6/23/12 - Old Tower Removed

There was the level horizon, which told of the sea on the east and south, the well-known hills of New Hampshire on the north, and the misty summits of the Hoosac and Green Mountains ... on the north-west and west.
Henry David Thoreau, A Walk to Wachusett, 1843

We are close now, close to the full scope of Thoreau's field of vision from the summit of Wachusett.

On my last visit of 6/9, there wasn't much change, and since I was not able to visit last weekend, I really wasn't sure what I would find today.  My first sighting indicated that ... no, the perimeter fence was not down.  As I watched two hikers ahead of me reach the top, I saw the fence still in place.  But ... there was a difference in the roadway ... or rather the walkway to the summit.  No longer was there a direct road.  Ahead of me, from the handicapped lot to the summit, was a field of boulders.

Approach from Main Parking Lot

Rocks Ahead

 Indeed, some major landscaping has been done at the summit.  A single car-width path of asphalt wove is a serpentine shape between newly placed boulders. 

Paved Strip and New Rocks

New Path and Paved Strip

 There had to be a way to get a vehicle to the fire tower, but the design of the summit also would give a natural look of rocks and native vegetation.

Paved Strip Winds From Parking Lot to summit

Strip Leading To Tower

The paved strip led to the summit and then straight to the southern face of the tower base and the containment door.  To the right of the strip, you can still notice the hay bales protecting the surface level Survey Marker.

Southern Face

This paving strip and the rocks which leads hikers and pedestrian visitors to the summit took my attention from yet another change!  I missed it completely until I dropped to the US Army Radio Relay station to take my customary picture of both towers!  Wow!!!  Only One!!!

Single Tower Stands Tall

Based on a facebook entry of a friend who was on the summit 6/20, and the Tower was still standing, I would have to guess that it was probably a 1 or 2 day operation at most to take the old tower down and away!  I wonder how they did it?

New Wachusett Fire Tower

And so what of the old tower?  At this time, I also do not know what happened to it - scrap metal, spare parts, or simply sold to private ownership and moved.  I do know that the Generator and the Box that housed the electronics are still on the mountain and will probably be reused or sold - my guess.

There remains the four cement pilings, some metal bars, some barbed wire from the fence, but that's about it.  I did notice some initials carved on rocks which were inside the old chain link fence that stood about the old tower.  Perhaps there are some historical clues of the past within those initials.

Looking West Towards the "Old Tower"

Site of Old Tower - Looking West

New Tower Generator

SE Piling for Old Tower

 So now the old has been completely replaced by the new.  Not a bad thing at all.  We will quickly get acclimated to the new view looking to the west.

And while we have some "newness" on the summit, other things continue on.  My friend Mr. Rabbit made an early morning appearance again.

My Buddy

I always see him on the south side of the summit.  He must have a bungalow off the side between the summit and the pond.

As a HAM Radio operator myself, WU1X, I noticed a heavy amount of activity on the road at the summit - near Parker Lodge.  It is the ARRL Field Day weekend contest and the contesters were alive and well ... multi-bands, CW and Phone.

And so, we say good bye for today.  Surely, the next visit will allow me to actually view the Commonwealth from the Observation Deck.  Or ... maybe not.

New Tower Cab - Fully Functional

6/9/12 - Landscaping On The Summit

If you can speak what you will never hear, if you can write what you will never read, you have done rare things.  

A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, Henry David Thoreau  - 1848

Finally, a morning without fog and rain!  Today I was greeted at the summit by a bright sun filled sky, robins in the trees, and a rabbit scrambling down the path before me.  A real delight!  A slight breeze cooled even further a 60 degree morning.  It was very clear ... so clear that I could see a white mist just above the horizon to the NW indicating the Connecticut River. (center, to R of Windmills)

Clear View to the NW - Windmills of Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, MA.

And I did find evidence of some change since my last visit two weeks ago - nothing major, but a little.  Immediately upon exiting the Mt. House trail at the new summit parking lot, I could sense a change.  I saw bales of hay and orange pylons above me where the old road led up from the new handicapped lot.  And, getting closer, I saw that the perimeter fence has been relocated on the east about 15 yards closer to the tower.  In fact, that complete section of paved road has been uprooted.  I suspect that it will soon be a paved walking path to the summit.  Inside the fence, it also appears as if the soil has been roughed up or perhaps it is a new layer of soil. 

The Approach - Something Different

Relocated Fence - East Side Only

E-S Summit

Inside the Fence - View to the South

New Tower - foreground

As far as the towers go, it is difficult to see any change at all.  Perhaps there are more antennas in place, but that's all.  No evidence is available to indicate that the ode tower is coming down soon.

There was one thing I noticed on the western side.  From the very beginning, there has always been an extension cord stretched from the old tower through the fence and into the new tower building.  No more.  The unbillical cord has been cut!

The Umbilical Cord Has Been Cut

The new tower certainly, in the clear bright sunshine, has the look of a real working structure.  The side windows are dropped slightly from the top - probably to let in some fresh air, and I could see the shades moving slightly with the morning breeze.

I look at the crow's nest with a couple of antennas attached and I do wonder about its design.  Why does it look like someone should be standing up there with binoculars scanning the horizon for signs of smoke?  Isn't that what they do in the cab?  Perhaps someone will let us know.

And the usual site of my standby pictures gave no change ... as I would expect.

Twin Towers

NE Corner

NE Corner

 Never noticed this before!  Someone at the fabrication shop must have thought this a simple project ... just label the beam as "Fire Tower."

Profile of New Tower

SE Corner

West Side

South Side - Door Locked (I presume!)

Upper Summit Access - Landscaping

It probably won't be long now.  But we will continue until the final touch has been applied ... to include the dismantling of the old tower!  Don't go away ....