12/31/11 - The Stairway Has Arrived

The world is never the less beautiful though viewed through a chink or knot-hole.

Henry David Thoreau - Journal 1/16/1838

And this morning the knot-hole was a thick fog that enveloped the mountain from the valleys below to the summit and beyond, but still it was beauty.  Even as I left the drive, 10 miles away, it was clearly going to be a fog-bound trip to the summit.  And the reason? The warm air that had slid in during the night, heavy with moisture and even becoming rain as I made my way up the muddy trail.

But ... I was rewarded with a new development - the ladder to the top of the cab is being installed!  We can see the final shape of the complete structure, even through the misty fog.

Well, a truck with three construction workers arrived on the summit just as I did; it was 7:20 am.  They opened the gate, drove in, got out, looked about, got back into the truck, turned around, left the site, closed the gate, and drove away.  Too much fog and rain!

Workers Ponder Their Next Move ......... Home!

 The gate was closed, so this week, I couldn't get closer than the fence would allow.  That was ok, because the doors to the inner sanctum were shut tight, presumably locked.

Closed and Presumably Locked!

 As I walked about checking on construction progress, I found the stone work to be as it was last weekend.  The only difference is that the snow has melted.  I guess Mickey is waiting til Springtime. 

NE Corner

Crane Extended Over NE Corner

Old Glory

Northwest Corner

The railings and some planking remain in place.

Railing Wrapped in Protective Tape

 Lets take a closer look at the tower...  Ahh, looks like there is more metal up there today.    Take a closer look....

More Beams In The Tower Framework

 There appears to be diagonal beams....  Indeed, they rise from the left to the right.  Turning for a different view, we see that the access ladder is going into place.

Latter in the Midsection of the Tower

Detail ... Lower Part of Ladder Resting on Landing Frame

The ladder is sitting on a cross beam that, with the external beams now forms a triangle.  This will be an intermediate landing.  Stepping back, there will be three ladders and two landings before they reach the trap door allowing for entry into the cab.

Detail - Upper Part of the Ladder Resting on Landing Frame

This shot provides a better orientation of the complete ladder structure.  Six steps have been inserted only at the bottom of this mid-section.

Midsection Steps

At this point, I believe everything is now "on-site" - railings and ladders.  Stonework to be completed in the Springtime, electronics to be moved from the old tower, removal of the old tower, landscaping, and Grand Opening ... perhaps in June??

The New Tower Comes Into Focus

Summit View From Handicapped Parking

Obviously, one might say the summit was "fogged in" this morning.  But still, in Thoreau's words, "never the less beautiful."

12-23-11 The Railings Have Arrived!

The way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much.
--Henry David Thoreau

Today is the first day of my Christmas vacation and since I did not get a chance to summit last weekend, I was anxious to visit and see what progress might have been made ... if any!  

It rained throughout the night, and I knew that snow was in the forecast so I was ready for either as I made the climb.  Heavy torrents of water splashed down the rocky trail as I made my way upward, but the warmer temperature did not allow for it to freeze as it had done on my last visit.  Snow fell gently until I reached the summit area and then it came down much harder.   The temperature was just above freezing with a gentle wind.  I was actually afraid that the summit would be clad in fog or conditions that might give me a problem with the camera.

This snowfall, being light and not expected to accumulate to any degree, is just a tease to the ski operation on the NE side of the mountain.  Only one slope is open at present and snow making continues to be intermittent at this time.  But ... it will come, fear not.

As I reached the summit clearing, I noticed a plow coming down the upper road from the construction site, but I saw no workers. When I reached the construction area, the gate was open - I could see the tire tracks leading out of the fenced area.  And so, with an open gate, I entered to get a closer view of the tower.

A closer look around to see the details and I discovered that the south facade opening to the interior containment room was open.  In fact, the opening now has doors, but they were open.  Just what I needed to take a peek around inside.  And so I entered.

 

Come On In!

I knew there was a containment cube inside the building (the tan structure), and I had been told that the electronics gear would go inside that container.  One might recall that earlier in the project, it had been placed inside before the roofing and the tower went up.  Now ... what might be in here?

Inside the door to the Right

 Answer?  Not much at this point.

The rusty column is one of four main supports that goes deep into the bedrock.

Inside the door to the Left

As you can see, the containment structure sits in the middle of the main building, with a passageway approximately 6 - 8 feet all around.  It was dark inside so I needed to use the flash ...  unfortunately, moisture in the air reflected back and the pictures are not real good.  But, we get the idea. 

Continuing around the corner

The two "windows" open into the containment cube which is essentially an empty cement cell with a door at the far end.  This would be the Western side of the inside containment cube.

Looking through one of the Windows

I am looking through one of the windows ... looking Eastward.  Obviously, nothing has transferred to the new facility from the fenced in area of the current tower structure.

As I was about to leave, I glanced up to the ceiling.  And what to my wondering eyes did I see?  That's not teak floor boards is it?  It sure is.  The observation deck from below!  I can't wait to see it from above sometime next Spring or Summer!

Observation Deck Boards from inside the Building

And so what about the outside.  Anything new going on there?

Tower in Snowfall

For starters, the "hanging chad" has been secured.  No longer do we see an opening in the topmost "X" of metal supports.  But with the opening secured, I wonder how they will mount the access ladder for the Rangers when it arrives?

Too Cold for the Stone Mason

Mick (Stone Mason), will probably have to wait until Spring to continue with the wall.  Of course, that will not happen until the railings are in place.

Western Wall

Eastern Wall - Where the Ramp Begins

Southern Wall - Door to the Interior Cell

Whose footprints are those?  And below, another view of the Southern Wall.  You can see the blur of the snowflakes.
 

New Doors to the Interior

Cab View from Below

Old Glory on the NE Corner

NE Corner

I must continue with this view (above) ... one that I have been able to capture from the first day ... a corner shot of the NE Corner.

The Survey Marker Remains Protected

With all the work, the constant remains the Survey Marker.  I wonder how they will present it when the project is completed?

Eastern Wall

Northern Wall

 And what do we have over here on the side of the site?

The Long Lost Railings!

Railings, Railings, Railings...

What was thought to be "weeks away" has become "the present."  Finally, the railings have arrived!.  At first glance, it looked like a pile of PVC Pipe, but on closer examination, the railings are all wrapped in white tape as a means of protecting the finish during transit.  I can't wait to see what it looks like when the tape is removed and all is secured. 

Then Mick can finish the stone work.
 

Snow Bound Parking Lot

 And then, it was time to leave.  But, there is still work to be done.  I'll be back.

 

12-10-2011 - Waiting for the Steel

 You ask particularly after my health. I suppose that I have not many months to live; but, of course, I know nothing about it. I may add that I am enjoying existence as much as ever, and regret nothing.

Thoreau - letter, to Myron Benton (31 March 1862) 

This morning's walk to the summit was just after the moon had set.  Warmer in the valley below, as I neared the top, it got noticeably colder.  Even the small puddles of water such as you see in the picture below on the road were frozen - black ice awaits the unsuspecting!  It wouldn't last long as the sun's rays quickly melted it, but still the wind put an icy chill in the air.  No workers on the summit this morning.

When I reached the Up Summit Road, I ran into an old friend - actually we don't even know each other's name - who frequents the mountain almost as much as I.  But this time something was different; his Golden Retriever was not with him.  Never seen without him, I asked as we chatted and exchanged greetings this morning.  He had to put his friend down due to complications with his back legs and bladder.  That aside, we had a nice short visit.  Surely we will meet again, old friends on an old mountain.

I actually didn't see a whole lot of change in the construction site as you can also note by the work of the stone mason from week to week.  The cab is pretty much the same.  No ladder and no handrails.  I have to believe this is the constraint facing the project at this time.

As I write this entry, I sent an email to Mick, the stone mason, and he confirmed that two things now face the project and neither of them are good.  First, the hand railings are "weeks away."  And secondly, the temperatures are dropping as the winter season begins.  He feels that he will have to wait until Spring to complete his work.  And he can't finish without the hand railings in place.  That could be into January or February.  Nope!  Not going to happen.  I may have seen the last bit of progress for the year, at this point.

Icy Approach to the Summit

Those are icy spots on the road ... best keep off to the shoulder.

Twin Towers

NE Corner

The holes for the hand railings are obvious.  No railings .... no stone work!

Old Glory in the Summit Chill

Sun Rise in the East

NW Corner

NE Corner This Morning

Now, take a look below at last week's picture - the same!  Even the wooden plank and the plywood with the rocks are the same.  Nothing has moved - for what now is obvious.

NW Corner Last Week 12/3/11

And, not much difference from the previous week as well!  Well, I can say it is not as cold as it was then!  On the picture below you can see the snow and ice from a brief storm that weekend.

NW Corner Thanksgiving Week 11/25/11

And we see the same thing on the western wall.  A different angle but one can see that the stone mason has made little or no progress.  The rocks that are in place are exactly where he left off a week ago!  I am sure he is waiting for the hand rails.

Western Wall This Morning

Western Wall Last Week 12/3/11

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No progress at all.

No Change Here

This scene probably won't change until one day, the old tower will simply disappear!

Still Viewing Daylight

Finish Facade Detail

SE Corner

Since the hand railings only impact ramp areas, the southern wall (left) is pretty much complete.

Stone Mason Tools in Bucket

This bucket of tools is just about all I could find as evidence of the stone mason!

High Pressure Teak Planks in the Yard

These appeared over the past week.  I wonder where they are going ... up in the cab?  It almost looks like they ran short and this is an additional shipment of planks.  The main load has been gone for several weeks now.

The Ever-present Water Tank

Some things never changed since May.

More Steel??

Wonder where this is going.  I didn't see this last week.

Where Does This Go??

Nor did I see this one either!  I hope nothings missing in there; these look like important pieces to this jigsaw puzzle!

Well, it's time to call it quits and go home.  Besides, my hands are freezing.  I have to get down lower on the mountain so my hands can warm up.

View towards Worcester