LIFE ON THE ALPINE TUNDRA EXHIBIT TO BE UNVEILED AT MOUNT WASHINGTON OBSERVATORY’S WEATHER DISCOVERY CENTER OPEN HOUSE & RIBBON CUTTING EVENT

A special presentation about the Alpine Zone will take place prior to the exhibit ribbon cutting

North Conway, NH – February 7, 2020 - The Mount Washington Observatory will unveil a new special exhibit Discovering Life on the Alpine Tundra in the Weather Discovery Center in downtown North Conway, New Hampshire at an Open House & Ribbon Cutting event taking place on Monday, February 17, 2020.

The Open House is a free event taking place from 5:00pm-7:00pm and will feature a special presentation from Weather Observer & Education Specialist Ian Bailey discussing Mount Washington’s Alpine Zone prior to the Ribbon Cutting and viewing of the exhibit.

Bailey’s program will highlight how Mount Washington’s infamous weather and climate shape the living environment at and above treeline. This program will feature a live connection to the Observatory’s mountaintop weather station with stunning video and photography.

The Discovering Life on the Alpine Tundra exhibit is a virtual educational adventure up the tallest peak in the Northeast, Mount Washington, via a “snowcat” ride traveling the Mt. Washington Auto Road. Visitors are invited to learn about the journey to the summit, the unique flora & fauna found above tree-line as well as the geology and climate around Mount Washington.

“Commuting to the summit of Mount Washington each week, year round, provides us a unique opportunity to experience the mountain in every light and we hope this exhibit can provide guests a sense of this experience and some insight into the incredibly fragile and special environment that is our backyard,” says Observatory Director of Science & Education Brian Fitzgerald.

Visitors will experience a wide-angle view (more than 180 degrees) across three large-format angled screens inside a snowcat cockpit-inspired theater. The snowcat video experience is roughly 3 ½ minutes in length, and is narrated by local radio personality and the WMWV Morning Weather Show host Roy Prescott.

The exhibit will relay the important message that Mount Washington and the Presidential Range within the White Mountains represent a significant percentage of the overall alpine tundra environment that can be found in the Northeastern United States. These are precious areas that need continued protection, otherwise they are easily damaged by human development and impacts.

This exhibit was made possible due to the generous support of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Dorr Foundation, McIninch Foundation, Goldberg Charitable Trust and HAM Charitable Foundation. With support from: Tom Guilmette, Videographer; Roy Prescott, Narrator; Doug Weihrauch, Alpine Ecologist, Appalachian Mountain Club; Mt. Washington Auto Road; Mount Washington State Park.

About The Weather Discovery Center:

Open daily from 10:00am-5:00pm in the summer months and vacation weeks and 10:00am-3:00pm in the winter season. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children ages 7-17. Admission is free for children ages 6 and under and Mount Washington Observatory and ASTC members.

About Mount Washington Observatory:

Mount Washington Observatory is a private, nonprofit, member-supported institution with a mission to advance understanding of the natural systems that create the Earth's weather and climate. Since 1932, the Observatory has been monitoring the elements from its weather station on the summit of Mount Washington, using this unique site for scientific research and educational outreach. For more information, call (800) 706-0432 or visit MountWashington.org.

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