Segway Summits Mt. Washington

THERE ARE MOMENTS THAT SUM UP THE PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PYRAMIDS. THE WRIGHT BROTHERS' FIRST FLIGHT. ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND. THEN, THERE'S DRIVING A SEGWAY UP MOUNT WASHINGTON.

(laughs) well I don't think it would go way up there.

STONEY MORRELL RUNS HERITAGE NEW HAMPSHIRE, A TOURIST ATTRACTION THAT CELEBRATES ALL THINGS RELATED TO THE GRANITE STATE. HE SAYS EVEN IF TAKING THE HUMAN TRANSPORTER UP THE MOUNTAIN ISN'T QUITE A HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT, IT's in keeping with the historic allure of Mount Washington.

there have been many first ascents of mount washington . horse and carriage . alternative fuel vehicle. . people on foot, on bicycle, its just a fascinating place to do something for the first time.

HERITAGE BOUGHT A SEGWAY SEVERAL MONTHS AGO FOR VISITORS TO TRY OUT. THEY THOUGHT IT SEEMED LIKE A NATURAL THING TO TAKE IT UP MOUNT WASHINGTON. HOWIE WEMYSS OF THE MOUNT WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD READILY AGREED.

its made in nh, it moves, its got wheels, it needs to go up the auto road. it's as simple as that.

THE RIDE GETS OFF TO A GENTEEL START AS SELF PROCLAIMED SEGWAY ATHLETE ROB OWEN CLIMBS ON BOARD. OWEN IS WEARING A GREY VEST, A BOW TIE AND A BLACK BOWLER HAT. THE SEGWAY IS BASICALLY A PLATFORM SUSPENDED BETWEEN TWO WHEELS. THERE'S A STICK POKING UP FROM THE PLATFORM, WITH A CROSSBAR FOR THE RIDER TO HOLD ONTO. YOU DIRECT THE MACHINE WITH SUBTLE BODY MOVEMENTS. LEAN FORWARD, AND YOU GO FORWARD. LEAN BACK, AND YOU STOP. OWEN LEANS FORWARD, AND AS THE MEDIA HANG OUT OF MOVING VEHICLES TAKING PICTURES, HE'S OFF.

engine sounds

THE FIRST FOUR MILES ARE UNEVENTFUL. there�s a stop to change batteries and a new rider takes over. BUT then, the Segway gets above treeline. ALL BETS, AND ALL BOWLER HATS, ARE OFF. The winds hits full force.

wind amb

THE WIND ROARS SO FIERCELY, PHOTOGRAPHERS PLASTER THEMSELVES AGAINST THEIR TRIPODS TO KEEP THEir CAMERAS FROM BLOWING AWAY. IT BLOWS SO HARD, REPORTERS BEGIN WORRYING THE RIDER IS GOING TO BLOW AWAY. AFTER ALL, THERE'S NOTHING TO HOLD HIM ONTO THE PLATFORM. AT TIMES THE MACHINE SEEMS TO STRUGGLE AGAINST THE WIND. by then 69-YEAR OLD DICK NORRIS is earning the title OF SEGWAY ATHLETE.

its coming from all directions so I'm watching the trees and leaning this way and then I have to lean that way, and then I get a swirl, and then I can stand up. but I was mostly down like this, it's like skiing, I'm going to feel it right here tonight.

THE last HALF of the ride IS A LONG, HARD, COLD BATTLE. BUT AFTER A TOTAL OF SOME TWO AND A HALF HOURS AND SIX BATTERy packs, THE LITTLE MACHINE REACHES THE SUMMIT.

applause

A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE ARE WAITING. SOME ARE COMPLETELY SURPRISED to see a segway up here. OTHERS CAME JUST FOR THIS. DICK DALE READ ABOUT THE RIDE IN THE PAPER JUST A FEW HOURS BEFORE. HE DECIDED HE HAD TO SEE IT.

we came up from boston. we like road trips.

DALE IS NOT DISAPPOINTED.

I think it's a wonderful mode of transp. and the more people see it, the more hear about its accomplishments, the more it'll be accepted in public.

MEANWHILE, TRIUMPHANT SEGWAY ATHLETE ROB OWEN SAYS HE'S READY TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

it was a lot of fun. be nice to have a little less wind when we do it the next time.

WHILE THE SEGWAY HAS CONQUERED MOUNT WASHINGTON, IT'S HAD A SOMEWHAT MORE DIFFICULT TIME REACHING THE HEIGHTS OF COMMERCIAL SUCCESS. MANY ANALYSTS ARE UNDERWHELMED BY THE HUMAN TRANSPORTER'S PERFORMANCE ON THE MARKET. THEY POINT TO ITS 5-THOUSAND DOLLAR PRICE TAG AS ONE REASON, ALONG WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF CHEAPER ALTERNATIVES LIKE BICYCLES, ROLLER SKATES, AND YOUR OWN TWO FEET. BUT AT THIS MOMENT, AS ROB OWEN POSES WITH THE INEVITABLE "THIS SEGWAY CLIMBED MOUNT WASHINGTON" BUMPER STICKER, THE SEGWAY IS A STAR. AT THIS MOMENT, IT'S SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD. FOR NHPR NEWS I'M TRISH ANDERTON.