Mavs00
04-12-2010, 10:46 AM
http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/tower/crew.jpg
The Crew: L-R - Brian, Neil, Tim, Malcolm (kneeling), Alistair, Lance & Jack
The Tower work: On Saturday (4/10/10), 7 of us met up at the Adams Tower for a "work planning" meeting to really start to plan on just how to set up for this project. The walk in was nice and for the most part we all walked in in 3 small groups meeting at the tower at 11:30ish. The day turned out to be bluebird perfect with no clouds and some gusty winds (up in the tower). We had AWESOME views.
We spent 2 1/2 - 3 hours up in the tower or on the ground taking inventory of what we had and what we would need. Fortunately, we found remnants of the old roof and by looking at it, it really made sense of the plans we had and what was once the most intimidating part of the plan, now seems much more logical and we all pretty comfortable with it. Much of the rest of the time was spent considering safety things and measuring bolts to determine what kinds of tools we'll need.
We then climbed down and some of us drove up to the Jackrabbit for a great meal and some additional planning. Here is the "basic" plan of attack.
The Plan: As suggested by the DEC (and we agree with them), this is going to have to be multi-stage project for us. There are some structural considerations **, that we will need to get sorted (by the DEC) and will require a little more time. This project will stretch on into fall.
** - One or two are significant enough to warrant on halting work until we get them resolved. Part due to cost factors, part due to safety concerns.
Assuming we get them worked out in the next week or so, the first phase can commence and hopefully be completed this spring on 1-2 "work trips". This will mainly consist of replacing 41 treads leading up to the tower, as well as possibly installing the roof if we can get the 4 panels fabricated in time. At a minimum, we can get the treads put up.
Depending on some additional coordinating that needs to be done, this may require muling up 41 2"x10"x2' boards from the trailhead. A stout work-party of 12-14 folks should be enough to tackle the treads in a 1 day session. If we are able to add the roof and make it within the May 15th "airlift window", then we'd still about the same if not a few more in order be able to have a work crew in the tower installing the roof, and several other teams working on the treads (pretty simple work that just about any of us can do).
It'll be a good day's work, but it will certainly put us WELL ON OUR WAY. After the treads and roof, we will shift over to the other important things like installing railings and fencing in order to have the safety aspects in place when the tower is opened.
So, for all you folks that "offered" help......... NOW IS YOUR TIME. We will be seeking you out and your time is coming. We will be "swinging the axe soon" so to speak and we'll need some workers.
Just a side note, SAFETY will be of upmost concern throughout this project and we will be having a "safety person" on site just like any construction project and you will be required to follow their direction in this area. There will also be waivers involved that we'll discuss later.
The tower team (installing the roof) will be selected by Alistair and will require full body harnesses (which we will try to provide), but we will also require that anyone working above the first landing (like the tread installers), we will require them to have a typical "climbing harness" (that most of us probable have anyway), and be "tied in" at all times while working on the tower. So....... what this means is, if you can secure your own prior to going that would be a big plus. All you really need is a climbing harness, 2 locking carbiners and about a 5-8 foot length of climbing rope (shout enough to hold your weight). Anyone with any glacier or rock climbing experience should know exactly we're talking about.
There will be no railing or safety fencing in this first phase, so you must be tethered to the tower in case of a slip. A climbing helmut is a great idea too.
Much more to come, but here's another picture from Saturday.....
http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/tower/tower.jpg
The Crew: L-R - Brian, Neil, Tim, Malcolm (kneeling), Alistair, Lance & Jack
The Tower work: On Saturday (4/10/10), 7 of us met up at the Adams Tower for a "work planning" meeting to really start to plan on just how to set up for this project. The walk in was nice and for the most part we all walked in in 3 small groups meeting at the tower at 11:30ish. The day turned out to be bluebird perfect with no clouds and some gusty winds (up in the tower). We had AWESOME views.
We spent 2 1/2 - 3 hours up in the tower or on the ground taking inventory of what we had and what we would need. Fortunately, we found remnants of the old roof and by looking at it, it really made sense of the plans we had and what was once the most intimidating part of the plan, now seems much more logical and we all pretty comfortable with it. Much of the rest of the time was spent considering safety things and measuring bolts to determine what kinds of tools we'll need.
We then climbed down and some of us drove up to the Jackrabbit for a great meal and some additional planning. Here is the "basic" plan of attack.
The Plan: As suggested by the DEC (and we agree with them), this is going to have to be multi-stage project for us. There are some structural considerations **, that we will need to get sorted (by the DEC) and will require a little more time. This project will stretch on into fall.
** - One or two are significant enough to warrant on halting work until we get them resolved. Part due to cost factors, part due to safety concerns.
Assuming we get them worked out in the next week or so, the first phase can commence and hopefully be completed this spring on 1-2 "work trips". This will mainly consist of replacing 41 treads leading up to the tower, as well as possibly installing the roof if we can get the 4 panels fabricated in time. At a minimum, we can get the treads put up.
Depending on some additional coordinating that needs to be done, this may require muling up 41 2"x10"x2' boards from the trailhead. A stout work-party of 12-14 folks should be enough to tackle the treads in a 1 day session. If we are able to add the roof and make it within the May 15th "airlift window", then we'd still about the same if not a few more in order be able to have a work crew in the tower installing the roof, and several other teams working on the treads (pretty simple work that just about any of us can do).
It'll be a good day's work, but it will certainly put us WELL ON OUR WAY. After the treads and roof, we will shift over to the other important things like installing railings and fencing in order to have the safety aspects in place when the tower is opened.
So, for all you folks that "offered" help......... NOW IS YOUR TIME. We will be seeking you out and your time is coming. We will be "swinging the axe soon" so to speak and we'll need some workers.
Just a side note, SAFETY will be of upmost concern throughout this project and we will be having a "safety person" on site just like any construction project and you will be required to follow their direction in this area. There will also be waivers involved that we'll discuss later.
The tower team (installing the roof) will be selected by Alistair and will require full body harnesses (which we will try to provide), but we will also require that anyone working above the first landing (like the tread installers), we will require them to have a typical "climbing harness" (that most of us probable have anyway), and be "tied in" at all times while working on the tower. So....... what this means is, if you can secure your own prior to going that would be a big plus. All you really need is a climbing harness, 2 locking carbiners and about a 5-8 foot length of climbing rope (shout enough to hold your weight). Anyone with any glacier or rock climbing experience should know exactly we're talking about.
There will be no railing or safety fencing in this first phase, so you must be tethered to the tower in case of a slip. A climbing helmut is a great idea too.
Much more to come, but here's another picture from Saturday.....
http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/tower/tower.jpg