Old Man of the Mountain "Restoration"

[Tim Seaver]

Former Flatlander Here

Being a transplant from Wisconsin, I have nothing against "flatlanders" or NJ folks. Or "intellectuals", even (unless they refer to themselves as such, then all bets are off). My description was meant to be a caricature of how the stereotypical, hypothetical "flinty" NH old-timers might likely view an out-of-stater sticking a big old glass jewel up on yonder cliff so the city folk will keep-a-comin' and buying ice cream.

A basket of stereotypes for the price of one - a real bargain!

 

[Chip]

I remember the first time I saw it as a kid and thinking "neat". I enjoy knowing now where it was and being able to point that area out to my wife and kids...but...Was it ever a destination in and of itself ? What do they really think the "demand" for a memorial would be ? 5 million (minimum probably) seems like a lot of money for something that may not draw ANY traffic. I wish it were still there, but now that it's gone, it's kind of over, isn't it ?

 

[DougPaul]

Was it ever a destination in and of itself ?

Well, a number of rock climbing routes finished up the inside corner that defined its left side...

It was a tottering heap of loose rock when I climbed it in the late '70s and early '80s. There were heavy cables attached to 2-3 inch diameter bolts attempting to secure some of the loose blocks on top. (These cables are visible in the "just after" photos.) There was also a sluiceway behind it to channel water away from it.

IMO, just let the mountain be. Erosion is a fact of life.

Doug

 

[Christa]

Two thoughts:

1. A 45 foot glass structure in the middle of all that rock. Why does that not sound like a good idea? How long will it take before someone figures out a way to launch a rock at it? (stones and glass houses and all). I wouldn't want to be anywhere near it when that came showering down.

2. This reminds me of the "walkway" they built over the Grand Canyon. I know, it's a different comparison, but I personally don't like that one, either. Kind of ruins the whole nature thing for me.

 

[--M.]

Erosion is a fact of life.

DP, you finally made an engineering error: I believe that this sentence accurately describes processes of neither life nor erosion. If you had averred that "Erosion is a fact of geology," or perhaps "Sagging is a fact of life," then we'd agree, but anything more is anthropomorphism (of the lowest type)!

Also, I've always liked the two-birds-with-one-stone effect of using one state to abuse another. I recently heard that "Vermont is the Mississippi of the north." Perhaps we could come up with one about the New Jerseyite who moves to New Hampsha. It should probably include a refinery with limited taxation.

For what it's worth, I too support not supporting new schtuff up there. Let it be.

 

[Chip]

Well, a number of rock climbing routes finished up the inside corner that defined its left side...


Doug

that's cool. I meant generally, though, like was it a destination where people went specifically to see the Old Man, or was it more of a Drive-By type attraction. I'm guessing any Destination type memorial would be poorly attended.

 

[NewHampshire]

Hey, I say go for it! And why stop there! Lets improve on things even more....maybe give him some arms, maybe legs, set him up in a nice tuxedo....heck why not go all out and build an "Old Woman" just across the way over on Eagle Cliff!? Rip up that wonderful falcon nesting area and slap on a nice glass bust (pun intended! ).

Ok, enough with the sarcasm on my part, the truth is that it really is a stupid idea. Christa kind of alluded to my thinking, but I was more of a mind thinking that putting a large glass structure on unstable rock cliffs does not exactly sound smart. And what would it take TO make it stable? Tons of concrete? Wires? Pulleys? It was bad enough the Old Man was being held together this way near the end, and it shows how desperate man is to try and cheat nature. But in the end nature always wins.

Nature 1, humankind 0 (ok, thats not really accurate....nature has been kicking our ass for a long time and though humans may occasionally deny her a win she vastly outnumbers us in the odds department )

Brian

 

[WhiteMTHike]

Talk about trying to turn the Whites into Disney World. Screw that! There is enough commercialism in the WMNF, no more is needed. The Old Man is (sadly) gone, let him RIP, do not do anything to ruin or exploit the cherished memories that most of us have of him.

 

[Jim lombard]

There will only ever be one Old Man

 

[rup]

The old Old Man couldn't be maintained over the long run, so how do 'they' expect to do so for a new one??? Steel and glass in the scree pile would be a real mess.

 

[Taconic]

If that abomination actually gets built, I'm pretty sure I'll have to stay out of Franconia Notch. It's just an awful idea... both aesthetically and conceptually.

 

[David Metsky]

Guys, this is never going to get built. It's not even a serious proposal. The committee in charge is already moving ahead with their design, which is five blocks of granite on the ground along the lake that line up to recreate the Old Man when viewed from the right place. It's just an interesting design being publicized by the press because it sells papers.

 

[lattinhill]

Amen to that , I always liked the idea of the inline granite blocks . That's something that could be done in a small space with existing material , maybe even made from actual pieces of the " Old Man " .

Dave

 

[Little Rickie]

and they wonder why newspaper readership is dropping off.

 

[jniehof]

Well, the architect has not been pleased by the response, but figures it's just because we all haven't understood the full glory of his complete plan.

Understanding that he wants to blast a giant hole through a crumbling mountain doesn't convince me. I'm reminded of Gene's comment on the Redington wind farm: "If you liked what they did to Jay Peak, you're going to love this one!"

 

[roadtripper]

Well, the architect has not been pleased by the response, but figures it's just because we all haven't understood the full glory of his complete plan.

Understanding that he wants to blast a giant hole through a crumbling mountain doesn't convince me. I'm reminded of Gene's comment on the Redington wind farm: "If you liked what they did to Jay Peak, you're going to love this one!"

I love how that article states that the project is "misunderstood". Before that architect promotes this idea any further, I think he should spend a week in that area hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, etc. Then he'd think the idea is just as absurd as most people know it is.