Arctic Wednesdays 2026: Week 6 Post Trip Blog

 Arctic Wednesday Post-Trip Blog

On Wednesday, March 11th, Mrs. Rogozenski and I had the incredible opportunity to travel to the summit of Mount Washington as part of the Arctic Wednesday program hosted by the Mount Washington Observatory. After weeks of anticipation with our students, it was exciting to finally begin the journey up the mountain. We traveled in a snowcat along the Auto Road, and on the way up we were treated to beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Watching the landscape change as we gained elevation made the experience even more memorable.

By the time we reached the summit, however, the conditions had changed dramatically. The clear views we had enjoyed during the climb quickly disappeared, and visibility dropped to just 1/16 of a mile. While we couldn’t see the amazing views Mount Washington is known for, it gave us a firsthand look at how quickly and dramatically weather can shift on the mountain. Experiencing these conditions made it easy to understand why Mount Washington is famous for its extreme and rapidly changing weather.

During our visit, we toured the observatory and learned directly from the scientists and staff who collect weather data year-round in this challenging environment. We saw the instruments used to measure temperature, wind speed, and air pressure, and learned more about how the mountain’s unique geography contributes to the powerful winds and intense storms that are often recorded there.

One of the most exciting moments of the day was climbing up onto the observer tower. Even with the limited visibility, we were able to truly feel the power of the wind at the summit. Standing on the tower and experiencing those strong winds firsthand gave us a whole new appreciation for the work the observers do, especially when they must go outside during severe storms to maintain equipment and record data.

Another highlight of the trip was connecting with our students back at WEMS through a live video call from the summit. Our students asked thoughtful questions about the weather conditions and what it was like to be at the observatory. Being able to share the experience with them in real time helped bring their classroom learning about weather, climate, and extreme environments to life.

Experiences like Arctic Wednesday are powerful reminders of how meaningful real-world learning can be. Although the summit views were hidden by fog during our visit, the opportunity to witness Mount Washington’s unique weather conditions firsthand made the experience just as memorable. We are grateful to the Mount Washington Observatory for providing this opportunity and look forward to bringing what we learned back to our classroom and sharing it with our students.

Colleen Cutting
Science Teacher
Worcester East Middle School