NORTH CONWAY, New Hampshire ??” The Seek the Peak Hike-a-thon is scheduled for July 23, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages are invited to participate. The hike-a-thon is the major fundraising event of the year for the Observatory, and all proceeds from this event fund the annual costs of operating the summit weather station – which is run by the Mount Washington Observatory every day and night of the year.

Check-in for the event will be Friday, July 22 from 12:00 pm to 8 p.m. at the Mount Washington Center in the Village of North Conway and on Saturday morning from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the AMC Pinkham Notch headquarters.

Seek the Peak is open to all who want to hike, and it is easy to take part in the event. Simply go online to www.mountwashington.org and click on the Seek the Peak banner to register and to download a pledge sheet, or call (603) 356-2137 ext. 210 to have a pledge sheet mailed to you. Hikers collect pledges from family and friends, and turn them in on Friday or Saturday at registration. Each individual registrant who raises $100 or more in contributions will receive a goodie bag and event t-shirt at check-in.

Hikers make their way to the summit of Mount Washington (Photo: Brad Bradstreet)

A new activity to Seek the Peak this year is team participation. Teams of ten register for $250 (or collect pledges of $1000 as a group) and become eligible to win a variety of special team prizes including an overnight at the Observatory’s summit facility and gift certificates from L.L.Bean. If you register as a member of a team, you are eligible for team prizes. If you register as an individual, you are eligible for individual prizes.

After hiking to the summit on Saturday, hikers gather at Wildcat Ski area for the awards party and BBQ. Free gondola rides will be available to those who arrive before 4:30. Non-hikers are invited to attend just the barbecue (at a cost of $15 per person). A special unveiling ceremony will take place at 5:30 of a U-Haul truck featuring of a new graphic design depicting the summit and the Observatory. U-Haul will be featuring this graphic design on trucks rented in the Northeastern United States starting this July. A program fearturing live music by Idol Hands and distribution of prizes to the top fundraisers follows the U-Haul unveiling. Hiking prizes include a mountain bike, hiking poles and back packs from L.L.Bean, a winter overnight EduTrip at the Observatory, gift certificates to local inns and restaurants, a membership to the AMC, books on the White Mountains and much more.

Seek the Peak is sponsored by L.L.Bean and Subaru. Media sponsors for the event include WMWV 93.5, Magic 104 and WPKQ. Other support for the event comes from local business donations to Rally the Valley. These businesses are listed on an event recommendation list given to all registrants as well as online at www.mountwashington.org/events.
The Mount Washington Observatory is a private, non-profit organization which has operated the year-round weather station atop Mount Washington since October 1932. The Observatory maintains an active program of scientific research and educational activities, including the seasonal Mount Washington Museum on the summit and the year-round Weather Discovery Center, located in the Mount Washington Center in North Conway. For more information, contact the Observatory at Box 2310, North Conway NH 03860, (603) 356-2137 or (800) 706-0432, or visit the Observatory’s website at www.mountwashington.org.