Sunday, April 29, 2007
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The summit of Mount Washington attracts more than 250,000 visitors each year, by car and cog railway, motorcycle and stage, and on foot. Most spend only a short time on top, from a few minutes to a few hours. They take in the view from the observation deck, enjoy snacks in the cafeteria and buy souvenirs from the gift shop before returning to the valley below.
Day trips are fine, but for the adventurer interested in camping overnight atop the mountain, a unique experience is possible, courtesy of the Mount Washington Observatory, which operates a weather monitoring and research facility on the summit.
"Educational trips or 'EduTrips' provide an opportunity to learn more about this fascinating mountain environment and its infamous weather," said Dr. Peter Crane, Director of Programs for MWO. "Trip participants get to meet summit staff, learn about life on top of the mountain, and share meals and stay overnight in a simple bunkroom."
A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN
The trips offer two learning opportunities. One is experiential, living and traveling about in the unusual and wild environment of Mount Washington. The second is topical, where guest instructors teach hands-on workshops in areas such as weather, ecology, climate, geology and mountain skills.
"Safety is first and foremost on our trips, so participants must be good physical condition and have the appropriate clothing and equipment," said Crane.
In early April I participated in an avalanche and snow safety course, and it easily ranks as one of the most rewarding mountain experiences I've ever had - a "once in a lifetime" trip.
Our group met at the base of the Mount Washington Auto Road, and after a brief orientation and gear check, we loaded into a snow tractor for an exhilarating eight-mile ride upward.
The machine pushed on through a spring storm that had already dumped a foot of snow. Several times we stopped to get out into the elements and, instructed by Steve Nichipor, a mountaineering guide with Eastern Mountain Sports Climbing School, measured snow depth and dug snow pits using pack shovels and snow saws.
Compression tests revealed weaknesses in the snow stratum and the shearing point of the snowpack. Ski poles held at right angles to the mountainside helped figure slope angle, a key determinant in avalanche safety. Slopes between 30 and 45 degrees are most likely to slough off, taking you along for an unpleasant, and often fatal, ride.
For winter hikers traveling in high snow country, it was good practice. Better to avoid getting caught in a big snow slide than trying to survive one, because as Nichipor pointed out, "the statistics aren't on your side if you do."
Three hours after leaving base we pulled onto the summit and crawled through near zero visibility to the complex that houses the Observatory. Unloaded and out of the weather, we received additional safety instructions and an orientation to the facility before sitting down to a hearty lunch with the crew.
In the afternoon, we geared up again for the 20-foot "climb" to the actual peak at 6,288 feet, high-fives all around. Leaning into the steady winds and driving snow, we traipsed around the top, and like kids, jumped into every available snowbank.
Indoor classroom instruction followed, and through slides and a movie, we learned about avalanche types, trigger conditions, scenarios, and search and survival techniques. It certainly was a sobering lesson. (An excellent resource on avalanches is www.tuckerman.org.
INSIDE THE WEATHER ROOM
After dinner, intern Alan Metcalf gave us a fascinating tour of the "weather room," pointing out notable meteorological events in the mountain's history, and explaining in detail the instruments, data collection and daily workings of the Observatory. I noted the outside temperature was -2F with a -17F wind chill, owing to NW winds gusting to 45 mph (a mere breeze for this place).
"On average we record a gale force wind (+72 mph) every two days and a gust exceeding 100 mph once a week," Metcalf said, so tonight was "mild."
Sleep came easy, and after a big breakfast in the morning we headed outdoors to climb up into the ice-encrusted observatory tower. Practice with avalanche rescue beacons followed, and we took turns burying and then locating the devices.
After a quick lunch, we packed up and hiked a thousand feet down through the clouds before the snow tractor caught us and took us back to the base.
MWO educational trips are open for a fee to members only, but annual dues are minimal, and the benefits are many and varied. Winter trips run from late December to mid-April. Summer trips operate between late June and early September. For more information, go to www.mountwashington.org.
Carey Kish of Portland can't wait to return for another overnight on the "Rock Pile." Send comments to
maineoutdoors@aol.com
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