Week #1 Post-Trip Report: Reflections of an Arctic Wednesday by Karl Nordland

On the morning of 11th I awoke to see that the previous night’s storm had already passed….This was a good sign...We would be in the clear and maybe get a chance to step out on the summit in 80-100 mile an hour winds….I picked up Matt in the bustling metropolis of Conway and we were off...Both of us ready for the day with Kestrel’s in hand...literally...We pulled into the parking lot at Wildcat to take some pic’s and check some weather readings...we had time...we were a mere 30 minutes ahead of schedule….40 degrees and a peak wind speed of 13mph. We arrived at the gate and waited….and waited….until our friendly snow cat driver arrived with the secret code allowing us to enter….We geared up in the parking lot and entered the building to go over our plan...but before we could I was informed that my vehicle was “illegally” parked and had to be moved…(not really “illegally”,  but in a space reserved for the observers..illegally sounds a little more dangerous)  We were getting close to our departure..As we began to head for the exit the news came…”we will not be leaving for another hour or so”..

Darn!!!! Matt and I decided to take this time to work on our videography skills..Finally the time arrived….we loaded the snowcat..two volunteer cooks...three weather observers…(Mike, Caleb, and Adam...not Mo, Larry, and Curly) Two teachers….the President (Sharon, not Obama)...and the research exec…(Eric).... and a 50 pound bag of onions...yes... 50 pounds of onions...What a crew...ready for action...If only we had known what the future would hold…(no...not onion rings) As we left the bottom in the comfortable confines of the “cat” (not the famous one who should have a facebook page) we had terrific conversations about many things, learned a little bit about each other, and had a glint of optimism about the “mission’s” success..Very nice.. and the professionals were very professional and totally down to Earth..Full of knowledge and willing and ready to share..Thanks.. Anyway..we stopped and took some weather readings at 4100 ft. Shot some video and then pressed on….Onions and all..

Next, we came to the “5 mile”....on this day it should have been called 3000 mile….The previous night’s weather left a snoooooooooow drift over that portion of the road..It took the hard work of our excellent driver Alyssa...and  “Nate” the Park Ranger (in a separate but equal machine) to clear the road..We got up to the cragway and “BAM” the road was clear.. We pushed along to the top as the near full moon began shining down on us.. At

5:00 we reached the top...a record someone said….6 hour trip...eat your hearts out Gilligan and Skipper….While at the summit were able to communicate w/family to tell them we wouldn’t be home for dinner..So… during our brief stay at the top we were able to take weather readings, tour the weather station, look into the toothless mouth of Marty (the cat), and make a video for our students’. We made our descent in darkness, but not without a lot to see, and had more great conversations with the crew coming off the Mt… smooth trip to the bottom..Matt got to ride up front for a while... All in all a stellar day.. Though our plans were compromised we were still able to connect to our classrooms. Thanks to Tom Padham, he was able to field questions from our 4th and 5th graders without us. I think a quote by Earl Hamner Jr. sums up our day, “ A mountain has no need for people, but people do need mountains. We go to them for their beauty, for the exhilaration of standing closer to mysterious skies, for the feeling of triumph that comes from having labored to reach a summit.” Even if it was in the “cat.” P.S. In my mind, onions and Mt. Washington will forever be connected…..

-Karl Nordland, KA Brett School, 4th Grade