'Marty on the Mountain' talks about years atop New England's tallest peak
Marty Engstrom worked on Mount Washington for 38 years
Marty Engstrom worked on Mount Washington for 38 years
Marty Engstrom worked on Mount Washington for 38 years
When you talk about WMTW Channel 8 and Mount Washington, the one person that comes to mind is Marty Engstrom, also know as Marty on the Mountain.
Photos: WMTW on Mount Washington
For decades Engstrom was an engineer for the station, but so many people remember him as the guy on Mount Washington who did the weather with a smile.
Video: Marty on the Mountain talks about his years on Mount Washington
It has been 12 years since Engstrom came off the mountain. He said he is happily retired, healthy and loving life at his own pace.
However, Engstrom still loves talking about his 38 years atop Mount Washington.
"I am not intentionally in the weather business. I am an engineer not a weatherman," said Engstrom.
Engstrom's actual job was to man the WMTW transmitter on top of New England's tallest peak. He worked the sophisticated equipment that kept the station on the air.
It was on his first day at WMTW that he learned his duties also included reporting the summit weather conditions during the news. He remembers that day well.
"What, who me? What do you mean? First i knew anything about it. After your first day they say, 'You've got to smile right?' I just forced a smile, from there on that was my trademark," said Engstrom.
That trademark smile transformed the soft-spoken engineer, with a heavy Maine accident into an icon.
Engstrom said it was the mountain that made his job special, from the harrowing rides up and down the mountain during the winter in a snow cat, to the spectacular 130-mile views right outside his office window.
"I'd stand there and I'd look out and say, 'Now there are some people in this world who would give just about anything to be here, be able to do this so I darn well better enjoy it while I got the chance,'" said Engstrom.
Engstrom retired in June 2002. Though gone from the mountain, Engstrom is hardly forgotten. On occasion he is still asked to give his renowned Mount Washington slideshow, and to date, has sold more than 6,000 copies.
Engstrom said he still can't go out in public without someone asking if he's the guy from Mount Washington.