The Legend of Marty on the Mountain, P.2

Thirty Seconds and a Smile (Day 67)

Legendary weather broadcaster Marty Engstrom sits atop a snow pile at the summit of Mount Washington.

During the course of research and writing about weather broadcaster Marty Engstrom, he had mentioned the famous Tucker Sno-Cat that used to bring the broadcasters to the summit of Mount Washington during the winter. I began to wonder about that Sno-Cat, and after a bit of research, discovered that it still existed! Here’s that story, followed by a set of photos of Marty, past and present. The legendary New England broadcaster passed away a couple days ago, and this is Part 2 of a tribute to him. You can read Part 1 here: Thirty Seconds and a Smile

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The famous WMTW Tucker Sno-Cat pulls a load of supplies and broadcasters up Mount Washington during a winter trip. Author’s collection.

MARTY’S SNO-CAT

          There were bigger and stronger plowing vehicles atop Mount Washington during the days Marty Engstrom worked at the summit, but none are remembered more fondly than the bright orange, circa 1953, Tucker Sno-Cat.

          “That machine was as sure-footed as a mountain goat,” Engstrom recalls.

          The television crew used the Sno-Cat to get back and forth to the summit during the winter, plow the road and occasionally to help pull out the bigger rigs when they got stuck.

          And of all the heavy equipment used on Mount Washington over the years, it’s no surprise the Tucker Sno-Cat still exists and still runs. Or so says Brian DesMarais, the current owner of the legendary machine.

          DesMarais, a respiratory therapist in Haverhill, Massachusetts, bought the old Sno-Cat from a junk yard in Maine, where it was being used to haul scrap. The treads and passenger compartment are long gone. Before that, a logging outfit used the Sno-Cat to haul wood. And according to Engstrom, once the Sno-Cat retired from Mount Washington, it was used by the Wildcat Ski Area to run customers between the shop and snack bar

The sno-cat in the scrap yard.

.          DesMarais is a collector and his hobby is repairing old groomers and plows like the Sno-Cat. He currently owns three Tuckers. Beside the famous Mount Washington beast, he’s tinkering with a Sno-Cat from Pats Peak and one that was used on Mount Greylock.

          “Parts are so rare for one of these,” DesMarais says about Marty’s old ride. “She was super high maintenance back in the day, but designed to go through any type of snow.”

          DesMarais said the famous machine will eventually end up in some museum or collection, but until then, he and his two kids have enjoyed learning about the history and myth behind the old Tucker.

          “I’m too young, so I never heard one of Marty’s forecasts, but I have friends who know him,” DesMarais said. “So, it’s pretty neat to think that I’m a little part of that history.”

Summit personnel get the sno-cat ready for a trip down off the mountain. She was a mighty beast! Author’s collection.

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Finally, here’s some never before published photos of Marty at his farmhouse in Maine and one that I managed to get at an event of his I attended in Bartlett, N.H. I spent the day at his home, where he was genuine and funny, and spent a lot of time showing me his Ham Radio set up and electronics collection.

As my friend Christopher Morris wrote of Marty, N1ARY went Silent Key on Jan 4, 2024.

Marty was an engineer by education and had an enormous collection of electronic gear in his garage.

Marty at his farm house in Maine. We recorded his interview in his living room.

Marty points out his wall of awards and HAM radio licenses.

Marty in his kitchen making us tea. Look at that beautiful stove!

Your humble author with Marty at a presentation in Bartlett, N.H.

Housekeeping: I hope you’ve all enjoyed my tribute to Marty on the Mountain, it was a great honor to have known the man and spend some time with him. He was one of a kind. We’ll continue our normal programming tomorrow with a look at Little Bean’s first exposure to, wait for it, Renaissance music!