An inside look at life at the Mount Washington Observatory

A live Christmas tree, streaming services, a Nintendo switch, and a station cat. Here's an inside look at life at the Mount Washington Observatory.

[@greenspiritarts]

My father and fellow winter mountaineering companions were caught in a terrible winter storm one year up on Mt. Washington. This was in the late 60’s before any personal tech. Instinct and experience told him to find the observatory and abandon their igloos as the storm was going to get much worse. It did. The observatory was closed at the time and it was a more primitive structure back then. They broke in and it saved their lives. It was a 4 day white-out with -50 windchills. Incredibly, my dad’s dog, who had gotten separated in the white-out conditions was found alive as they left the station. He had curled up in a snow bank on the leeward side of the station and was completely encased in snow… but alive. They probably would have all perished if not for the observatory. Good to see so many young people working there now and it looks incredibly well appointed now compared to back in the day!

[@BeeFunKnee]

That was amazing to read! Truth is so much better than fiction stuff, in my opinion.

[@a.w.thompson4001]

Thanks for sharing these fascinating details.

[@jackie-k]

I am so glad the dog survived and everyone else!! I can’t imagine being stuck like that and worrying about my pet!

[@BeeFunKnee]

@@jackie-k My guess is that it wasn't any warm fir that saved that pet dog, it was it's own warm love for it's owner and maybe even God's angels guarding over it. Otherwise it would have frozen solid, and quickly. I was caught in a surprise drop in temperature and a sudden blizzard I didn't know was about to come. I was hitchhiking just outside of Cheyanne Wyoming and decided to start walking down the interstate. The sun was out, so why not? Then it grew dark and the temperature suddenly dropped 70 degrees and the horizontal snow started pelting me. I hunkered down and the snow kept covering me. I could only stick out my arm when truck slowly went by. The first few couldn't even see me, but finally one did and stopped for me. I could feel myself trying to freeze solid. Another five or ten minutes and I would have been a statistic, another article in the papers. That dog surviving was a miracle.

[@jackie-k]

@@BeeFunKnee I am so glad someone found you and yes I believe in miracles that are beyond this 3D world. Now I believe in a higher spirit, and the universe. I do believe the dog was meant to make it and there was something bigger working in favor of that group! Bless you and glad you are safe!

[@uscg75]

I was a lighthouse keeper off Cape Ann & Boston lights. It was the 70’s and the lights were called stag lights (no women). One of the never ending jobs was taking weather reading every 4 hours. The only difference was we also had to report the sea state. Of all my jobs in the Coast Guard this is what I enjoyed most. 2 weeks on 1 week off. Alone with on other person and a dog. I can somewhat relate to these people. I called it my escape from civilization. Best of luck and keep that weather coming.

[@biff5856]

Sounds super to me. I would love a shot at being a lighthouse keeper. The ocean, the solitude. I would have no trouble sleeping listening to the waves.

[@jason-hy8ci]

Nice gig...... can catch up on all of that reading sitting in piles around the house.☝️

[@tomking1890]

I did not see, or hear it mentioned here, but it is located in N.H.

[@PA-Tammy]

Yes

[@DavidVanHelden1]

Oh okay ....I thought it was in Maine ... I live in Washington and they had me all mixed up ...

[@joemikeska2657]

The wild part is that in the grand scheme of things, Mt Washington isn’t all that tall. El Capitain in Yosemite is 1,000 feet higher at 7,569, and most of the High Sierra range is over 9,000 feet. Pike’s Peak more than double the height of Mt Washington at 14,115 feet. But the weather patterns of New England help make Mt Washington the icon it is for weather events.

[@williamwertman24]

Multiple storm paths cross the summit and with the shape and direction of the peaks it acts as a funnel.

[@MrReymoclif714]

3 seperate weather patterns converge here.

[@Mr91495osh]

Plus Mt Washington has an fully manned observatory

[@xtidnab]

is the size of a mountain calculated by its elevation or by its vertical rise?

[@williamwertman24]

@xtidnab elevation above sea level. Turn on terrain on google maps, then you can see it. They do measure in prominence also but total elevation is the most common.

[@nole8923]

It’s incredible how mount Washington in one of the lowest mountain ranges in the world, the Appalachians, when your atop it looks like you’re at the peak of the Himalayans. You wouldn’t expect anyplace in the Appalachian mountain chain to look like that just a few hundred miles from NYC.

[@dentalnovember]

At one time in history the Appalachians were as high as the Himalayas.

[@treyroob5863]

Im guessing youve never been to the himalayas, because the white mtns do no look like similar.

[@user-gg7di3ti2y]

Imagine being the construction crew building that damn thing. 😅

[@traybern]

It WASN’T in January!!!

[@michlo3393]

The hardest part would have been dragging their cooler of beer up there.

[@jimmylieb5225]

🥶🥶

[@mikebunner3498]

I went to the highest spot in West Virginia years ago. The top was covered with a cloud. I had a blue jean jacket on. I walked out to and up on to the observation tower. My jacket was flapping like I was riding a motorcycle. The wind speed was nowhere as high as the ones in this video. I could feel the heat leaving me, so I went back to the vehicle. It was really cool!!!!! I think it is around 4,800 feet up. You can see all the way to Virginia from there on a clear day. This is a great video thanks to everyone involved. My hat is off to these observers!!! But not for long, too cold! THANKS.

[@flok.8317]

Great report! Well done, informative, offering fascinating images and commentary. Thank you!

[@bobabooey285]

Would love to do that, jealous

[@carocarp5]

Climbed it on my Appalachian Trail thru hike. The change in weather going up is incredible. At the top, the fog was so thick the visibility was around 30 feet. People everywhere were calling out to find friends when they got separated. Hope to go back one day.

[@biff5856]

Congrats. Thru hiker. What an experience. I loved Bryson's book, "A Walk In The Woods".

[@PA-Tammy]

Been to the top about 15 times on my motorcycle and it always feels like the first time..

[@theck672]

Love this video! Thank you!

[@davegeorge4757]

Damn that anchor had a hard time with “inhospitable”. 😂😂

[@gatorspad3632]

Very cool piece, thanks!

[@MDR-hn2yz]

Very interesting job for sure. 👍

[@johnallen-hu5lu]

Road our Harleys clear to the top back in ‘18. Unbelievably beautiful. My favorite multi state bike ride to date.

[@vettepilot427]

I would like to know more about the structure and the construction methods to withstand such extreme conditions (wind, cold temps, etc).

[@p234oiuy]

How come no one has ever seen the power plant that keeps the observatory warm during the winter?

[@noway9880]

Hey Paco! I looked into this for you. About 8 years ago the observatory was connected to the valleys electrical grid. However, prior to that and now as a backup the observatory was powered by diesel generators. The system has been upgraded now. There is about 2 hours of UPS battery power however if the grid pops off this is only used for about 10-15 seconds. The diesel gensets immediately start and pickup the load. The UPS is only really used so there is ZERO power loss. Shits awesome son. huehuehuehuehuehuehue

[@richardthomas5362]

It is top secret. If they show you that then they would have to kill you :)

[@CameronHuff]

You think they are going to show you the alien tech that runs the place? They'd have to kill you afterwards!!

[@randywaters7328]

Interesting and unique!

[@kitbaker8521]

I always remember ‘Mahton’ Engstrom’s very popular weather reports from the top of Mt Washington in his wonderful down-east twang. Finest kind…

[@davidmotter5140]

I would love it

[@alancummings5651]

Totally cool

[@grega9347]

Great story!

[@johnhoover7278]

That’s a super cool job man

[@christinemiller7238]

Fantastic!

[@Falla76]

As reporters, it might be a good idea to let people know exactly where Mount Washington Observatory is. An outsider watching this KZbin video might assume that it is in Maine. I had to look it up and observed that it was actually located in New Hampshire. If I have to look up its actual location - a pretty basic and important piece of information - then why do we need these reporters?

[@joenewman6494]

Thanks for that info I thought it was in Washington State just by the name but yea I agree a reporter leaving out critical information

[@kitbaker8521]

It’s a Maine TV station with a receiving area in which everyone knows Mt Washington.

[@goldenretriever6261]

It was a local tv story

[@newmaniese]

Wish this piece was longer

[@mulletover3832]

That's what she said.

[@chriscoralAloha]

Sorry about that.@@mulletover3832

[@jaredh289]

These people just play Mario kart and live in fear of a cat.

[@damidnightgolfer]

Nimbus is not to be trifled with.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

It's a great place to visit in the summer.

[@lawrenceneuenii3564]

That would be awesome to do!!!

[@slayersboxer915]

all i could think about is how good a of a horror movie setting vibes this gives me

[@MrHarryhere69]

From an engineering stand point I would like to know how the place was built and how they get power up there. Must have been a feat.

[@liamwilson7549]

I experienced the weather when it gets real bad up there when I was little. The snow cuts like glass in the wind up there.

[@nanaplayz4769]

Awesome place

[@billy1673]

Guaranteed a white Christmas up there!🎄🎅🏻☃️❄️🌨

[@markfinn0]

Climbed it some years ago in late May. Some light rain, some fog - no unexpected weather (we had checked carefully before starting out). A fairly easy climb (I think it was 3-4 hours, and half that coming down), but amazing to see the change in vegetation as you get higher.

[@biff5856]

I'd wouldn't mind spending some time up there. Doesn't matter when. Other than when the the wind howls, I would love the peace and quiet. To view the aurora would be a bonus.

[@Tenebarum]

It is amazing up there. We drove up on a clear day in July. We were dumb enough to think we could hike it, but the people who work in the mountains are really cool and recommended much easier hikes. Beautiful place.

[@biff5856]

@@Tenebarum Lucky you. It will not likely be something I'll get to do anymore. I'm 80.

[@Tenebarum]

@@biff5856 This was 1996. I need to get back. But there's no reason you can't get there. There are vans that drive you up.

[@henryfokkema6622]

Greatvideo

[@jackryan2451]

Awesome!

[@svalbard01]

This should be a reality show - I'd watch.

[@skyw4278]

they're only gone for a week....make it sound like their on the moon lol

[@jimcarlson2252]

Global boiling on Mr Washington is beyond cold and windy this year, record breaking. Very cool, actually frigid beyond imagination.

[@joenewman6494]

Wow I would have loved to have that job.

[@ramsfan709]

Lonely and miss family after only a 8 day shift? Sign me up!!

[@ShawnBurner-ur1os]

Been studying weather for years still can't figure it out.

[@gillianaustin5849]

Many years past I hiked up to the bowl of Mount Washington, not summit. Mount Washington within New Hampshire State is over ten thousand feet above sea level at its summit as I recall. My Regards Mr. Dominic James Austin.

[@jasoneverett]

0:45 she spoke for 5 seconds and immediately annoyed the hell out of me. Pretty sure a lot of people know what extreme cold and wind is like.

[@codymoe4986]

Pretty sure her exact words were, "You can't really explain it to friends and family"... Perhaps she is more informed on the climates that those select few people live in, versus your random "lot of people", whomever they might be. P.S. Lemme guess, it's cold where you're at, presently?

[@catherinebreitfeller669]

Awesome !! Gorgeous !! I wouldn’t mind spending some time here as I absolutely love cold weather. 🥶❄️ Don’t know how I got stuck in Louisiana 😂😂🥵

[@ILLIFIED77]

So come up and visit!

[@Chris_at_Home]

Apply for a job in Prudhoe Bay. You get the cold, the camp life where the food comes with your room at a camp and you fly to work. Back in the 1980s I worked with a bunch of guys from La. Even the cook came from there and made the best Gumbo ever. Many still lived down there and commuted from there as we worked two weeks on , two weeks off.

[@Podchynok]

I would like to know how it was put together to withstand such extreme weather.

[@ILLIFIED77]

It's chained to the rock

[@williamwertman24]

The tip top house is actually built up with stone now but used to be just a low built building. All buildings at the top are engineered to withstand 200-250mph winds. The old stage coach building is chained to the mountain with 1/2"chain.

[@thecitizenjoan]

Looks like Cobb’s dream within a dream within in a dream

[@gulfstream7235]

I've been to some wild parties up there on Mount Washington...

[@novantium3760]

cool you happened to show up on the best day of the year

[@kimberleyames420]

WOW!

[@williamwertman24]

They also didnt mention. That have live streams on their youtube channel and they also have current weather conditions on their web page. Yesterday was 12f with 50mph winds. A couple weeks ago it was near 0 with 80mph winds. Real feel of -30

[@ElSantoLuchador]

I live in the PNW, and we have many higher and more technical climbs, but we have nothing that approaches the weather on Mt. Washington.

[@kristinharrison674]

It kind of reminds me of the Yukon

[@thomasklein4265]

I've been there, way colder at the top than the bottom even in the Summer. COG railroad is the easy way up.

[@BeeFunKnee]

That is so awesome! It felt like I was actually up there, too. I wish I could be there for several long weeks. I'd leave with friends I knew well and good, I'll wager. I do honestly know what it feels like to brave a hurricane's 100 MPH winds and rain pellets though. It was on Galveston Island in the 70's. Two friends asked me if I wanted to go to the seawall and watch one of them fly like a flag from a street sign pole. I ended up doing it also. Then, as they both had hunkered across the street behind a cement sign at a gas station, listening with a transistor radio pressed tightly to their ears for the reported wind speed, I had walked the best I could, step by step back to the seawall where I could barely tell the ground from the Gulf of Mexico. I had to lean forward with all my might just like that one guy in the video had done. I could tell I wasn't going to fall over though. I told my friends to wave their arms as a signal when the radio had said the winds reached 100 MPH. It was 95 when I had ventured back across the street. The rain hitting me had felt just like bb gun pellets. When I saw them waving at me, I let the wind carry me back to the sign post where I grabbed it and flew like a flag again. But then I was afraid to let go. I just knew the strong wind would carry me off, maybe even high up into the air and I'd be gone gone gone! When I finally did let go, the wind took me half way across Seawall Boulevard where I finally crashed to the ground and I just rolled the rest of the way to where my two friends were still hunkering. Then, we had to walk a few blocks back home as roof shingles and branches tried their best to hurt us. We made it without too much blood involved. I was the most damaged because of that rolling on the asphalt street bit. But I earned these "bragging rights" honestly. It's why I'm so "long winded" with my comment, even! I live in Portland, Maine now. I've been here for 26 years come next May.

[@a.w.thompson4001]

Wow!

[@kishascape]

I'd love to sit alone in the Sphinx Observatory for a couple years stewing in my hatred.

[@BeeFunKnee]

@@kishascape Either your hate would melt you down to nothing, or you'd melt your hate down to squat before it destroyed you.

[@HoulieMon]

My sister and her daughter rode horses to the top ! Me I just took the cog railway !

[@judee00]

The anamometer broke at that MPH. I've either read that or watched a video that said that. It would probably be more, and we would still have the record.

[@williampalchak7574]

The wind speed thingy also broke during Hurricane Camille in 1969. I think that was the wind speed record breaker, based on estimates.

[@judee00]

@@williampalchak7574 1996, Baro Island, Australia 253mph

[@williampalchak7574]

@@judee00 estimates.

[@richstex4736]

@@williampalchak7574 Ronco used to sell the Wind Speed Thingy.

[@explorecriminalminds]

This looks like a Climate Activists paradise

[@laurenmallon4963]

Drove up with my parents when I was a teenager many years ago, it was in July, temps were close wo 100F At foot of mountain, BUT, WHEN WE GOT TO TOP IT WAS SNOWING AND FREEZING OUT, SO MUCH SO OUR DOG WOULDNT GET OUT OF CAR ! lol

[@teddybetts3254]

2:08 That's certainly the old fashion way. The old sling psychrometer. 👴

[@rainysunday6186]

Poor babies. While in the military I spent eight years in the Mediterranean ocean and the Pacific Ocean in the north Atlantic ocean six to nine months at a time so don’t tell me about being away from home you babies you can call home.

[@alyssaangel1094]

legends

[@kvl505]

What an amazing place to be a part of.. Excellent news story. Apparently the whole place is run by a cat... 😄

[@nickruisi5569]

And this can't be done w/ an automated station?

[@Juandinggong]

It’s a bullshit job and I wish I had it lol

[@hannathompson7998]

This is my dream job

[@richardthomas5362]

I heard some of the buildings are chained to the top so the wind doesn't blow them off.

[@davidevans3175]

Went up there with my friends when I was 12. Sneakers and sweatshirts, no adults. At the top the wind almost picked me up and threw me over the side.

[@greenspiritarts]

I don’t know if it is still true but at one time Mt. Washington had the dubious record of being the “deadliest” (most fatalities) of ANY mountain on the planet for exactly this reason…people going up poorly prepared. Glad you and your friends lived to tell the tale!

[@shaystern2453]

@@greenspiritarts they lied though

[@richardsimms251]

Interesting

[@brennanlowry5711]

Thinking about the men who built this cold place.

[@michlo3393]

Say it louder. MEN. So all the feminists can hear you.

[@gopokes09]

Can you guys do the news for memphis too?

[@user-qh1vq5kt3f]

Yikes! And I thought it was harsh up at Bodoin! Hope you had a much warmer Chritmas!

[@Mingonator87]

This is a job!? Wtf am I doing at my pos battery job, this is paradise

[@ev1558]

I'd like to know how they built that place

[@uuuultra]

In the summer

[@glenpaul3606]

Back in the early 1970's, I drove from Toronto to North Conway NH in the dead of winter. All the way, the roads were snow covered and icy with blizzard cross winds for most of the first two thirds of the journey. My drive finally took me up and over Mt.Washington in a blizzard in the middle of the night. The roads were not ploughed and the snow was so deep, about 3 feet, that all the way down the mountain that it billowed up and over the hood of my full sized Oldsmobile as I ploughed my way down for hours in the darkness In hindsight, it was a terribly dangerous and arduous drive over the mountain that I made as a young and foolishly determined man. Today, more than 5 decades later I still remember that journey in detail and know it was by the grace of God that I survived it in the first place.

[@martinvannostrand8488]

Hoth. This is Hoth.

[@russwayne2132]

Volunteers is the key word in that report. No one at the station is paid? Those people do that for no salary? Then they kick in to buy groceries too? Maine is a state with some unique people, with a need to volunteer as their main hobby. (pun intended)

[@russianbot5554]

How did they build that place?!

[@fraserconnell21]

What happens to all the toilet waste?? Is there a septic tank?

[@greggreg2263]

I would like to be trapped up there for an entire winter with a bunch of hot women❤😮

[@nachmanlebel4141]

Can I take a ride on the snow cat ?

[@johnkradoska1577]

They should walk up the mountain spoiled baby's

[@damidnightgolfer]

18 station cats since 1932 means 1 cat every 5 years. What is happening to all these cats?

[@Dmidnightmachine]

SHOW MORE OF THE KITTY!

[@Ant_Diesel]

Not me...ill love to live up there being lonely on a voluntary basis!!❤

[@RadioChief52]

Seems like a perfect application for remote automation to me. Would save a lot of tax money. Just a thought.

[@gordonhall9871]

where is John Kerry

[@greenwich1754]

On a private jet cruising the world and pontificating the evils of fossil fuels.

[@MrSTRLAWNS]

Making up more bullshit!

[@stevesmith3556]

Where is AL Gore?😂😅😂

[@joewhite6421]

@@stevesmith3556 Gore riding ' Do you know who I am ? . Kerry

[@bobbys4327]

Iran

[@nevermind3965]

Looks like Key West

[@michlo3393]

...in the 80s 😎

[@christophersmith1155]

I WONDER WHAT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS IS LIKE FROM UP THERE. 10/11 AND 12 METER BANDS ? IM AT SEA LEVEL AND TALK AROUND THE WORLD FROM MIDTOWN MANHATTAN. EVEN ON MY 11 METER CB RADIO EARLY MORNINGS EUROPE IS A EASY TRANSMISSION.

[@traybern]

ALL this monitoring could be done REMOTELY!!!

[@uuuultra]

No doubt

[@misanthropist3877]

would love to work here

[@uuuultra]

Do they fool around?

[@tricitiesair]

Funny thing. I live at 10360 feet in Colorado and our weather isn't that shitty.

[@wilburpost7977]

How eloquent and wrong-headed....

[@HyperspacePirate]

☐ Not Cozy ☑ Cozy

[@jimmylieb5225]

a sling psychrometer in action!

[@drone_boss]

Only 6k?!?!

[@MH-fb5kr]

Hoping this moves into the future still using people and not remote sensors. Brrrrr !

[@user-fw6vu3kz6l]

What about cog rail?