Mount Washington's Annual Town Meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m TOP ISSUES AT TOWN MEETING: The proposed fiscal 2026 operating budget of $953,005 reflects a 6.54 percent increase over this year due to factors including tree warden and Egremont Fire Co • Requiring operators of short-term rentals to obtain a permit from the Mount Washington Board of Health • Bringing the town’s accessory use bylaw into accordance with new state law by allowing detached and attached accessory dwelling units that are no more than half the gross floor area of the principal dwelling or 900 feet • $93,640 to cover the expenses of the Mount Washington Broadband Network • $43,500 in Waste Management fees to cover all waste disposal and recycling expenses • Repurposing $125,000 in free cash approved at the 2023 annual town meeting and transferring it to the Highway Equipment Replacement Stabilization Account • $175,000 to fund the Equipment Replacement Stabilization Fund • Transferring $400,000 from the Highway Equipment Stabilization Fund to buy a plow truck and a Freight Liner S-108 cab and chassis • Repurposing $100,466 in free cash approved at the 2023 annual town meeting and using it to maintain town roads Claire O'Callahan reports on housing in Berkshire County. She can be reached at cocallahan@berkshireeagle.com Washington voters will gather in Town Hall on Wednesday to vote on town expenditures for fiscal 2026. Lee voters will consider the fiscal 2026 operating budget an amendment prohibiting ADUs and the principal dwelling from becoming short-term rentals and various other items. A fundraiser for the roof replacement will feature a documentary It's a story of Jewish perseverance — just like the old building. Voters at annual town meeting on Saturday approved the spending of $3 million for a temporary bridge at Brookside Road Voters will consider a number of items at annual town meeting Monday including a $7,091,838 proposed budget for fiscal 2026. Town officials and staff say they misinterpreted a town bylaw that requires nonresidents to get permission to "address" a town meeting Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device We take great pride in New Hampshire to be the home of Mount Washington, which is known as having some of the most extreme weather in the world. The Mount Washington Observatory is staffed 24 hours a day It’s operated by two alternating crews who live on the summit for a week at a time Starting Monday, March 31 NHPR listeners will hear full weather forecasts from the experts at the Observatory NHPR’s Morning Edition host Rick Ganley spoke with weather observer Alexandra Branton about the new forecasts and what it’s like to work at the top of Mount Washington So you're on the summit for days at a time who live and work up here on the summit of Mount Washington but they all revolve around one thing and that's weather observation So we go outside every single hour and manually record the weather We use manual instruments because newer digital instruments just cannot withstand the extreme conditions that we experience up here in the winter time So we're still using much of the same measuring techniques that we've been using since the 1930s up here and now we'll be doing our statewide New Hampshire forecast in collaboration with you guys And then other than that we're doing quality control So checking to make sure our data is up to good standards and it all makes sense to add to our 90-year climate data set that we have up here at the Mount Washington Observatory We're also doing educational programs and research So there's a lot of different things going up here on the summit all the time How does that data you gather help in forecasting So we are really unique here at Mount Washington Observatory The data we collect that we have access to on a day-to-day basis is a very useful tool for not only us here forecasting at the summit of Mount Washington but it's useful for forecasters in the entire region of New England And that's because we have not only our weather observations up here from the summit We have what is known as a mesonet – a collection of weather stations throughout many elevations in the White Mountains And we're actually working on expanding that mesonet So basically we have weather data because of this mesonet from the base of the mountain all the way to the summit of the mountain These mesonet stations report data that kind of acts like a permanent weather balloon because weather balloons are only launched from 48 designated locations across the country twice a day So forecasters around the globe only have access to that data twice a day Knowing how the atmosphere changes in a vertical profile like that gives us a lot more powerful forecasting capabilities because we know how the atmosphere is changing with height and that has major implications on precipitation type or wind speeds or foggy conditions which we experience a lot of here on the summit of Mount Washington and therefore relative humidity and cloud coverage down at the lower elevations So what surprised you most about when you began working on the summit of Mount Washington We know Mount Washington has extreme weather but you can't communicate – you can't get used to the feeling of experiencing this weather heavy snow storms – those things are always surprising when you experience them It's surprising when we clear because we're in the fog most of the time So when we have clear conditions and calm conditions I've been up to the summit many times over the years and it can be beautiful and warm at the base and you're fogged in and it's 40 degrees colder But I have been up there on clear days and it is an astounding view and we basically take advantage of the good weather when we have it when we can go outside to go hiking or to go skiing or to go sledding We love to be outside when the weather is nice and pleasant We like to experience some extreme weather But some indoor activities that we enjoy: we like to sit down at least once a day and have a meal together so getting some exercise in is also really beneficial I wanted to ask you about Nimbus because I know the observatory has a long history of having cats The Mount Washington Observatory has been known to keep cats around since the 1930s [they] had about nine cats I've heard that were living up here and they were meant as a means of rodent control but he still is important for making sure that our mice population is at bay here in the building because it's kind of inevitable when you're the only warm spot in a place that has extreme winter conditions All of those little critters are going to try to find their way inside So he does a really good job at keeping those rodents at bay here Do you have to take turns changing Nimbus' litter box Each shift changes it once a day so we work it out pretty well You got to keep track of the weather and make sure the litter box has changed what can we expect from your forecast here at NHPR We have only historically provided forecasts for the higher elevations of New Hampshire but now we are going to provide weather insights for the entire state of New Hampshire in all regions So you can expect to hear some commute information or weather that might impact your weekend plans And hopefully we can share a little bit of our knowledge about the weather with our forecast We rely on readers like you to support the local and international coverage on this website Your support makes this news available to everyone A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference Be one of the first to try our new activity feed Meteorologists on America’s windiest mountain recently experienced historically violent gusts—and captured video of the chaos I have a secret fascination with the Mount Washington Observatory (MWOB) the weather station situated atop America’s windiest mountain But the big story at MWOB this winter has been the wind. According to a recent blog posted by weather forecaster Charlie Peachey the observatory was battered by gusts over 100 miles per hour for 39 consecutive hours in late February the weather station recorded one gust of 161 miles per hour This was the second-strongest gust recorded at the station since 1994 and the 20th strongest gust ever recorded “For all but two staff members at the observatory that was the highest wind gust that any current staff has ever experienced,” Peachey wrote Peachey added that the observatory staff often brag about the wind events they’ve personally experienced at the station The handful of meteorologists and forecasters who man the station are split into two crews and each crew lives in the station for one week at a time Peachey was offsite when the 161-mile-per-hour gust hit Peachey was confident that the windy conditions in February would continue when he and his crew returned in early March And when Peachey began crunching weather data collected from other stations across the Northeast he predicted that another major wind event would batter Mount Washington on Friday first topping 120 miles per hour before they increased A gust knocked out electricity to the MWOB offices at the base of Mount Washington while atop the peak blowing debris and gusts battered the observatory here’s why Peachey and the other MWOB forecasters are a different breed My assumption is that most rational human beings would happily stay in a warm and cozy office and simply listen to the building creak and groan under the force of the violent gusts want to know what a 130-mile-per-hour gust actually feels like Peachey and his crew zipped up their parkas and wind pants and walked out into the melee They sat on the frozen concrete and allowed the gale to push them across the ground like sticks blown across your patio by a leaf blower just add the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme music then the team had to army crawl back to the observatory doorway I realized that my 20-foot journey might not be possible,” Peachey wrote “Wind gusts of 120 mph+ were attempting to pick me up and blow me across the deck at every chance they got so I had to begin army crawling with my chest to the ground to make it to the starting line.” but I believe Peachey and his cohort officially earned their bragging rights even if the gusts they surfed only topped 138 miles per hour Predicting the weather on Mount Washington during transition seasons is famously tricky due to the topography and the swirling weather along the east coast Models can only tell a meteorologist so much and Peachey and his team had to rely largely on their own intuition to predict the storm This—and many other reasons—is why educated human beings will always be needed to forecast the weather it is our job to interpret when these errors exist in the model and then use our judgment to think of what will happen,” he wrote “It is one of the reasons why a knowledgeable human forecaster will always be better than a single computer model.” and a computer is far less graceful at butt-sliding and tech with access to unlimited digital content from Outside Network's iconic brands by Meteorologist Emily Santom MOUNT WASHINGTON (WGME) -- It's been a busy week in the White Mountains and Mount Washington with extreme wind gusts and avalanche warnings On Monday, Mount Washington recorded a wind gust of 161 MPH This is the observatory's highest daily peak wind gust since February 2019 To be included in the top 10 highest daily wind gusts a gust of 170 MPH would have been required The record peak wind gust for February at the summit is 171 MPH The overall record was set in 1938 when a 231 MPH gust out of the southeast occurred An Avalanche Warning was in effect for the White Mountain region on Monday due to high avalanche danger with the possibility of large avalanches Since September 1st, there have been 143 avalanche observations reported to the Mount Washington Avalanche Center. There were 9 observations just this past weekend alone but they can also occur from December through April A summit crew heading down Mount Washington in New Hampshire saw a rare weather phenomenon known as a "snow devil" on Wednesday Researchers with the Mount Washington Observatory captured a photo of the "long well-developed snow whirl" and shared it to social media "They sat and watched as it traveled down the mountain and crossed the road," the observatory wrote Click here for the full story via CBS Boston CBS Local Digital Media personalizes the global reach of CBS-owned and operated television and radio stations with a local perspective Washington voters are seen gathering in Town Hall at the 2024 annual town meeting TOP ISSUES AT TOWN MEETING: The proposed town operating budget for fiscal 2026 of $2,370,618 • A $57,764 allocation for capital costs to the Central Berkshire Regional School District • A $775,265 allocation for the school district transportation and a “basic budget balance.” • $203,015 for vocational education tuition and transportation Quality local journalism needs your support Access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access Subscribe now for 99¢ Subscriber Sign In | Return Home Maryjane Williams can be reached at mwilliams@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6139 Dalton's annual town meeting will begin at 7 p.m The town election will be May 12 at the Dalton Senior Center The Tavern at the A in Pittsfield is preparing to reopen for food service this May even as the fate of its liquor license remains uncertain after Monday afternoon's Licensing Board meeting Hancock residents will vote on a 20-item warrant at the 2025 Annual Town Meeting 7 p.m The town election will be held noon to 6 p.m At least 70 job-seekers connected with 18 employers at Lenox's annual job fair three men discussed plans for a secret raid that would become America’s first offensive victory in the Revolutionary War locals gathered to commemorate the largely forgotten meeting that helped shape history Becket voters will consider the proposed fiscal 2026 budget adopting the seasonal community designation a bylaw regulating outdoor lighting and other items at the annual town meeting on May 10. NHPR is joining forces with Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) to deliver state-of-the-art weather forecasts across New Hampshire MWOBS will provide NHPR listeners and readers with daily weather updates every morning and afternoon combining MWOBS’s pioneering meteorology with NHPR’s trusted storytelling to keep the public informed and prepared in an era of rapidly changing weather patterns Leveraging insights from Mount Washington's research facilities in North Conway and on the summit of Mount Washington detailed statewide weather reports during "Morning Edition" (5 a.m These reports will provide a broader understanding of New Hampshire’s weather patterns and offer practical actionable information to help listeners prepare for everything from their morning/evening commute to outdoor activities “We’re delighted to team up with Mount Washington Observatory bringing our listeners the most accurate and up-to-date weather forecasts available,” said Emily Quirk “This partnership isn’t just about weather updates—it’s about giving the communities we serve the science and knowledge needed to thrive in an ever-changing environment Mount Washington Observatory’s expertise will allow us to bring real cutting-edge meteorological insights to New Hampshire’s residents MWOBS’s team of scientists and meteorologists are renowned for enduring extreme weather on the Northeast’s highest peak to gain unique insights into atmospheric processes gathered from decades of research at the summit of Mount Washington With detailed insights into high-altitude weather patterns and their effects on the state “We’re incredibly excited about working with NHPR to bring our scientific expertise to listeners across New Hampshire,” said Charlie Buterbaugh “This collaboration with NHPR’s newsroom will advance Mount Washington Observatory’s priority to deliver essential forecasts and weather science to people where they are Accurate weather information is critical to safety and preparedness and we’re thrilled to work with NHPR to make our forecasting more accessible than ever.” By combining NHPR’s trusted news and storytelling with MWOBS’s unmatched meteorological expertise the partnership promises to empower listeners with essential knowledge about New Hampshire’s ever-evolving weather With daily forecasts available both on air and through NHPR and MWOBS’s digital platforms residents will have the information they need to stay safe and prepared on a day-to-day basis Rescue personnel hiked nearly a mile in high winds and icy conditions at elevations above 5,000 feet to reach a Quebec man who fell when descending the mountain They treated him for leg and shoulder injuries and hypothermia A Quebec hiker was rescued Saturday night after suffering multiple injuries in a fall near Mount Washington slipped in icy conditions and fell several feet off the Jewell Trail near Mount Clay while descending from Mount Washington’s summit around 3:45 p.m Conservation officers and volunteer search teams coordinated with the Cog Railway which provided transportation for rescuers along the train tracks to access the injured hiker The assistance eliminated nearly 3 miles of hiking in rain Rescue personnel hiked nearly a mile in high winds and icy conditions at elevations above 5,000 feet to reach Tessier at 7:24 p.m. where they treated him for leg and shoulder injuries and hypothermia Twenty rescuers took turns carrying Tessier in a litter uphill through 40 to 60+ mph winds across ice-covered rocks Some rescuers sustained injuries during the effort before reaching the train at 10:15 p.m Tessier arrived at the Base Station at 10:45 p.m and was transported by Twin Mountain Ambulance to Littleton Regional Healthcare Officials credited volunteers from Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue Mountain Rescue Services and Cog Railway personnel for their assistance in dangerous weather conditions Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Would you like to receive our daily news? Signup today Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account New Hampshire (WGME) -- A small owl found frozen and covered in snow is back in the wild The northern saw-whet owl was found struggling on Mt Two Mount Washington Observatory summit interns found the owl shivering while they were taking daily snow measurements and say its eyes were frozen shut and it was covered in ice The interns along with New Hampshire State Park staff and a few other volunteers were able to bring the owl inside to warm up state park staff were able to bring the bird down with them to New Hampshire Fish and Game A member of fish and game found the owl in good health and he was set free A $400,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game's Division of Ecological Restoration will help support removal of the deteriorating Becker Pond Dam in Mount Washington Officials say the removal will improve the ecosystem and keep the public safe. Becker Pond Dam is scheduled for removal in November The estimated cost has grown by hundreds of thousands of dollars since the project was announced in 2018 MOUNT WASHINGTON — A project to remove a long-decaying dam at a key cold water tributary just received more financial assistance from the state and is scheduled for removal in the fall The cost, however, has ballooned by more than $1 million since the project to remove the Becker Pond Dam was first announced in 2018 by The Nature Conservancy The Healey administration announced on Monday a state award of $400,000 for the removal of the “aging obsolete” Becker Pond Dam and improved recreation in the area of the remote Schenob Brook The project, which is funded by the state Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration will both prevent a collapse that could set off a dangerous deluge and improve the flow of critters and brook trout The award is part of $2.1 million for 17 projects across the state to restore rivers and wetlands The various projects are also meant to “strengthen resilience to climate change and restore wildlife habitat,” the release said The dam removal has been on Fish and Game’s list of “priority projects” since 2018 Its Division of Ecological Restoration has completed a number of projects across Berkshire County including other restoration projects and culvert replacements The dam sits within the 1,643-acre Mount Plantain Preserve Federally listed endangered species there include varieties of sturgeon The retaining walls slipped off the foundation and the footbridge is closed. Representatives of the Conservancy in 2018 said that the organization planned to build a hiking trail where the dam once was There has been disagreement over the years about the dam's removal Some residents didn’t want the pond wildlife disturbed were worried that a collapse “would have been catastrophic” and would have swept away anyone in the path of the flood the nonprofit said the removal and restoration would cost $99,640 and would be completed the following year Now the construction alone will cost $750,000 will land at more than $1 million. Haas said the project is scheduled for construction in November. That $750,000 for construction includes $150,000 for project oversight said conservancy Director of Stewardship & Restoration Karen Lombard The rest of the money goes toward what she said were excessive permitting costs. "It took four years to do the permitting," Lombard said "and there were aspects of the permitting that may have been unnecessary." Another reason for the more than 900 percent increase is that there's staff turnover at the agency." And the project "ran into inflation at the same time." Heather Bellow can be reached at hbellow@berkshireeagle.com or 413-329-6871. Press events with politicians, especially those that are part of tours with names like the "Transforming Transportation Road Show," are often more show than substance wherein officials say a lot of nothing. We give credit to Gov. Maura Healey for bucking that cliche in her recent visit to the Berkshires An avalanche occurred on Mount Washington on Tuesday according to the Mount Washington Avalanche Center and one snowboarder was caught on camera outracing it The avalanche happened on Tuckerman's Ravine The snow slide appears to "originate from rockfall above the tallest crown line and propagated across the slope further down near the ravine floor," according to the Avalanche Center "Wind-blown snow layers were variable between resting directly on ice layers vs No one was injured in the March 11 avalanche On an average year, there are about 25 people who "are injured while climbing, skiing and mountaineering on Mount Washington require some type of assistance from rescue groups such as the US Forest Service and the Mount Washington Volunteer Ski Patrol," according to the Mount Washington Avalanche Center. About 150 deaths have been recorded on the mountain, according to the Center, and 17 of those deaths have been caused by avalanches, according to the Mount Washington Observatory. The mountain is known for having some of the most extreme weather including recording a wind gust of 231 mph It's known for having quickly changing conditions so hikers are advised to use caution and pay close attention to weather and avalanche warnings Mount Washington is a prominent mountain in New Hampshire known for its dramatic weather and conditions that are extremely dangerous for hikers and climbers Why it's incredible: The mountain has some of the wildest weather on Earth Mount Washington is the tallest peak in the Northeast. The mountain is famous for attracting extreme weather with winds that exceed the force of a hurricane more than 100 days per year Not only do these winds hit Mount Washington at full speed but they are also siphoned toward the peak by the surrounding landscape The mountains to the west of Mount Washington form a 75-mile-wide (120 km) funnel that channels westerly winds toward the mountain accelerating already-fast winds until they reach breakneck speeds Mount Washington sits on the confluence of three major storm tracks Storms hit the summit every three days on average in the winter bringing high winds and huge amounts of precipitation Record levels of precipitation for Mount Washington were measured in 1969 when 4.1 feet (1.3 m) of snow fell within 24 hours Related: Record spike in earthquakes at Washington's 'high threat' volcano sends researchers scrambling for answers As a result of its unique position, Mount Washington is a contender for the world's fastest recorded wind speed instruments on Mount Washington's summit record wind speeds of 40 mph (65 km/h) these winds can whip up gusts exceeding 100 mph (160 km/h) Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox —Savonoski Crater: The mysterious, perfectly round hole in Alaska that scientists can't explain —Lake Vostok: The 15 million-year-old lake buried miles beneath Antarctica's ice Even wind speeds of 100 mph can rip huge chunks of ice off the mountain and the Mount Washington Observatory building at the summit which poses a severe risk for hikers and climbers in the winter The observatory has bulletproof windows to mitigate the risk of one of these chunks smashing into the building Several rescue teams monitor Mount Washington, and volunteers regularly save the lives of hikers who get lost or caught out by changing weather conditions Sascha PareSocial Links NavigationStaff writer Sascha is a U.K.-based staff writer at Live Science She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Southampton in England and a master’s degree in science communication from Imperial College London Her work has appeared in The Guardian and the health website Zoe bread-making and browsing second-hand shops for hidden gems you will then be prompted to enter your display name La Niña is dead — what that means for this year's hurricanes and weather La Niña is dead after just a few months Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSARGENTS PURCHASE (WCAX) - If you think it was windy in your neck of the woods Monday you don’t have anything on Mount Washington which recorded some of the highest winds in the past five years The Mount Washington Observatory says it recorded peak gusts of 161 mph the highest gust since a 171 mph reading on Feb The highest wind speed ever recorded at Mount Washington was 231 back in 1934 And if the -60 wind chill and other conditions don’t sound appealing enough for a hike Tuesday the Mount Washington Avalanche Center also issued an avalanche warning that was in effect until 7 a.m InDepthNH.org (https://indepthnh.org/2025/02/28/ayotte-and-family-visit-mount-washington-in-winter/) THOMPSON AND MESERVES PURCHASE – Gov her husband and son visited a wintery scene at Mount Washington State Park on its 6,288-foot summit Friday and learned about all that is going on atop the rock pile when the wind is gusting close to 100 miles per hour They were rare visitors in winter when the park is closed but where weather observation goes on by the staff of the Mount Washington Observatory Get unbiased nonprofit watchdog news sent directly to your inbox As they were leaving, the temperature was 28F degrees at the base of the mountain it was 11F degrees at the summit with wind speeds gusting to 96 miles per hour and with the wind chill that made it minus 20 degrees at the outset https://mountwashington.org/weather/current-summit-conditions/ 1/16th of a mile and the webcams showed a few deck tiles and then fuzzy white played host for the trip and climbed into the state park snow cat for the Mount Washington Auto Road promising to be InDepthNH.org’s photographer Auto Road snow cat tours do not go to the summit The park building is closed to the public in winter but it is occupied by the Mount Washington Observatory and others who are ferried back and forth in winter shifts which are usually days apart snow cat plows its way back and forth breaking through the snow drifts at times along the Auto Road where they can encounter winds of more than 100 miles per hour Kenney provided a guest list that included Tobey Reichert Washington Auto Road and its consultant and former general manager Howie Wemyss; Ryan Presby general manager of the Mount Washington Cog Railway Company and its general counsel Earl Duval; Patrick Hummel supervisor of Mount Washington State Park and State Parks Director Brian Wilson; Jess Wilson director of lodging and hospitality for the Appalachian Mountain Club; Drew Bush executive director of the Mount Washington Observatory and its director of external affairs at the base of the Auto Road in Gorham. They climbed in the tracked vehicle to the “winter cut off” and Cragway for a discussion with the Appalachian Mountain Club The group was scheduled to arrive at the summit by 11 a.m in the Mount Washington Observatory living quarters After a tour of the observatory and the state park facilities at the summit the group was to join in a roundtable lunch moderated by Councilor Kenney Much of Kenney’s district includes the state’s North Country After lunch there was a discussion planned with the Mount Washington Cog Railway Company and a visit to one of its trains at the summit There was to be a similar discussion with Mount Washington Auto Road at 2 p.m Both businesses rely on the state park at the summit for their business operations and lease space from the state with members of the governor’s staff to depart the summit for base of Mount Washington after that and end with a dinner at The Glen House’s The Notch Grille Meeting with the press prior to the trip on Wednesday in her office the governor said she was looking forward to the exciting visit and thrilled her teenage son and husband would be along for the trip to one of the state’s most iconic locations The visit comes at a time when environmental concerns for the wildly popular summit are being studied as part of recommendations from a 10-year master plan which was approved by the Mount Washington Commission in 2022 commissioner of the state Department of Resources and Economic Development is comprised of various partners that use the state-owned summit including the Mount Washington Auto Road At two public hearings on the proposed master plan in 2022 the commission heard concerns about business interests at the summit and the state’s overseeing of the 60-acre state park in the face of intense use climate change and the vulnerable and rare alpine zone In the last state budget cycle and promoted by then-Senate President Jeb Bradley the legislature agreed to fund an independent environmental and structural assessment related to the comfortable carrying capacity of the park. That study is now underway with the firm Tighe & Bond chosen to handle the assessment director of the division of parks at the state DNCR Some members of the public said in 2022 that agreeing to the 10-year plan before the assessment was putting the cart before the horse Jamie Sayen of North Stratford said in 2022 at the meeting on finalizing the plan Human aspirations are in conflict with natural limits We cannot change natural laws and limits…or the law of carrying capacity but we can modify human behavior.” Others said that they would rather have it in place and hear what the environmental and structural report shows The assessment report from Tighe & Bond is due in January 2026 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License A generous gift in any amount helps us continue to bring you this service InDepthNH protects independent journalism that holds government accountable to the people Our investigative reporting prompts civil discourse that spurs citizens to action corruption and influence-peddling while giving voice to the disenfranchised InDepthNH fulfills the press’ watchdog role as envisioned by the founders of our democracy InDepthNH.org is published by the New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News Pam Bales’ solo hike in October 2010 turned into a daring rescue of a fellow hiker But she was left with more questions than answers A feeling of peace washed over me as soon as my boots hit the dirt. At the base of Mt. Washington’s Jewell Trail But having grown up exploring New Hampshire’s White Mountains I knew the conditions up high would be nothing like in the valley In preparation for a late-season ascent of the 6,288-foot peak known as “home of the world’s worst weather,” I’d loaded my pack with extra layers and a pair of snow goggles I’d been volunteering with the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team for five years and these mountains were both my playground and my office I was heading out to train with a heavy pack and to enjoy a few hours in my favorite area has claimed over 150 lives over the past 150 years making it one of the deadliest mountains in the country but could see thick clouds shrouding the top half of the peak Snow was blowing in my face as I continued upward but I could follow this trail with my eyes closed I told myself if the weather worsened further I’d turn back; returning to my car was more important than making the summit I reached the junction with the Gulfside Trail That’s when I noticed fresh footprints in the snow that sent shivers up my spine It was clear that these tracks hadn’t been made by sturdy hiking boots A few steps later I saw him—a man slumped on the ground with his back against a boulder I called out and was answered only by silence How could someone hike up here so unprepared but his skin looked like porcelain and he wore a vacant expression I grabbed my extra layers and changed the man out of his wet clothes I tucked hand warmers inside his shirt and fed him from my thermos of hot chocolate It felt strange to treat a patient without knowing his name creating a swirl of blowing snow behind the boulder where we’d taken shelter John had revived somewhat and could walk behind me on the hardpack but I could just make out the depressions from my trekking poles The footing was slippery and laden with precarious boulders; I worried about John’s flat sneakers I sang ‘60s hits to remind him that I was there and to keep my own morale up I couldn’t understand why he’d ventured up high on a day like today After six hours of descending we reached the parking lot I warmed John’s clothes on my car’s heater traded them for the layers I’d lent him and then I wrote an email to my SAR teammates recounting the rescue examining our protocols and speculating about the events that could have led John into such distress Answers wouldn’t come for a few days when a letter arrived at the SAR headquarters “I hope this reaches the right group of rescuers,” it read Weather was to be bad.” I paused and started again It took a few tries to get through the whole letter “Next thing I knew this lady was talking to me,” he wrote “I said to leave me and get going but she wouldn’t.” He had considered running off but thought I might follow and didn’t want to harm anyone else “With all that has been going wrong in my life But I did to Pam.” Inside he had tucked a small donation “If she’s an example of your organization and professionalism I have a new direction thanks to wonderful people like yourselves.” The letter was signed “John.” I never found out exactly who I helped that day But I like to think he is out there somewhere Prepare yourself to respond if you come across a hiker in danger with this advice from Lieutenant Chris Camejo of Pemigewasset Valley SAR Come prepared. Carrying the 10 Essentials (navigation tools extra food and water) is the best way to be equipped to help someone in trouble and avoid getting in danger yourself If it’s safe to leave to go find cell service and water to ensure comfort until help arrives or if you’re too far from cell reception to seek help for a time-sensitive injury you may need to evacuate the hiker without help from SAR “We have a saying in the SAR community,” Camejo says “‘Don’t make somebody else’s emergency your emergency.’ If you jeopardize your own safety it’s not good for you or the injured hiker.” The 30-mile thru-hike was the ideal trip for putting our backpacking and hiking candidates through the wringer Norton Community Medical Associates primary care physicians and advanced practice providers are here for you active partnership with you to keep you in your best health and doing the things you love Norton Community Medical Associates providers offer primary care in Louisville Southern Indiana and surrounding areas at over 40 convenient locations Our offices are staffed by teams of experienced physicians physician assistants and other medical care providers Your Norton Community Medical Associates primary care provider collaborates with Norton Behavioral Medicine for mental health care your primary care provider may refer you for therapy your primary care provider addresses any medication treatment and your therapist will provide short-term help If your mental health concern is a crisis or emergency Norton Now offers urgent care through Norton Immediate Care Centers Norton Prompt Care clinics and virtually through Norton eCare Proceed to the nearest emergency department if you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms Virtual urgent care is available 24/7 through Norton eCare. 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Today, Norton Healthcare is a leader in serving adult and pediatric patients from throughout Greater Louisville Enter your information below to sign up for our free Get Healthy e-mail newsletter you'll receive stories and insights from the Norton Healthcare family (WCAX) - Two women are recovering after they were caught in whiteout conditions on Mount Washington over the weekend both of Massachusetts were hiking on the Jewell Trail Sunday when authorities say they became bogged down in deep snow and strayed from the trail near the 5,000-foot elevation of the 6,288-foot peak After contacting New Hampshire Fish and Game on their phone around 6 p.m. authorities launched a full-blown rescue by 8 p.m McKee says it was a terrifying moment when she realized they couldn’t survive on their own struggling to find the trail in extremely windy conditions and fending off frostbite “What would happen is we were walking along and then we’d dip And a couple times our snowshoes would get stuck on the spruce trees and you have no way of getting them out,” McKee said “And you’re rocking back and forth 20 minutes doing this Rescue crews reached the hikers by 1:50 a.m but they didn’t make it to the base of the Cog Railway until 4:15 a.m One of the women was taken to Littleton Regional Hospital for further evaluation and treatment of cold weather injuries “Both hikers were prepared and had winter hiking experience but ultimately encountered unforeseen conditions Had they not had the amount of gear with them that they did it is unlikely that they would have survived until rescuers reached them,“ New Hampshire Fish and Game officials said in a statement and preparedness -- above all -- is the difference between life and death in the mountains of New Hampshire.” Washington in New HampshirePhoto: Charlotte MacDonald/Mt March and was able to stop his fall before falling into rocks below.The Mt Washington Avalanche Center released a frightening video of the incident on its Instagram page on March 4 The small avalanche in Dodge’s Drop caught the skier they were uninjured in the fall.Tap or click the video below to watch the incident unfold Keep reading for more information about the avalanche “This incident perfectly highlights something that we write about a lot in our forecasts: even a small avalanche can have serious consequences if it causes a fall in steep terrain with hazards below,” MWAC said in the post “We are sharing this video as a way to show the potential consequences of accidents in Presidential Range ski mountaineering terrain We hope this gets you thinking about terrain choices and the potential for accidents even with a very small avalanche.”According to the avalanche report the skiers noted heavy winds before dropping into Dodges via Hillmans Highway The avalanche was triggered by a skier who stopped near the top of a wind slab The slab was 5 meters by 3 meters by 5–10 centimeters and the skier was carried roughly 200 feet before self-arresting “A false sense of security was given discussing with others at (Howard Johnson’s) recent descents from that morning in Huntington/Tuckerman sharing good stability reports and watching others ski chute as we made our way towards boot spur,” the incident report states “We became complacent.”Avalanche risk is moderate throughout that entire region as of March 4 2025.While avalanche risk is lower on the East Coast than it is out west this incident is a solid reminder that even if a slide does not bury a skier or snowboarder the outcome can be treacherous if there are objects in the way.The MWAC released a video on November 29 showing a slide on Chicken Rock Gully in Tuckerman Ravine While the slide didn’t result in any injuries it was a good way to showcase just what can happen when the snowpack conditions are unstable after early-season snow “I think it’s really important for people traveling into the backcountry to be ready for dynamic early season conditions,” the MWAC’s Patrick Scanlan said to WMUR at the end of last year “All it takes is snow to sweep you off your feet to hit rocks got his start snowboarding in New Hampshire and owes all of his progression to Montana's Bridger Bowl Two hikers from Massachusetts were rescued overnight on Mount Washington The hikers called 911 Sunday evening and were helped out early in the morning Monday Two Massachusetts hikers were rescued early Monday morning after struggling for several hours in chest-deep snow and whiteout conditions in the upper reaches of Mount Washington called 911 after becoming stranded in deep snow at about 5,000 feet of elevation around 6 p.m. according to a New Hampshire Fish and Game news release the hikers couldn’t find the trail despite being only about 34 feet from the Jewell Trail on Mount Washington A conservation officer spoke with the hikers via cellphone and directed them back to the trail after plotting their GPS coordinates McKee and Lelacheur fought their way through the deep snow and spruce traps (holes created in the snow under trees) to the trail They ended up reaching the trail several times but could not follow it because the wind and snow had erased all traces of the path After multiple attempts and calls with Fish and Game the two hikers huddled up in the snow to get warm and wait for help Fish and Game started a full rescue operation the weather at the summit of Mount Washington was 2 below zero with sustained winds at 50-60 mph Mount Washington State Park’s snow cat was used to bring rescuers to the summit and personnel from the Mountain Rescue Service and Fish and Game joined the rescue effort nine rescuers arrived at the Mount Washington Auto Road and started up the mountain at 11 p.m Crews snowshoed toward the end of the Jewell Trail below the summit of Mount Clay crews approached the last-known location of the hikers but were suffering from cold-weather injuries Crews set up emergency shelters and warmed the hikers for about an hour the hikers were able to move on their own and the hikers and rescue party continued down the Jewell Trail to the Base Station of the Cog Railway One hiker was taken by ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital Both hikers were found to be prepared with a variety of gear dpierce@unionleader.com Email notifications are only sent once a day Search and rescue crews conducted an overnight rescue operation for two hikers who became stranded in whiteout conditions on Mount Washington Sunday evening Kathryn McKee and Beata Lelacheur of Massachusetts called 911 Sunday evening when they lost the Jewell Trail in deep snow at about 5,000 feet of elevation the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said officers spoke with the hikers over the phone and gave them GPS coordinates to find the trail again McKee and Lelacheur fought through chest-deep snow and spruce traps – deep holes underneath trees that hikers can fall into They repeatedly found the trail and lost it as snow and wind erased evidence of the trail and they finally decided to huddle up in the snow to keep warm and wait for help Fish and Game began a “full blown rescue operation” as temperatures at Mount Washington’s summit reached -2 degrees and sustained winds of 50-60 mph The Mount Washington State Park’s snow cat arrived at the summit just before midnight with nine rescuers Crews had to use GPS navigation to find the way wind-blown snow to reach the last known location of McKee and Lelacheur The rescuers found the hikers alive and coherent at just before 2 a.m Crews set up emergency shelters to warm the hikers the hikers were able to move on their own and the group made its way down the Jewell Trail The rescue party reached the Base Station of the Cog Railway at 4:15 a.m and one of them was taken to Littleton Regional Hospital for their cold weather injuries Fish and Game said the hikers were prepared with a variety of gear had winter hiking experience and both had HikeSafe cards Officials said that if they didn’t have the gear they did “Although technology and experience is certainly helping to find people more quickly the fact remains that Mother Nature has the final say,” the department said in a press release is the difference between life and death in the mountains of New Hampshire.” Mount Washington famously lays claim to the world’s worst weather a new project from the Mount Washington Observatory will allow people to monitor that weather more closely the observatory unveiled a project to expand the Mount Washington Regional Mesonet There are 11 original stations in the network Funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission is helping to add to those numbers and update existing stations the observatory says they’ll expand the network to about 36 stations The first five of the new stations are along the western side of the mountain along the route of the Cog Railway But the observatory plans to expand stations across the state The stations are set up on big tripods and powered by solar panels That data can be used by weather forecasters the director of weather operations at the observatory “Can we think of an industry or a job or anything that's not affected by the weather whether it comes down to insurance or supply chain or what you're wearing that day?” he said Broccolo said the network expansion is particularly important because weather is a resource for New Hampshire especially for one of its top industries: tourism but what creates snow and what creates skiing That is what creates those tourist attractions the phenology that brings up so many people during leaf peeping season,” he said The network will help scientists and businesses better understand the weather driving tourism in the state Keeping weather stations running in harsh conditions can be tough work said the expansion is starting on Mount Washington along the Cog Railway as a kind of trial period using a space that’s familiar – though prone to ice and wind that’s difficult for stations to withstand located just below the summit of Mount Washington “It's part of the learning process,” he said “Iterating through designs as fast as we can to try to come up with something that is robust and can survive this environment.” Lessons from the station on the mountain could help Garrett and his team build out stations in more remote areas in northern New Hampshire. Stations are planned as far north as Second Connecticut Lake A throwback photo of skiers queueing up to ride REX There will be another way to snag one of the chairs, too.Visitors who ski or ride a chairlift at Crystal Mountain between May 2 and May 4 will be automatically entered for a chance to win a REX chair. Each ski day counts as a raffle entry.According to a recent social media post from Crystal Mountain are forthcoming.To honor the departure of REX Crystal Mountain is hosting a 1980s-themed party on May 4 with live music which is located near the base of the chairlift Vintage outfits with neon and wild patterns are encouraged.The party also coincides with the Over the Top Rail Jam which has been relocated to be visible from REX’s lower terminal.REX It was the first detachable chairlift built in Washington and has since become a staple of Crystal Mountain’s skier access infrastructure providing access to popular powder day haunts like The Doors and Sunnyside.In June the ski resort will begin replacing REX with a new Leitner-Poma high-speed quad that is expected to be complete by December 2025 The construction process won’t interrupt Crystal Mountain’s summer operations which include the Mount Rainier Scenic Gondola High winds buffeted the Atlantic Coast on Monday from Florida to Maine but the gusts into the 60s may have seemed like a gentle breeze compared with the howling winds at Mount Washington Observatory in New Hampshire Mount Washington, known for its harsh and erratic weather, saw its wind gusts top out at 161 mph on Monday, the observatory reported however: The mountain still holds the record for the highest surface wind speed ever measured in the United States: 231 mph Still referred to as the Big Wind The 161-mph gust only barely made it into a tie for the 19th-highest daily gust on Mount Washington Monday's gust was the highest daily peak gust in almost six years since the observatory measured a 171-mph gust on Feb To reach the mountain's top 10 highest daily gusts wind speeds would have to climb to at least 170 mph That may be possible before this latest wind event is over Wind warnings and high wind warnings remained in place for parts of New England through Tuesday evening Just over two years ago, on Feb. 4, 2023, the observatory measured what was likely the lowest wind chill ever recorded in the United States: minus 108 degrees Fahrenheit by Meteorologist Ryan Munn MOUNT WASHINGTON (WGME) -- It was a big day on Mount Washington Thursday as the National Weather Observatory celebrated a milestone The Mount Washington Observatory debuted a brand-new weather station marking the start of a multi-year expansion program “This is really important because it’s the west side of the mountain really excited to start recording that data but also the partnerships and collaborations that have come from it and what it’s going to do to the community,” Mount Washington Observatory Director of Weather Operations Jay Broccolo said This is one of five newly installed remote weather stations along the Cog Railway “These new stations and our current summits page it’s really helpful because say you want to hike Mount Washington or any of the Presidentials but you don’t necessarily know what to pack It helps the recreationists really plan out their day,” Broccolo said It takes a lot of work to build one of these weather stations “It takes about three days to preassemble a station and then another day to deploy it Then the data flow integration after the station is in place takes probably another one to two days per station because of how our internal network is configured,” Mount Washington Observatory Director of Technology Keith Garnett said This information will help with both short-term and long-term forecasting they may be able to provide better forecasts and give us a better idea of how the climate is changing on a long-term basis the more data you have the better those prognostications can be,” Mount Washington Cog Railway President Wanye Pressdy said To see more about the newly unveiled weather stations you can visit their website Two Massachusetts hikers were rescued in a multi-hour overnight operation after becoming stuck in whiteout conditions in the upper reaches of Mount Washington of Westborough – both experienced winter hikers – found themselves in chest-deep snow about 5,000 feet up the mountain just off the Jewell Trail which alerted NH Fish and Game around 6 p.m Multiple agencies and search and rescue teams worked overnight to rescue the hikers A Conservation Officer was able to speak to them via cell phone and directed them towards the trail McKee and Lelacheur fought through the snow and “spruce traps” (holes created in the snow underneath trees) to try to regain the trail They ended up on the trail several times but could not follow it as it had been erased by wind and snow the two needed to huddle up in the snow to keep warm and await assistance Fish and Game began to conduct a full-blown rescue operation Washington had temperatures of -2 degrees and sustained winds at 50 to 60 mph Washington State Park was contacted and readied their snow cat to bring rescuers to the summit Personnel from Mountain Rescue Service (MRS) and members of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Advanced Search and Rescue Team were called upon to respond to the mountain and attempt the rescue rescuers were arriving at the Mount Washington Auto Road and preparing gear The State Park snow cat started up the mountain at 11 p.m with 9 trained rescuers and arrived at the summit just before midnight Crews bailed out into whiteout conditions and snow shoed through deep wind-blown snow toward the top end of the Jewell Trail below the summit of Mt crews were approaching the last known location of the two hikers but had not yet made contact The only way to locate the trail was through GPS navigation and the going was slow due to the tremendous effort required to break trail in the deep snow rescue crews successfully located the two hikers Both were alive and coherent but suffering from cold weather injuries Crews set up emergency shelters and began to warm both hikers the hikers had been brought back to a point of being able to move on their own crews continued down the Jewell Trail toward the Base Station of the Cog Railway safely reached the Base Station of the Cog Railway both hikers were evaluated by staff of the Twin Mountain Ambulance One of the hikers was ultimately transported via ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital for further evaluation and treatment of cold weather injuries Authorities then worked with the Twin Mountain Fire Department and State Police Troop F to get transportation for the rescuers back around Mt both possessed HikeSafe cards (voluntary hiker insurance) and both rescuers say both were extremely grateful for the efforts put forth on their behalf Officials say the incident is an example of the need to prepare for the unexpected Both hikers were prepared and had winter hiking experience it is unlikely that they would have survived until rescuers reached them Fish and Game was assisted by Mount Washington State Park Twin Mountain Fire and Rescue and New Hampshire State Police Troop F Dispatch you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users During the overnight hours of February 2 and 3, multiple agencies and search and rescue teams worked together to rescue two hikers stranded in whiteout conditions on the upper reaches of Mount Washington NH Fish and Game was contacted after 911 received a call regarding hikers who were lost off trail adjacent to the Jewell Trail on Mount Washington Authorities quickly learned that Kathryn McKee were stuck in very deep snow at about 5,000 feet on Mt After plotting GPS coordinates provided by 911 it was determined the two were only 34 feet from the trail A Conservation Officer was able to speak to them via cell phone and directed them toward the trail McKee and Lelacheur fought through chest-deep snow and “spruce traps” (holes created in the snow underneath trees) to regain the trail They ended up on the trail several times but could not follow it because it had been erased by wind and blowing snow the pair huddled up in the snow to keep warm and awaited assistance Fish and Game began to conduct a scale rescue operation Washington included temperatures of -2 degrees Fahrenheit and sustained winds of 50–60 mph and their snowcat was readied to bring rescuers to the summit Personnel from Mountain Rescue Service (MRS) and members of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Advanced Search and Rescue Team were called in to respond to the mountain and attempt the rescue rescuers arrived at the Mount Washington Auto Road and prepared their gear The State Park’s snowcat started up the mountain at 11:00 p.m arriving at the summit just before midnight The crews ventured into whiteout conditions and snowshoed through deep and progress was slow due to the tremendous effort required to break a trail in the deep snow Crews immediately set up emergency shelters and began to warm both of the hikers and the group continued down the Jewell Trail toward the base station of the Cog Railway the rescue party and the hikers safely reached the base station of the Cog Railway where both hikers were evaluated by Twin Mountain Ambulance staff One of the hikers was transported by ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital for further evaluation and treatment of cold weather injuries Authorities then worked with the Twin Mountain Fire Department and State Police Troop F to arrange transportation for the rescuers back to Mt Personnel finally cleared this mission just after 7:00 a.m Both hikers were found to be prepared with various gear They also possessed Hike Safe cards and were extremely grateful for the efforts made on their behalf This incident exemplifies the need to prepare for the unexpected Both hikers were prepared and had winter hiking experience but encountered unforeseen conditions Had they not had the amount of gear that they had with them NH Fish and Game would like to thank the many men and women who made this rescue successful They included personnel from Mount Washington State Park and New Hampshire State Police Troop F Dispatch The ski and snowboard site with intelligence Remember the tiny owl shivering in the snow that was found by staff at the top of Mt Washington when they went out to measure the snow depth at the summit The tiny owl has recovered and has been released back into the wild Washington Observatory went out for their daily snow measurement at the summit Struggling in that nasty weather the interns found a tiny owl covered in snow with its eyes frozen shut They brought the owl inside where it was warm and it wasn't long before he looked great again The observatory staff consulted with New Hampshire State Park staff who work there the park staff took the owl down the mountain by snowcat and brought it to New Hampshire Fish & Game It was determined that the owl was a Northern Saw-Whet Owl The staff at the observatory wanted a name for the owl to commemorate this event that they will never forget so they asked people to leave suggestions in the comments on their Instagram post The owl has been appropriately named "Snowball." READ MORE: Did You Know These 30 Animals Are on New Hampshire's Endangered Species List? Snowball was identified as a Saw-Whet owl and was cared for by New Hampshire Fish and Game Snowball got a clean bill of health after recouping for nine days and was released back into the wild In a touching rescue, Mt. Washington Observatory staff saved a Northern Saw-Whet Owl from harsh weather. The community named it 'Snowball' after its recovery.\nRead More READ MORE: Did You Know These 30 Animals Are on New Hampshire's Endangered Species List?