they have become synonymous with Seek the Peak, the Observatory’s largest community fundraiser. In 2006, the Kurtz’s moved to Intervale and became more involved. This was during Seek the Peak’s early years, and Sandy and Joan were among the trailblazers who helped grow its roots. Though
Living the Night Life
Living the Night Life By Madelynn Smith My alarm goes off in the bunkroom, with blackout curtains obscuring the sun’s rays as it begins to lower in the sky. My day starts in the afternoon - going about my “morning” routine as the day observers are finishing up their shift upstairs in the weather room. The smell of what our volunteers are cooking for dinner that evening signals the end of the workday for everyone else, but just the beginning for mine. Nimbus meows hello as I make my way up the tower stairs, caffeine in hand, readying for
Three and a Half Months of Snow, Ice and Rime
Three and a Half Months of Snow, Ice and Rime, with Deeper Drifts. By Ryan Steinke Me outside on the summit near the Yankee Building. My internship with the Mount Washington Observatory has now come to an end. Although I had an amazing time and made many new friends, this day had to come eventually. Plus, having four Ryans at the Observatory at once was simply too confusing, and things needed to calm down a bit. I arrived on the summit a few days before 2026 began and turned over the new year on the top of
Supporter Spotlight: Righteous Vices Coffee Roasters
Supporter Spotlight: Righteous Vices Coffee Roasters By MWOBS Staff Righteous Vices Coffee Roasters, a local coffee roaster and shop located in Center Conway, New Hampshire, has been a partner of the Observatory since 2024. As the “Official Coffee of Mount Washington Observatory,” their roasts are regularly sent to the summit of Mount Washington and are much appreciated by staff working around the clock. We recently spoke with Righteous Vices’ co-owner Adam Belanger about their backstory, their love of coffee, and their support for local causes. What inspired you to start roasting coffee, and how did this company come to
Winter Storm Tracks Across New Hampshire
Winter Storm Tracks Across New Hampshire By Alex Branton As winter comes to a close, most of us are ready for the warmer temperatures and sunshine that come with Spring and Summer. Although we are looking forward to the summertime comfort, we can reflect fondly on Winter ‘25/’26. When I think about this past winter, I remember an intense start to the season in November, a couple big snowstorms, plenty of snow to sustain winter recreation, and near average temperatures. When we compare this winter to winter’s past, we may begin to wonder why this season in New Hampshire
Bringing Polar Byrd I to Mount Washington
Bringing Polar Byrd I to Mount Washington By Jackie Broccolo In 1968, my grandfather joined the Polar Byrd I “Dustin Transpolar Flight”, which was the first commercial flight to carry civilians across both poles and touch down on all continents in just 26 days. This round-the-world flight was a tribute to renowned polar explorer and pioneer of aerial exploration, Admiral Richard E. Byrd. Admiral Byrd led several historic expeditions to Antarctica from 1928 to 1956, including establishing the first United States Antarctic base on the Ross Ice Shelf (Little America I) during his second mission in 1928, the first
In Remembrance: Paul T. Fitzgerald
In Remembrance: Paul T. Fitzgerald By Rob Kirsch, MWOBS Trustee & Immediate Past President The Observatory and Mount Washington communities have lost a giant. Paul Thomas Fitzgerald passed away peacefully early on February 5, 2026. Paul was born in Springfield, MA, on April 27, 1950, and moved to Laconia at the age of two. He attended St. John’s School, Laconia High School and graduated from St. Michael’s College. Paul was in the first graduating class of the Franklin Pierce Law Center, now UNH Law School. Paul opened a law practice in Laconia with a classmate. He spent nearly fifty
Seek the Peak 2026: New Adventures, Rooted in Tradition
Seek the Peak 2026: New Adventures, Rooted in Tradition By MWOBS Staff Seek the Peak is Mount Washington Observatory's largest annual fundraiser, and for 26 years it's brought together hikers, adventurers, and people who care about weather science and the outdoors. Whether you summit Mount Washington, explore a local trail, or find your own path, every step you take supports the Observatory's critical work in weather forecasting, research, and education. But the event is more than just a hike—it’s a Hike-a-Thon! This means your adventure raises critical funds, and the more you raise, the more epic gear you earn.
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