9 6 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



had blown as hard as it could, but it is now worse than ever before. I shall not wet 

 myself to the skin again to hold up that anemometer. I know it blows at the rate of 

 more than a hundred miles an hour. How it roars! But &quot;roar&quot; doesn t express the 

 noise ; bellow is too tame by half. In a thunder-storm the lightning flashes, blinding 

 the sight; then comes a sharp report, which immediately gives way to deep, reverbera- 

 tory rumbling that shakes and makes everything vibrate with its power, then rolls away 

 and is lost. Now just imagine, if you can, a continual roll of the first reverberations, 

 after the sharp report is over, and you will have some faint idea of what we have this 

 day, a continual thunder, making everything shake for hours together. Have storms 

 like this swept over these mountains for thousands, perhaps millions, of years? or, is 

 this a special storm for the benefit of us two poor mortals who have invaded this bleak 

 and lofty region? Can t tell. 



February 21. Snows; and there is a drift fifteen feet high on the south side of our 

 house. Had to shovel out our window to let in daylight. 



i p. M. I am writing by lamplight ; the house is completely snowed up. 



February 22. Thermometer 17 below. House still snowed up ; time drags. 



THE Mr. WASHINGTON EXPEDITION WINTER OF 1870-71. 



This expedition, like that upon Moosilauke, was undertaken for the 

 purpose of contributing something to the solution of the great question 

 whether science can forecast the weather for hours and days beforehand. 

 It was deemed especially important to investigate the meteorology of Mt. 

 Washington, the highest point of land in the eastern United States, 

 as, from its exposed position, it might be expected to give the first indica 

 tions of approaching storms. The observations upon Moosilauke had 

 afforded valuable experience for this more extended expedition, and had 

 already given some indication of the phenomena peculiar to the higher 

 New England summits in winter. As nothing of this kind was contem 

 plated in the original act establishing the geological survey of the state, 

 it was not possible, nor desired, to use any of the funds appropriated to 

 geological exploration for meteorological purposes. With the approval of 

 the state authorities, the geological survey adopted the expedition as a 

 part of its work, and obtained the requisite funds entirely by subscription. 

 The total amount expended, including the value of materials and other 

 substantial aid furnished, reached as high as $3,500. 



In the preparations for this expedition a house was, of course, the first 

 essential. Application was again made for the Tip-top house : this was 

 met by a courteous but firm refusal. At one time the question of build- 



