cell towers, windmills, and other structures oh my!

[skizilla]

What do think about the trend of skiresort putting cell or other communication towers, windmills and large lodges or other building on the summits of their peaks? I am all for it better a ski mtn get it and its money than a virgin undeveloped mountain be ruined.

 

[thetrailboss]

What do think about the trend of skiresort putting cell or other communication towers, windmills and large lodges or other building on the summits of their peaks? I am all for it better a ski mtn get it and its money than a virgin undeveloped mountain be ruined.

Radio towers, cell towers, etc = necessary evil.

Large lodges = waste and leads to damaging a fragile area.

We need some balance IMHO. I love to ski and want to see my favorite mtns survive, but I ski to enjoy being outside and not seeing human eyesores on mtn tops.

 

[teachski]

I have no problem with wind farms. I think it is a necessary source of energy that we have not, and do not tap into enough. A couple years ago when I was driving across route 9 in Vermont I saw a several large windmills on a ridge. They were cool. I was not the only one that pulled over to look at them and watch them turn for a while. I do not think they are ugly at all and I do not think that they ruin a thing. There are a lot of other ways we get energy which are much more harmful and visibly less pleasing than windmills.

I say we should harness the wind and use it wisely.

 

[dmc]

We need some balance IMHO. I love to ski and want to see my favorite mtns survive, but I ski to enjoy being outside and not seeing human eyesores on mtn tops.

I ski for a lot of reasons... When I'm at a resort - I don't fret about pipes and fences... When I go into the BC I dont want to see this however...

 

[Treeliner]

dmc, that's tucks right?

..what a shame, that absolutely should not be there...

 

[dmc]

dmc, that's tucks right?

..what a shame, that absolutely should not be there...

Yes it's Tucks...

 

[awf170]

we should go in a giant hord with axes and take those evil towers and buidlings down :flame: :uzi: :flame: :uzi: :wink:

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

we should go in a giant hord with axes and take those evil towers and buidlings down :flame: :uzi: :flame: :uzi: :wink:

Then "ELF" will be right behind you to take care of the lifts and snowmaking :roll:

 

[smootharc]

This month's Yankee Magazine.....

....has a large feature article on the debate in VT over usage of ridges for wind farms. Pretty passionate arguments on both sides of the issue.

In NY state, with regard to similar debate, someone suggested building them in the land strips between divided highways such as the NYS thruway. Interesting thought...

 

[dmc]

Re: This month's Yankee Magazine.....

In NY state, with regard to similar debate, someone suggested building them in the land strips between divided highways such as the NYS thruway. Interesting thought...

I guess if there's wind there it's cool.. But otherwise - it would be pretty dumb..

 

[thetrailboss]

One of the big problems with the wind turbines is that the older models had problems with hardware such that the blades could come off. Also, in icing conditions, the blades get icy and later when they are turned on, throw the ice. Neither is good to get thrown at you...they need a lot of open space.

What ever happened to solar?

 

[smootharc]

Re: This month's Yankee Magazine.....

In NY state, with regard to similar debate, someone suggested building them in the land strips between divided highways such as the NYS thruway. Interesting thought...

I guess if there's wind there it's cool.. But otherwise - it would be pretty dumb..

New York State doing something pretty dumb....hmmmm....

Not exactly out of character for the Empire State, I'm sad to say. Don't get me going....and I'll check back in, calmer and more focused, when I've convinced my wife about how great it would be to move to NH....

 

[David Metsky]

Yes it's Tucks...

I saw a Mountain Hardware banner in Gulf of Slides this year. A rep was up there and displayed the flag while he was skiing. One person in my group gave him an earful.

-dave-

 

[riverc0il]

a banner in the backcountry, wow. the mountain hardware guy deserves an ear full for that! not really targeting their audience appropriately either, people hiking a place like GoS are more likely to resent a company for a move like that. now in tucks, they probably would get some useful attention as sad of a placement as that is. since it's back country, would people technically be able to "pack out" a banner like that as trash? heh! a permit is needed for public advertising i think so it would be illegal right?

 

[nightingale]

a banner in the backcountry, wow. the mountain hardware guy deserves an ear full for that! not really targeting their audience appropriately either, people hiking a place like GoS are more likely to resent a company for a move like that. now in tucks, they probably would get some useful attention as sad of a placement as that is. since it's back country, would people technically be able to "pack out" a banner like that as trash? heh! a permit is needed for public advertising i think so it would be illegal right?

Probably, but enforcement would be difficult.

 

[Angus]

as I think has been previously talked about in the hiking forums, there is currently a proposal on a ridge (reddington peak) adjacent to the backside of Sugarloaf for a large windfarm - this would also be visible "very visible" all along that section of the AT trail. the AMC and other groups are lining up to oppose it.

I've got mixed feelings on the issue - all for renewable resources but want to protect scenic vistas, etc. Off the top of my head, I'd say I oppose the w. maine proposal but support the cape wind project (I don't believe it will impact visually the view from the shore - fog happens things)

 

[SnowRider]

Cell towers and communication = Fine. Its safe and makes reaching people easy

Summit Lodges = O.K. On a cold day I have to admit they are nice. But they also are kind of a waste of money

Tons of Snowmaking Pipes, useless obstructions (Wood, metal poles) and junk laying everywhere = Hate it. Not only does it make the mountain look bad, it makes the staff look lazy and it hurts the enviroment.

 

[Jonni]

Anything that is really necessary, I would say is OK for the top of a mountain. Summit Lodges are nice, but try to keep them fitting with the rest of the landscape around it. I don't know how many mountain lodges that I've seen that don't look like they fit into there surroundings.

 

[dmc]

While skiing Hunter one day - I stopped on the side of one of the trails to show someone the view of my house in the valley...
He said "You should put advertising on the roof!"

I just may do that...

 

[catskills]

What ever happened to solar?

What ever happened to conservation, zero population growth, and controlling immigration?

I read somewhere that some electronic games use 10 watts more power than other electronic games. Now 10 watts of power is not all that much. Given the large number of games that are sold, that additional 10 watts can add up to half the power of the VT yankee nuclear power plant.

IF people turn off their house lights more often, they would not have to look at so many wind generators on top of mountains and the price of beer might come down. When the price of beer goes down, its a win win for everyone. :beer:

Seriously I think spending 5 billion a year on sun power as in clean fusion power research is a good investment for future generations. Some might say its a long shot and will never be possible. Then again a lot of folks said that about landing a man on the moon. Of course, If we ever get an unlimited environmental clean power supply from fusion power, we still got to solve the world's over population problem.