• January 3, 2011

Eastern Mountain Sports has signed a multi-year deal with Mt. Washington Observatory. The retailer is now the official outfitter of the meteorological observatory. As part of the program, Eastern Mountain Sports will give cold-weather gear to the observatory's staff.

The observatory sits on the peak of the mountain, which is north of North Conway, N.H. and is famous for its narrow-gauge cog railroad and the vicious antarctic winter climate on top.

Eastern Mountain Sports will support and promote the observatory's education and community outreach efforts.

Eastern Mountain Sports has 65 retail locations in 12 Eastern seaboard states from Maine to Virginia. Eastern Mountain Sports Climbing School has climbing and mountaineering training courses on Mount Washington. Among them are overnight educational programs at the observatory.

The partnership will kick off with two events on Jan. 27 at stores in North Conway and New York City. The programs, which are open to the public, will feature a presentation and live connection with the observatory and opportunities to meet EMS and Mount Washington Observatory staff members.

The first 50 guests at each event will receive gifts, and the company will offer a sweepstakes with such prizes as overnight trips to the observatory with the Eastern Mountain Sports Climbing School, observatory memberships and prints from adventurer and photographer Bradford Washburn.