Wesser Bald observation tower burnt down?

[saltysack]

My son really enjoyed the tower on one of his first hikes a few years back.....I hope they catch the SOB that intentionally started it if that is the case.....it was a little rickety in need of repairs last time I was there.....



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[burger]

You easterners are getting a taste of what we westerners (yeah, I don't live in Mass. anymore) experience every year.

Get used to it. Climate change is screwing up the usual patterns of temperature and precipitation. As temperatures increase, forests need more rainfall to maintain the same level of moisture in the soils and in plant tissues (forest fires are basically caused by excessively dry plant tissues). So, even if precipitation doesn't change, drought will be more common. And so will fires.

Enjoy the areas that are still unspoiled while you can. They probably won't be unspoiled for long.

(Note: I'm not interested in debating the scientific basis of climate change. If anyone has a beef with that, please feel free to PM me, and I will happily and politely educate you on the matter. But I'm not wasting my time arguing with science deniers publicly anymore.)

[TNhiker]

Sorry....

but I can't "get used" to arson fires.......

[lkmi]

The observation tower did indeed burn down. .

Can you point us to the source of this info, pls?

[saltysack]

Sorry....

but I can't "get used" to arson fires.......

It seems that there are several different fires burning in the southern Appalachians????? Obviously all weren't arson were they?


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[TNhiker]

there are over a hundred different fires in the KY/TN/GA/NC area and of those, ive heard of only one naturally occurring fire (due to lightning)....

that fire is in the cohutta wilderness and is one of the biggest in acreage....

there were 2 more arrests today---bringing the number of people arrested to 4 (that i know of) due to arson.........

and as i know---these people are not connected/related to one another..............

[TNhiker]

here is one of the persons arrested...


http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/l...y-fire/397878/

[illabelle]

here is one of the persons arrested...


http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/l...y-fire/397878/

It would be okay with me if they hang him.

[liteweight]

I just hiked it with my two year old last month (his very first hike on the AT). There are conflicting reports on if the tower actually has burnt down. I sure hope it hasn't.

[D.D.Bear]

First post. Hello!

My screen's background is a pix from the tower back to Albert Mountain. Special memory for me! Even more glad to hold it hearing this news.

T'would be a shame if it's not there for future passers by.

[The Ace]

You easterners are getting a taste of what we westerners (yeah, I don't live in Mass. anymore) experience every year.

Get used to it. Climate change is screwing up the usual patterns of temperature and precipitation. As temperatures increase, forests need more rainfall to maintain the same level of moisture in the soils and in plant tissues (forest fires are basically caused by excessively dry plant tissues). So, even if precipitation doesn't change, drought will be more common. And so will fires.

Enjoy the areas that are still unspoiled while you can. They probably won't be unspoiled for long.

(Note: I'm not interested in debating the scientific basis of climate change. If anyone has a beef with that, please feel free to PM me, and I will happily and politely educate you on the matter. But I'm not wasting my time arguing with science deniers publicly anymore.)

So, three years ago when record rainfall flooded Nantahala causing trail and road closures from washouts and landslides were you on WhiteBlaze touting this scientific study: http://link.springer.com/article/10....584-015-1434-y , or was that also a waste of your time to explain that to Easterners?

[Dogwood]

What a bummer. The towers are to me one of the major highlights on the NC AT. And you know with today's tight funds, they will not get rebuilt.

If these fires were arson as rumored, it makes the loss even more bitter.

Carl

HMM, I must have misplaced values because even though I enjoyed having the history of the Wesser Bald Fire Tower related to me and experiences at the tower were memorable I thought the major highlights of the AT are the flora, fauna, geology, and Natural History of the Appalachian Mountains.

[Alligator]

HMM, I must have misplaced values because even though I enjoyed having the history of the Wesser Bald Fire Tower related to me and experiences at the tower were memorable I thought the major highlights of the AT are the flora, fauna, geology, and Natural History of the Appalachian Mountains.

It's ok for cneill13 to find the towers a major highlight Dogwood. There's nothing wrong with that and no need to suggest anyone's values are inferior.

[cneill13]

I said ONE of the highlights Dogface.

HYOH...

[George]

HMM, I must have misplaced values because even though I enjoyed having the history of the Wesser Bald Fire Tower related to me and experiences at the tower were memorable I thought the major highlights of the AT are the flora, fauna, geology, and Natural History of the Appalachian Mountains.

obviously there are more than 1 misguided individuals - since the well informed know the highlights of the AT revolve around partying

[TNhiker]

I said ONE of the highlights Dogface.

HYOH...

is there a need to start calling people names?

[TNhiker]

Alright---lets get back on track---

someone posted some photos of the tower which they climbed up last night...

so apparently it has NOT burned down....

[Water Rat]

Alright---lets get back on track---

someone posted some photos of the tower which they climbed up last night...

so apparently it has NOT burned down....

That would be fantastic news!

[Cookerhiker]

Sad to see the demise of Wesser Bald tower. From my 2004 section hike:

Cookerhiker on Wesser Bald.JPG

[saltysack]

I can't find any info on this....where did you see that it burnt?


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