In the year 1896 the Directors of the Ben Nevis Observatories arranged that a temporary observing station be opened at the hut on the road half-way up the hill. A barometer, rain-gauge, and set of thermometers were provided, also a Richard barograph, thermograph, and hygrograph. The hut stands on steeply sloping ground facing westward, and is 2190 feet above sea-level. The barometer and barograph were placed in the hut; and two Stevenson screens for the thermometers, the thermograph, and the hygrograph were placed on the hill-side in its vicinity along with the rain-gauge. Though the site was not an ideal one for the purpose, being on the side of a hill and not on a peak, it was considered that valuable information as to the condition of the air between the level of the sea and that of the summit might be obtained by occasional periods of observation at this Mid-Station. This expectation has been realised, especially as regards the distribution of temperature in summer.