Ten Years on the Rock Pile : A Collection of Stories, Some Hilarious, Some Tragic, about Life at the Summit of Mount Washington

by Vincent, Lee; Gosselin, Guy

• ISBN13: 9780803234130
• ISBN10: 0803234139
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-07-01
• Publisher: Univ of Nebraska Pr

Summary

Mount Washington, located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, is the highest peak in the northeastern United States. It is often cited--by its inhabitants, no less--as the home of the country's worst weather, a claim supported by the mountain's long-held record for the highest wind gust directly measured at the Earth's surface (231 mph on April 12, 1934). As a transmitter supervisor for WMTW-TV, Lee Vincent traveled regularly to the summit of Mount Washington. Soon enough his reports from the peak began appearing in a column in a local paper--and just as quickly captivated readers near and far. These columns, with their accounts of the everyday lives and unusual exploits of the individuals who chose, against all odds and most notions of common sense, to call Mount Washington home, are gathered in this book. As entertaining and engaging as they are informative, these reports from the summit form an invaluable record of life happily lived in extremity. Accompanied by remarkable photographs and candid snapshots, they also document the experience and insights--and after Vincent's diagnosis with a virulent form of cancer, the valiant last days--of someone who had seen the mountaintop and reported back for the edification and delight of those lucky enough to read his columns and books.

Author Biography

Lee Vincent (1935-77) built and operated a TV station in Litchfield, Maine, before his job with WMTW-TV, where he hosted a short TV clip five days a week noting the weather atop the rock pile. Guy Gosselin, who worked for the Mount Washington Observatory in a variety of roles, is now a life trustee of the observatory.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
A Slice of Life on the Mountain	p. 1
Mite O' Crabbin'	p. 4
Tales and Put-Ons	p. 8
Points along the Auto Road	p. 13
Aliens and Other Mountain Mysteries	p. 17
Freeman's Folly or Reconstruction of the Auto Road Accident	p. 20
A Close Call	p. 24
The Sunset Put-On	p. 28
Electricity and Lightning at the Summit	p. 32
Preparations for the Deep Freeze of Winter	p. 36
Why Don't You Guys Go Fly a Kite?	p. 40
Speakers' Corner	p. 43
Winter Sports	p. 48
Feminine Wiles	p. 52
The Dedicated Obs Men	p. 55
Achtung!	p. 60
Blackbirds and Dark Times Ahead	p. 63
The Great Ghost Hunt	p. 67
Beavers in Springtime	p. 71
One Man's Poison …	p. 74
Boys Will Be Boys	p. 78
Terra-Rocs	p. 82
Donny Disconnect	p. 86
Bent Out of Shape	p. 90
Trick or Treat	p. 93
Looking for Mount Rushmore?	p. 97
Annual Cookout	p. 100
Awaiting a Winter Thaw	p. 103
Mountain Softball	p. 106
Escalator Service	p. 108
Hoorah!	p. 112
The Fearless Leader	p. 115
Poor Judgment	p. 119
Dump Digging	p. 122
A Monstrous Tale	p. 126
Paint Job	p. 129
State Waste	p. 132
One Big Gripe	p. 135
There Ain't No Me!	p. 138
On a Clear Day	p. 141
Whole Lot of …	p. 144
A Dark Mass	p. 147
Days of Distinctive Beauty	p. 150
Arctic Ice Storm	p. 154
Birth of a New Day	p. 158
Gooferology in Action	p. 162
Bombs and Favors	p. 167
The Presence	p. 171
Green Stripes Running Wild	p. 178
Monty Montgomery	p. 182
Mugwumps	p. 185
Old Lady Killer Ramp	p. 188
Obs-Erving History	p. 193
Spring Has Sprung	p. 197
ôSiggyö Analyzes TV Crew	p. 201
Rime Ice and Paper Hat Award	p. 204
Side Hill Gougers	p. 208
The Very Zenith of My Outlook	p. 212
This Is a ôHoorahö!	p. 216
You Say You Want Facts?	p. 220
Cog Train Dedication Ceremony in Hail and Pet Peeves	p. 224
Staging Hoorahs	p. 228
The Pack Boys	p. 231
The First Christmas on Top of New England	p. 234
Beating the Record	p. 240
Snowmobiling	p. 244
Miles per Hour	p. 248
Static	p. 252
Nitpicking	p. 256
Frozen Hot Water	p. 260
Phil's Lakes of the Clouds	p. 263
Breezeway Amour	p. 266
Party	p. 268
Rose Riff	p. 271
Mercedes-Benz Unimog	p. 275
Saucey-Mae	p. 279
Garbage Rock	p. 284
Initiation Rites	p. 287
Rough Riding	p. 290
The Thrill of Being High	p. 294
Final Comment	p. 296
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