Annual Seek the Peak Hike-A-Thon attracts over 200 participants

A record-high number of hikers climbed Mount Washington on Saturday, July 23, for the fifth annual Seek the Peak Hike-A-Thon to benefit the Mount Washington Observatory. N.H. Congressman Jeb Bradley was among those who participated in this year's hike-a-thon, reaching the summit under glorious, sunny skies.Once on the summit, hikers were given a tour of the mountaintop weather observatory and visited the Observatory's new weather wall located in the Sherman Adams Building. After hiking, everyone gathered at Wildcat Ski Area to enjoy the awards barbecue, which included great live music from Idol Hands and a special unveiling ceremony of the new U-Haul truck Supergraphic that depicts the summit and the observatory.Hikers collected donations from family and friends for the non-profit observatory to help continue their work and research atop New England's highest peak. Top donors this year were Patrick and Brenda Daly of Wallingford, Conn., in first place, Roy Prescott of Madison in second place, and Sharon Hirsch from New Haven, Conn., in third place. Hirsch climbed to the summit in a long skirt and wool jacket to commemorate the 150-year anniversary of the death of Lizzie Bourne on the summit.Over 150 local businesses also helped in the effort by contributing through the Rally the Valley Campaign, donating between $100 and $250 each. Including this year's numbers, the Seek the Peak event has raised more than $180,000 since it began in July 2001.The Mount Washington Observatory is a private, nonprofit 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, the year-round Weather Discovery Center in North Conway, and The Weather Notebook, a weekday radio program broadcast to over 300 stations across the nation. For more information, contact the Observatory at Box 2310, North Conway, NH 03860, 356-2137 or (800) 706-0432, or visit the observatory's website at www.mountwashington.org.