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| Jesus presents the USGS marker on the summit. |
If anyone ever asks me what my favorite place in the world to be is, it would be Mount Washington. I see beauty, peace, and it represents change. Mount Washington is the highest peak in the North Eastern States at 6,288 ft (1,917 m). It is famous for its dangerously erratic weather, and long held the record for the highest wind gust directly measured at the Earth's surface, 231mph (372 km/h) (or 103 m/s), on the afternoon of April 12, 1934. It was known as Agiocochook, or "Home of the Great Spirit", before European settlers arrived. The mountain is located in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, in Coos Country, New Hampshire. While nearly the whole mountain is in the White Mountain National Forest, an area of 59 acres surrounding and including the summit is occupied by Mount Washington State Park [Wikipedia].
At the summit of Mount Washington there is the Mount Washington Observatory. The Observatory is a private, non-profit scientific and educational institution, and its mission is to advance understanding of the natural systems that create the Earth's weather and climate. The first regular meteorological observations on Mount Washington were conducted by the U.S. Signal Service, a precursor of the Weather Bureau, from 1870 to 1892. The Mount Washington Observatory reoccupied the summit in 1932 through the enthusiasm of a group of individuals who recognized the value of a scientific facility at that demanding location. In April of 1934, observers measured a wind gust of 231mph, which remains a world recoredfor a surface station. The Observatory continues to record and disseminate weather information. It also serves as a benchmark station for the measurement of cosmic ray activity in the upper atmosphere, develops robust instrumentation for severe weather environments and conducts many types of severe weather research and testing [Mount Washington Observatory].
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| Seek the Peak 2010: Climbing partners Alexis and Al. |
To date in the eternal battle of woman vs. mountain, woman 10, mountain 0! I think that one of the most amazing things about this mountain is that every time I climb, there is something different to experience. Some times it is differing weather conditions, different climbing partners, and different trails. The most surprising is that I have a tendency of climbing up one person, and coming down someone different. The first time I climbed Mount Washington, I climbed by myself, and had never set out on such a journey alone. It was also roughly a year after I developed a lesion on my spinal cord. I went up unsure, and looking for something I was scared that I had lost from having spinal cord damage. I came down reassured, feeling healed, and that this was only the beginning of adventures I was scared I lost. My most pronounced change came when I was a summit volunteer for a week. I went up the mountain a corrections officer, was offered a job while I was on the summit, and came down an advocate for victims of domestic violence. Now I return to climb at least once a year, it serves as a check point.
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| After a hard day of climbing, there is nothing Jesus likes more than Park Service pizza! |
Recently at
Axis we learned about spiritual pathways. There are many ways that people seek and experience God. It was no surprise to me that I feel my closest connection to God while in nature. While at the Axis retreat I was given time to explore my spiritual pathway, which involved me going to the lake, climbing a tree, and hanging upside down. I can not claim that I understand everything about God, however I do find that changing my view, whether upside down or sideways, can offer fresh perspective. Often when I am in nature it humbles me to know that this world is so much bigger than myself. I feel God's presence strongly, and I see the beauty in his creation.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 NIV
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| I drew, and took this while taken aback by the view at the top of Huntington's Ravine. |
In 2008 I was blessed with the opportunity to be a summit volunteer for a week. While on the summit I was offered the chance to write the observer comments for the day, as well as use some of the pictures I had taken in the previous few days. My comment is below, however it can also be viewed on the observer comment
archive.
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| Finding Your Way |
Even though I grew up in a suburb just outside of Chicago I have never considered myself to be a city person. However now that I live in Maine, the extremes of Chicago weather is what I miss most. Some of my fondest memories as child are of my Father and me sitting on the back porch watching intense lightning displays. Even now as a photographer, weather continues to captivate me and it is what I find so alluring about Mount Washington.
I feel fortunate not only for having been a volunteer this week, but also for this chance to share some of my thoughts and experiences. It is sometimes difficult for me to put my thoughts into words; perhaps that is why I take such comfort in the medium of photography. Over the last week, I have taken a great deal of pictures and I would like to share the ones that I feel most effectively communicate the inspiring nature of the Mount Washington Observatory and the surrounding White Mountains.
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| Vertigo |
Vertigo: To pay the rent I work the night shift as a corrections officer. Wednesday morning invited me with sun and blue skies, however I found my body struggling to adjust to the time difference. Even though the summit was in the clouds, they seemed to be inviting clouds. After making our way up the auto road , it was soon apparent that that enchanting cloud had deceived me. As soon as we got out of the van we were inundated by winds of up to 50 mph, wind chills of 20 degrees and ice. It made unloading and loading the van intense. By the end of the day I had felt like my life had been turned upside down.
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| Flow |
Flow: There is something very comforting about the natural flow of nature. It almost seems to piece together effortlessly, however one must stop from time to time to truly admire this intricate process of ebb and flow.
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| Ebb |
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| Common Ground: Also published in the Best of Photography Annual 2009 |
Common Ground: For years people have traveled up and down the cog railway. We can share experiences together, or we can bring our experiences together. Seemingly different at first glance, my fellow volunteer Franca and I have found that we have many experiences that run parallel. Whether it be our experience with preparing food or ballet.
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| Reverenc |
Reverence: Sometimes I can not help but stand back and be in awe. It gives a sense of purpose and peace.
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| Prospects |
Prospects: It is experiences such as this that give me a certain sense of hope. Something to look forward to as well as something to look back to.
I know that there is a part of me that this place has changed for the better. It is my hope that I have done something here to reciprocate that gift. The observers and staff of the Mount Washington Observatory have given me a precious opportunity of which I am truly thankful for. I know that tomorrow I will leave this place with a certain sense of calmness in my heart.
These may only be a few of the pictures I have taken while on Mount Washington, that is until next year at least. Every July it calls my name, it is time again to look back on the past, and then proceed to the future.
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