noise pollution..low flying jets etc

[Hillwalker]

Noise pollution

Speaking of noise pollution. Did you know that you can hear the whistle of the Zealand Hut's water turbine powered water pump from Bond, Guyotte Campsite, and throughout most of that area? Last summer while camping at Guyotte we kept hearing this mysterious whistling and then it dawned on us what it was. It is however, very faint and only a curiosity. I posted this on the AMC BB and it was promptly removed. Hey, better than a propane powered water pump any day.

 

[jrichard]

Speaking of noise pollution. Did you know that you can hear the whistle of the Zealand Hut's water turbine powered water pump from Bond, Guyotte Campsite, and throughout most of that area?

Have they changed the construction of the pump? Or maybe it's finally breaking down? When I was there a few years back it wasn't all that noisy. We could all stand around it chatting about how it was built from what looked like an old pot and other kitchen utensils. (MacGyver would have been proud.)

 

[uphillklimber]

As far as noise pollution goes, sure, I try to hike to avoid it. I like the wilderness experience. And if it is a more secluded trail, less people, all the better. Still wanna get the 48 though. Don't mind hiking with others either. It's the fresh air, the sounds of nature, the fresh bubblig stream water, just getting away from it all.

Being a bit of a military jet enthusiast, I love to see the occasional jet, which means I'd hear it also. So long as it was making a pass, no problem. Love watching gliders around Cannon.

The bikes in Franconia.... do they really need to be so loud??? That I can do without. They are just way too loud, and since there is a grade there, the engines need to be pushed a bit, and then it echoes all thru the valley. Yup, I do avoid that area, as there is not much serenity to me. Now, if I were a biker, I'm sure I'd feel differently. But there are lots of other mountains to hike.

Short answer, yes noise does factor in the decision for hiking for the weekend. But it ain't gonna ruin my day.

 

[grog]

On september 12, 2001 I went for a hike on Monadnock specifically because the federal government banned all air traffic. It was amazing how quiet it was and because there were no jet entrails the sky was the most brilliant blue I have ever seen, marred only by a black cloud on the southern horizon.

grog

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Given the amount of time I spend at work, in the car (commuting), around the house, taking care of the family, soccer, gymnastics, grocery shopping, etc., if my wife says "Sure, go hiking" I don't let the door hit me in the butt on the way out. Never mind what's flying overhead or motoring through the notches.

It beats being stuck on 93 playing chicken / bumper cars, and it beats being stuck in a cube under fluorescent lights supporting clueless customers

It's all a matter of perspective. Now if I could just get over the knee woes.........

Tim

 

[Kevin Rooney]

On september 12, 2001 I went for a hike on Monadnock specifically because the federal government banned all air traffic. It was amazing how quiet it was and because there were no jet entrails the sky was the most brilliant blue I have ever seen, marred only by a black cloud on the southern horizon.

grog

I hiked Allen during the time of the air traffic ban. It was amazing how blue the skies remained, and how the only sounds overhead were migrating geese. It was a special day, made more so because the trails over the logging company's land had only recently been opened following the damage caused by Hurricane Floyd, and lots of people were finishing their 46's that day.

 

[Breeze]

1992, I was living in a house on the Greenwood Road adjacent to Twitchell Pond, in -- um, Greenwood Maine. That valley corridor is encompassed in a MOA. I could look out my second floor front window and wave to pilots of ANG A-10s and F-16's in their cockpits......... one day a month, and never more planes than could be counted on one hand.

The last three years I've worked at the Auto Road and we've been buzzed on about the same frequency and in the same numbers. Just part of the ever-changing scenery and an unanticipated experience.

Somethings do fly over -- eagle, osprey, migrating geese, A-10, F-16 , hangliders off the summit of the Rockpile, and Flags.

Its all good.

Breeze

 

[woodstrider]

Noise Pollution

Does the amount of noise pollution affect my choices of where to hike and to backpack? - most definitly yes!

When I was doing the NE111 and was going up the Osceolas I was unpleasantly surprised at how low a pair of military jets were flying thru the mountain passes. These jets made many passes and the noise was very loud, intrusive and was a real blight in an otherwise beautiful area. I felt outraged that they were going right over a so-called "scenic area". I guess that it is alright to do that in the WMNF.
Because of that experince I am not expecting to ever return there and I would not recommend it for others.

Otherwise it is hard to really get away from human noise pollution. Even in the most remote corners of the Adirondacks and the Catskills I can hear airplane traffic and even at night. Well, I quess that is to be expected being so near to the dense populations of the Eastern Seaboard. In fact, I have made it a kind of game- where can I camp where I won't hear human noise.

But- to hear planes flying overhead in the remote corners of Montana? That was a surprise.

 

[Tuco]

This past Saturday there were a lot of jets flying over the Whites; at one point I saw 5 or 6 heading west over the Presidential Range at once. They were very high so noise wasn’t much of an issue. I actually think its cool when there are armed forces jets flying over the mountains and always try and get a look when I hear one. Now if those were personal planes, I’d not be as likely to appreciate it (my right to selective appreciation) , but it would have no effect on my enjoyment of the day.

 

[griffin]

I actually think its cool when there are armed forces jets flying over the mountains and always try and get a look when I hear one. Now if those were personal planes, I’d not be as likely to appreciate it (my right to selective appreciation)

Just out of curiosity, do you appreciate the armed forces jets because of who they belong to, or because of the type of jet?

Maybe it's a double-X chromosome thing, but I've just never been that fascinated by jets. At least they seem to get out of earshot quickly, unlike the Cog and the Hogs.

 

[brianW]

The constant rumble of Harley's or snowmobiles or motorboats is more annoying then the roar of a military jet on training missions. No matter how old I get, I still want to check them out flying by.

Personally the noise that bothers me is loud hikers (really bad at the summit) or cell phones. -brianW

 

[WhiteMTHike]

The constant rumble of Harley's or snowmobiles or motorboats is more annoying then the roar of a military jet on training missions. No matter how old I get, I still want to check them out flying by.

Personally the noise that bothers me is loud hikers (really bad at the summit) or cell phones. -brianW

Totally agree. I have the misfortune of working in a city so I have to listen to peoples cell phone conversations for a good part of the day. I simply do not care what goes on in other peoples lives so I do not care to be in listening range of a cell phone. I think I am one of the few people left in this world who still values privacy so my cell phone stays in my glove compartment and is only used when I am in my vehicle and talking to my wife on it. One reason I hike is to get away from the real world for a bit. I remember being on a summit once and having to listen to some YUPPIE talk on his cell phone to his broker about his stock portfolio. THAT was the shortest amount of time I ever spent on a summit. I couldn't get away fast enough.

 

[dvbl]

Just out of curiosity, do you appreciate the armed forces jets because of who they belong to, or because of the type of jet?

Maybe it's a double-X chromosome thing, but I've just never been that fascinated by jets. At least they seem to get out of earshot quickly, unlike the Cog and the Hogs.

Well, in addition to being amazed by all the electrical, mechanical, chemical, and software engineering that goes into making them...yes, I appreciate the armed forces jets because of who they belong to. If a US military jet buzzes low over the WMNF, I look up and smile with pride and awe. If the jet buzzing over my head belonged to a nation not presently on America's Christmas card list, then I'm guessing my appreciation would be somewhat less.

And no, your lack of fascination with jets is not an x-x chromosome thing. There are plenty of female helicopter and jet pilots, both military and civilian, as well as countless other women who are fascinated by jets. My lack of fascination with vacuum cleaners is not an x-y chromosome thing, it's just because I hate them.

As for other points made here: I've never been bothered by cell phones on summits. To me it's no different than two people standing there talking...but I just can't hear one of them. If a cell phone jockey is standing right at the summit marker and keeps talking on and on and on, just go stand right next to him and act like you're listening. He'll walk away.

Motorcycles are far and away my biggest annoyance, and are the only noise generator that might alter my hiking route.

 

[grog]

One thing I do to avoid noise is to hike in the rain.The new credit card policy at Baxter state park allows me to look at the weather map and plan around the rain fronts. Last fall a massive rain front was covering the whole western part of the U.S.A. I called BSP, made my reservations and two days later I and the storm front arrived at BSP just about the same.

No cars at Marston parking lot, no cars at Nesowadnehunk CG, no one on the trails, no planes, the only people I saw in 3 days were two at russell pond CG. If you like water falls rain storms are the best time for hiking. I finally got to see greene falls and other low lying wonders because I had no desire at all to climb any peaks in the storm.

Arethusa falls is another great rainy day hike . The Moat range is a nice quiet hike in the rain. The last time I hiked there last year there was no planes or loud obnoxious harleys, just thunder boomers, which adds a little excitement to the hike.

grog

 

[skiguy]

One thing I do to avoid noise is to hike in the rain.The new credit card policy at Baxter state park allows me to look at the weather map and plan around the rain fronts. Last fall a massive rain front was covering the whole western part of the U.S.A. I called BSP, made my reservations and two days later I and the storm front arrived at BSP just about the same.

No cars at Marston parking lot, no cars at Nesowadnehunk CG, no one on the trails, no planes, the only people I saw in 3 days were two at russell pond CG. If you like water falls rain storms are the best time for hiking. I finally got to see greene falls and other low lying wonders because I had no desire at all to climb any peaks in the storm.

Arethusa falls is another great rainy day hike . The Moat range is a nice quiet hike in the rain. The last time I hiked there last year there was no planes or loud obnoxious harleys, just thunder boomers, which adds a little excitement to the hike.

grog

Last June was like that in BSP. Raining on and off perpetually for Days. No People other than the Rangers who were even leaving the Campgrounds at night. We had three nights at ABOL being the only one's camping there. But then there was the bugs!

 

[Tuco]

dvbl- if I were to have repsonded before, you summed it up exactly as I would have tried to

Well, in addition to being amazed by all the electrical, mechanical, chemical, and software engineering that goes into making them...yes, I appreciate the armed forces jets because of who they belong to. If a US military jet buzzes low over the WMNF, I look up and smile with pride and awe. If the jet buzzing over my head belonged to a nation not presently on America's Christmas card list, then I'm guessing my appreciation would be somewhat less.

.

 

[griffin]

If the jet buzzing over my head belonged to a nation not presently on America's Christmas card list, then I'm guessing my appreciation would be somewhat less.

If the jet buzzing our our head belonged to a "nation not presently on America's Christmas card list" I imagine we'd be gauging our alarm rather than our appreciation

Cell phone conversations don't bother me (at least not more than other conversations in the same context), but they do puzzle me.

 

[Andrew]

WhiteMTHike-
I could not agree more.
Prior to my first visit to Chimney Pond I really looked forward to spending time viewing Leroy Dudley's "Throne". It was a bit rainey so a few pleasant smelling folks were collected by the view from the pond where I was situated having a snack and enjoying the majesty of the moment.
I had always thought that cell phones were prohibited in the park, at least in public earshot. I was dumbfounded when I had to hear a piercing account of the conditions that lasted for at least 5 minutes, that was being communicated to someone over a cell phone.
I was trying to decide if I should grab it and toss it into the pond, and run like heck down the Chimney Pond Trail. I think I could have gotten away with it as I suspected the rangers may have chuckled inside, and there was no way the folks could have caught me. Of course I didn't and the sound of the rain on the way out healed my wounds.
As far as the A-10's go I find them much less annoying than private or commercial airplane droning. One time I met a unit commander in the parking lot at Monadnock SP, and he was calling in 2 A-10's that almost parked themselves in the lot, much to the delight of a group of kids and parents gathered around him!
Does anyone else get bothered by the flashing lights on aircraft if they are hiking without a flashlight? The first time it happend I though my eyesight was going funny until I realized where it was coming from. Thought I was having a seizure.

 

[jrichard]

I've never been bothered by cell phones on summits. To me it's no different than two people standing there talking...but I just can't hear one of them.

To me, it's one thing to make a quick coordination of a pickup at the trailhead. It's another thing if the conversation is a drawn-out soliloquy about work, finances, or a spousal argument. The stress present in those later arguments reverberates within me, in a bad way.

They're saying that this mountaintop is their private space. It's all of ours, be considerate.

Of course, cell phone conversations aren't nearly as bad as the boom boxes that were popular in the early 90s!

If a cell phone jockey is standing right at the summit marker and keeps talking on and on and on, just go stand right next to him and act like you're listening. He'll walk away.

I love it! I'm gonna have to try that next time.

 

[grog]

Andrew

I was going to write that one time on Monadnock I saw a warthog fly below me and rite over inspiration point but I thought maybe I was misremembering.

As far as BSP goes you had every rite to inform those people there are no electronics allowed in BSP and be very polite about it, just like I am when I tell people on Monadnock there are no dogs allowed in the park grrrrrrr.

grrrrrog