Arctic Wednesdays 2025: Week 3 Pre-Trip Blog
I first became intrigued about Mt. Washington when years ago, my father called to share how incredible it was to stand on the observatory deck and actually look down upon a sea of swirling clouds as the sun turned the sky shades of hot pink and orange. He had just summited and was enjoying the beauty of all 6,288 feet of the highest peak in the northeast as part of his final leg of hiking the Appalachian Trail. I was told it was well worth the miles and miles of hiking above the treeline for even a glimpse of such a sight.
Inspired by this, I later ventured up the auto road for the first time with my husband and two little girls (one now 2 years out of college). Hopeful for the same view, I eagerly popped the CD we were given at the gate into our car’s stereo and we headed up - a narration about the history of Mt. Washington exploration and the surrounding area, guiding our way as the elevation quickly increased. Unfortunately, it was completely cloudy once we got above the treeline. I was a little disappointed there was no view this trip, but the experience was thrilling, nonetheless. Since moving to NH, I’ve visited the summit several more times, compelled to find new experiences each time. With each visit, I find myself more and more in awe of the diversity of weather conditions, vegetation, rock types and formations from base to summit and how on a dime, things have the ability to change to the extremes.
Jump to 2020. In the midst of a pandemic and a desperate search to find meaningful ways to engage my 6th grade science students at home for our weather unit, I researched an online program developed by the incredible education and meteorology team at MWO. My 6th grade Hopkinton, NH students and I logged on for their live broadcasts, asked questions (that were actually answered live) and learned all about the exciting, interesting, and extreme weather at the Mt. Washington summit. We were hooked! This program was like a light in a storm of uncertainty at the time and it engaged us all more than I ever expected.
Since then I’ve used what I learned from the MWO distance learning team to help guide my students to a better understanding of weather conditions not only at the summit and locally, but all over the world. Together, we’ve learned just what makes this mountain (one that feels like it’s practically in our back yard), the ideal location for crazy high winds, unique cloud formations, arctic temps, and a plethora of rime ice during the cold winter months, to name a few. Learning about the weather on Mt. Washington brings excitement to learning about our weather in NH and the northeast. It gives us access and a connection to conditions that scientists and weather-watchers around the world can only study digitally. As their team says, "Nowhere else on Earth experiences such consistent sub-zero temperatures, hurricane-force winds, freezing fog, and driving snow. These extreme conditions have earned Mount Washington the title, 'Home of the World's Worst Weather.'"
Tomorrow, Kimberly (another educator given this unique opportunity) and I venture to the summit as part of MWO’s Arctic Wednesdays program offered to teachers in the northeast - something I’ve longed to do since watching broadcasts during the Extreme Weather series of COVID times. This is definitely a dream come true for me both personally and professionally. As teachers, we get to be students and are the lucky ones who’ll bring our experiences back to the classroom. We also get to perform tests at sub zero temps, shadow the weather observers, tour the facilities, and learn what it’s all about at MWO. I’ve been taking requests for weeks from my students and can’t wait to try some of their testing suggestions! A lover of all things winter, I’m also excited simply to experience (safely, of course) the extreme temperatures and wind conditions that one is only exposed to while at the summit. And rime ice…….how cool is that?! These experiences will not only help to make our teaching about weather more interesting and meaningful, but we get to inspire our students to experience life in their environment first-hand whenever possible.
Our trip happens on the cusp of above hurricane-force winds and sub zero temperatures, lessening just in time for us to summit. Visibility above treeline will be limited. Somehow, the view no longer matters to me that much. I’m simply excited for the reasons it won’t be available! I can’t wait for our journey ahead! Stay tuned!
Sunrise at the summit (photo taken by Amy Rothe)
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