Lizzie Bourne Monument On Washington

[DayTrip]

I was listening to a podcast last week about the Mount Washington hotel, its haunted reputation and various other historical stories about the creation of the hotel. Among several stories they mentioned was the one about Lizzie Bourne dying near the summit on an ill fated summit hike with her cousin and uncle. Apparently this was somewhat of a famous story at the time. There is mention of a large cairn that her ghost supposedly has been seen at on the anniversary of her death. I did some casual research on it and Amazon even has black and white prints for sale of the cairn. But the photos in various articles look to be different cairns and in different spots. Some show a huge rock pile right near the tracks and others show a rock pile well down a steep slope. I assume it has changed a lot over the many years since it happened, possibly was even moved or is actually gone now.

Does that cairn still exist? Always like to learn about these types of little historical nuggets for various landmarks you come across hiking. I do not remember seeing this anywhere on my numerous trips up Washington. Would be curious to check it out the next time I'm up there if it still exists. If anyone can describe approximately where it is I'd be curious to know so I can check it out one of these days.

 

[sierra]

It is near Nelson Crag pretty close to the Cog tracks. It used to have a white box with her story on it held up by a wooden pole. Been years since I have seen it in person, the cairn was good size. I was followed by a ghost once, soloing the Crawford path one winter in the fog. It was a woman in a Victorian dress, at the time, I actually thought of her.

 

[DayTrip]

It is near Nelson Crag pretty close to the Cog tracks. It used to have a white box with her story on it held up by a wooden pole. Been years since I have seen it in person, the cairn was good size. I was followed by a ghost once, soloing the Crawford path one winter in the fog. It was a woman in a Victorian dress, at the time, I actually thought of her.

OK. By "Nelson Crag" you mean the trail, not the actual crag which is well down the mountain away from the tracks. Do you mean Ball Crag just before the Auto Road? No doubt I've walked right by it and never realized what it was. Nelson Crag is one of my favorite trails but I usually turn off and cut across Alpine Garden versus heading up to the crowds at the summit.

 

[sierra]

OK. By "Nelson Crag" you mean the trail, not the actual crag which is well down the mountain away from the tracks. Do you mean Ball Crag just before the Auto Road? No doubt I've walked right by it and never realized what it was. Nelson Crag is one of my favorite trails but I usually turn off and cut across Alpine Garden versus heading up to the crowds at the summit.

Yes, I didn't say it right. I took the Nelson Crag trail up and the monument is up near Ball Crag, right below the summit building. That is the heart breaking part of the story, they were minutes from the Tip Top House, they just couldn't see it.

 

[JustJoe]

It's about .2 miles from the summit near the cog tracks.

 

[DayTrip]

It's about .2 miles from the summit near the cog tracks.

Why do I get the feeling that if I posted some random longitude and latitude here you would have detailed photos of that area? Seriously, you must have the most comprehensive collection of photos of anyone in New England. Thanks for the picture.

 

[peakbagger]

I am more than a bit cynical that the only reason a sign exists is that its convenient prop for the cog

 

[TomK]

I am more than a bit cynical that the only reason a sign exists is that its convenient prop for the cog

Being convenient for the cog could just be gravy. Shouldn't not do something worthwhile on it's own just because the doer gets a benefit from it as well...

TomK

 

[skiguy]

I am more than a bit cynical that the only reason a sign exists is that its convenient prop for the cog

LMAO. Kind of like all those Summit signs that all those hikers take their pictures next to. No reason to be cynical about it though IMO. Just very convenient indeed.

 

[JustJoe]

Why do I get the feeling that if I posted some random longitude and latitude here you would have detailed photos of that area? Seriously, you must have the most comprehensive collection of photos of anyone in New England. Thanks for the picture.

You mean like this?

 

[DayTrip]

You mean like this?

Hah! That's awesome.

 

[Billy]

You mean like this?

Hi Joe, cool shot. Where exactly did you take your shot?
Mine is from just north of Yellowstone.

 

[peakbagger]

There is a similar content sign on RT 3 in Clarksville NH. The location of any given sign is not as simple as one may think. https://www.nhpr.org/post/granite-geek-hunt-new-hampshires-45th-parallel#stream/0

 

[JustJoe]

Hi Joe, cool shot. Where exactly did you take your shot?

That one is on RT 145 in Clarksville, NH. On the 45th parallel.

 

[Mike P.]

This close to the top

 

[Mac]

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Location...319-Mastodon_Ridge-Stewiacke_Nova_Scotia.html

Stewiacke, Nova Scotia

 

[Cumulus]

There's also a 45th parallel sign on the Long Trail:
http://www.cookhimes.us/dennis/traillog/lt/lt142.htm

--

Cumulus

NE111 in my 50s: 115/115 (67/67, 46/46, 2/2)
NE111 in my 60s: 72/115 (50/67, 20/46, 2/2)
NEFF: 50/50; Cat35: 39/39; WNH4K: 40/48; NEHH 89/100
LT NB 2009; CT NB 2017

"I don't much care where [I get to] --" said Alice, "-- so long as I get somewhere," ...
"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."
- Lewis Carroll

 

[jniehof]

CO-17 north of Alamosa: https://cozine.com/2004-november/a-valley-runs-through-it/

 

[Salty]

I bet Joe doesn't have one of these.

 

[CaptCaper]

One thing is certain the memorial was there before the tracks were laid. A stereo card photo the Cog folks have proves that. and I know is Lizzy's sign was re-done this year. Second time in 30 yrs. Same craftsman did it as well. Did they do it for an attraction? I'm betting being she perished before the Cog they or someone kept the marker or Cairn in respect for her back then and now it's part of the mountain. Cog ruled the summit back when.