4/21/12 - Antenna Supports Installed

We have only to elevate our view a little, to see the whole forest as a garden. 

Henry David Thoreau - "Autumnal Tints," - The Atlantic Monthly in 1862 (posthumously)

It has been two weeks since I last saw the summit and the progress on the Summit Enhancement Project.  Two weeks?  Indeed.  Nothing happened the last time and it appeared that final events might appear rather slowly at this point as we await the final opening of the gate and dismemberment of the chain link fence that has kept us on the outer limits - for most of the past year.

With a large rain storm approaching later in the day, the summit was shrouded in an ocean of fog this morning, but certainly not so heavy that I could not see that the final stages are moving ahead.  What would have been impossible to see in the darkness of the early morning would have been any meteors coming from the 2012 Lyrid meteor shower - tonight 4/21/12 will be the best viewing time.  Some friends and myself were going up later tonight, but it won't be reasonable with the cloud cover. 

What I encountered this morning was a a large beetle standing on its tail end with a number of spiny arms extended all about it's torso!  Here ... have a look for yourself.

Beyond the Perimeter

I was really disappointed to see these spiny thorns sticking out from the four corners of the tower.  Kind of unsightly to me!  But ... that's what we have ... and it's not going away!  While the brackets are in place, it doesn't appear as if the actual wiring is complete.

Closer Detail of Antenna Mounts

I knew that these mounts were on the old tower but just how did they compare?  Answer:  very much the same - see below.

Old Tower - Antenna Mounts

With any construction project, there is still trash and waste to be removed from the site.  No change here!  Just a different load.

Closer inspection from the northern wall shows that finally .... finally, the vertical access ladder is in place.  Essentially, it is an extension ladder inserted into a safety tube (round rings in picture).  The Rangers will extend the ladder down to the Observation Deck, climb to the first landing, retract the extension, and continue up the remaining two flights of stairs to the cab.

Access Ladder from Observation Deck

Old Tower Fades Away in Fog Bank

And she really is fading away day by day.  The new tower is coming into focus as the prime attraction on the summit of Wachusett.

Eastern Wall Ramp, and Observation Deck Above.

NE Corner

Southern Wall

I'm not sure this chain link fence can handle much more beating.  Every visit gives a new bend or break.  But the time has almost arrived anyway.

Ramp Entrance

And for the fifth straight week, we see the same beam on the ground beside and in front of the ramp!  I still wonder where it should have gone in the construction process!  But, the backhoe and the lift vehicle have now left the site.  Probably for good now.

One thing ... actually four things will soon be missing from the summit ... strung like cloths lines from the ground to the top of the old tower are four guy wires, actually cables, about .500" in diameter, evenly spaced, one on each corner of the tower cab and affixed about 2/3 of the way to the top.  Providing support in strong windy conditions, they, along with the tower, cab, generator and power station, and fencing at the base, will soon be part of Wachusett's history when the old tower comes down.  At this time, I don't know the timing or the future disposition.

Guy Wire - Ground Level to Cab (NE Corner)

The fog limited any more viewing at this hour, just after sunrise.  The temperature was 56° F with winds of about 20 MPH from the SW.

I will be attending this coming weeks meeting of the Mt. Wachusett Advisory Committee at the Visitor's Center.  Perhaps I can learn some more details of the future.

Hopefully, my next visit will provide a nice beautiful sunrise with, of course, no fog or clouds.

4/07/12 - The Final Wait

Let me suggest a theme for you: to state to yourself precisely and completely what that walk over the mountains amounted to for you, — returning to this essay again and again, until you are satisfied that all that was important in your experience is in it. Give this good reason to yourself for having gone over the mountains, for mankind is ever going over a mountain. Don't suppose that you can tell it precisely the first dozen times you try, but at 'em again, especially when, after a sufficient pause, you suspect that you are touching the heart or summit of the matter, reiterate your blows there, and account for the mountain to yourself. Not that the story need be long, but it will take a long while to make it short.

Henry David Thoreau - Letter to Harrison Blake, 11/16/1857

Reading Thoreau's quote above, it now occurs to me that after having ascended this mountain for the past 12 months [40 ascents in total] to review the progress of this construction project in weekly segments, I might want to review the importance of this experience.  Perhaps, after a few or after many attempts, I might find that I am able to touch "the heart or summit of the matter ... and account for the mountain" to myself.

For today, on reaching the summit and looking about, I find that nothing has changed from last week.  The tower remains the same, pretty much complete save the electronics and communications features; the generator is now in place although some of the rocks in that area appeared to have been moved about this past week; even the backhoe and the lift vehicle remain as they were last week.  Nothing has happened!  No change can I see for today.

No Change Today

Eastern Wall - NE Corner

NE Wall

NW Corner and Ramp

 On viewing the ladder structure, I did notice that one corner is still covered with plastic sheeting from the factory and the other has had it removed.  Previously, I wondered why the difference but I could not discern that it was just the plastic on one and not the other.

Plastic Covering On Lower Landing

Upper Landing - Plastic Covering Removed

 And so I proceeded to the generator and power station elements of the project.

Green Box - Unidentified but ... Humming

I did notice that there are two green LED lights that shine on the control panel of the generator.  I didn't notice that last week.  I can also hear a medium pitched humming noise coming from the "green box" to the left of the generator.

Power Station

SW Corner

And below, you can see for sure that nothing has changed ... not even the presence of a stray piece of steel on the ground ... it was there last week as well.

Lift Vehicle and Stray Steel Beam

 I sure hope that didn't get left out of the assembly puzzle!

View to Worcester - South

Another day, another week.  We will see what awaits in the weeks ahead.  And perhaps someday soon I will have had enough time to detail "the heart or summit of the matter ... and account for the mountain" to myself.  

I'll let you know when that happens!

And finally, I wish a Blessed Easter to you and to yours.