I wrote this column in the late fall of 2023. It is not often that I print a column that took place in another season. But I thought it might be the most effective way to convince people to head now over to Mount Cardigan, a beautiful peak in Orange and Alexandria. I haven’t been back since, and have not seen the restored fire tower. Also, I've added some geology that wasn’t in the original column.
This Wednesday was cold and breezy. I looked out the window and noticed some cumulus that looked like winter clouds — if you know what I mean — reminding me of special brisk days hiking in the mountains.
kAmxE H2D ?@E 2 8@@5 52J E@ 86E 23@G6 E96 EC66D :? E96 9:896C >@F?E2:?D] ~? |@F?E (2D9:?8E@?[ E96C6 H2D 2 9:89 E92E 52J @7 ad 568C66D u29C6?96:E 2?5 2 =@H @7 c 568C66D u29C6?96:E] %96 2G6C286 H:?5 FA E96C6 H2D ea]c >A9 H:E9 2 9:89 @7 `_c >A9]k^Am
kAm$E:==[ x H2?E65 E@ 86E @FE :? E96 >@F?E2:?D 2?5 x E9@F89E @7 2 A62< H:E9 2 =@H EC66=:?6 42FD65 3J 7:C6] xE H2D 7F? E@ 32EE=6 E96 H:?5 7@C E96 D9@CE H2=< 7C@> EC66=:?6 E@ E96 DF>>:E 7:C6 E@H6C 2?5 324<] xE H2D 2=D@ >F49 =@H6C E92? |@F?E (2D9:?8E@? 2?5 7FCE96C D@FE9] xE H2D |@F?E r2C5:82? Wb[``d 766EX :? ~C2?86 2?5 p=6I2?5C:2]k^Am
kAmx H2D 2=D@ 4FC:@FD 23@FE E96 ?6H 423 E@ E96 7:C6 E@H6C E92E H2D 36:?8 C6A=2465 E9:D DF>>6C 2?5 72==]k^Am
kAm%96 >@F?E2:? 5C6H >6 2?5 x 962565[ 56DA:E6 E96 =@?8 5C:G6 E@ 86E E96C6] uC@> |6C65:E9 @? #@FE6 `_c[ x A2DD65 F?56C x\hb E@ qC:DE@=[ E96? #@FE6 c E@ r2?22?] x? r2?22? G:==286[ x 5C@G6 A2DE E96 E@H? A2C< 2?5 3@C6 C:89E @? #@FE6 ``g 7@C 92=7 2 >:=6[ E96? C:89E 2E 2 =2C86 r2C5:82? $E2E6 !2C< D:8?] x? 2?@E96C b]c >:=6D 2?5 EFC?:?8 E@ 5:CE[ x EFC?65 =67E FA E96 2446DD C@25 E@ E96 A2C<:?8 =@E :? E96 |@F?E r2C5:82? $E2E6 !2C<[ DE2CE:?8 A@:?E 7@C E96 `]d\>:=6 (6DE #:586 %C2:=]k^Am
kAmx 5:5?’E <?@H :7 E96C6 H@F=5 36 2?J 42CD E96C6 @? DF49 2 H:?5J[ 4@=5 52J[ D@ x H2D BF:E6 DFCAC:D65 E@ D66 23@FE `d 42CD H96? x AF==65 :?] x H@F=5 7:?5 @FE =2E6C E92E 92=7 @7 E96> 36=@?865 E@ E96 ?:?6 4C6H >6>36CD H9@ H6C6 H@C<:?8 @? E96 7:C6 E@H6C E92E 52J]k^Am
kAmxE H2D 24EF2==J 2 3FDJ 52J @? |@F?E r2C5:82?] w2C5J 9:<6CD H6C6 2CC:G:?8 E@ 5@ E96 9:<6[ 2?5 x DE2CE65 FA E96 EC2:= 367@C6 E96>[ 27E6C AFEE:?8 @? H:?E6C 8=@G6D 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 E9:D 72==]k^Am
kAmpD x 4=:>365[ x H2D C6>:?565 @7 E96 >2?J E:>6D x 925 5@?6 E9:D EC2:= H:E9 2 42>A 8C@FA[ 7C:6?5D 2?5 2=@?6] u@C 2 H9:=6[ x 7C6BF6?E65 s2CE>@FE9^w:E494@4< |65:42= r6?E6C :? {632?@?[ 2?5 H@F=5 ECJ E@ 4=:>3 r2C5:82? @? >J H2J 9@>6] x <?6H :? >J 962CE E92E E96 9:<6 H2D >J C62= >65:4:?6]k^Am
kAm$@@?[ x 2AAC@24965 EC66=:?6[ 2?5 E96 72>:=:2C 4@=5 8FDED @7 H:?5 D9@@< E96 DEF?E65 EC66D] x A2FD65 7@C 2 D?24< :? E96 DF?[ <?@H:?8 :E H@F=5 36 E@@ H:?5J 23@G6[ 2?5 5@??65 2?@E96C @FE6C =2J6C]k^Am
kAmp 4@FA=6 @7 9:<6CD A2DD65 >6 @? E96:C H2J 5@H? 2?5 >6?E:@?65 E96 H:?5 23@G6] %96? x H2=<65 @FE @?E@ E96 32C6 FAA6C >@F?E2:?]k^Am
kAmp9625 @? E96 DF>>:E H2D E96 7:C6 E@H6C 2?5 x H2D DFCAC:D65 E@ D66 :E 6?42D65 :? 2 3@I @7 D4277@=5:?8 DFCC@F?565 3J 2 AC@E64E:G6 ?6E] %96C6 H2D 2 E6>A@C2CJ H@@56? D965 ?6IE E@ :E[ AC@E64E65 7C@> E96 H:?5 @? E96 62DE D:56[ 2?5 H@C<6CD >@G65 E96C6]k^Am
kAm%96 H2=< 24C@DD E96 8C2?:E6 5@>6 E@ E96 DF>>:E H2D 72>:=:2C[ H:E9 2 H2== @7 H:?5 32EE6C:?8 >J =67E D:56] xE H2D 4@=5 3FE ?@E =:<6 >:5\H:?E6C]k^Am
kAm%96 86@=@8J @7 E96 >@F?E2:? :D :?E6C6DE:?8] %96 >@F?E2:? :D =@42E65 2E E96 ?@CE96C? 6?5 @7 2 5@>6 @7 :8?6@FD C@4< 42==65 E96 r2C5:82? !=FE@?] xE :D E96 =2C86DE A=FE@? :? E96 DE2E6 2E `a >:=6D H:56[ dc >:=6D =@?8[ 2?5 `]d >:=6D E9:4<]k^Am
kAm(92E :D :En xE :D E96 C@@E @7 2? 2?4:6?E G@=42?@ — bad >:==:@? J62CD 28@ E96 p7C:42? 2?5 }@CE9 p>6C:42? A=2E6D 4@==:565[ 7@C>:?8 E96 DFA6C4@?E:?6?E !2?862] %96 p7C:42? A=2E6 H2D 7@C465 F?56C[ 2 AC@46DD 42==65 DF35F4E:@?] %96 C6DF=E:?8 962E 2?5 AC6DDFC6 >6=E65 :E[ 2?5 E96 =:89E6C >28>2 C@D6[ D@>6 7@C>:?8 G@=42?@6D @? E96 DFC7246 2?5 E96 C6DE D@=:5:7J:?8 c >:=6D 36=@H E96 DFC7246 2D A=FE@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 |@F?E r2C5:82? A=FE@? H2D 6IA@D65 @? E96 DFC7246 E9C@F89 6C@D:@?[ 3FE E92E 5@6D?’E >62? E96 t2CE9 :D c >:=6D =@H6C] q642FD6 @7 :D@DE2E:4 FA=:7E[ E96 t2CE9’D DFC7246 C6>2:?D 2E E96 D2>6 =6G6=]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ E96 C@4< @7 E96 D>@@E9 DF>>:E 4@?6 :D G2C:65 2?5 :?E6C6DE:?8] %96 AC:>2CJ 8C2J :8?6@FD C@4< :D 42==65 8C2?@5:@C:E6] xE 4@?E2:?D 2 9:89 A6C46?E286 @7 2 EJA6 @7 76=5DA2C 42==65 A=28:@4=2D6 76=5DA2C]k^Am
kAm$42EE6C65 E9C@F89@FE E9:D C@4< 2C6 5:DE:?4E =:89E6C\4@=@C65 DBF2C6D 2? :?49 @C EH@ H:56] %96D6 2C6 “>6824CJDED” @7 76=5DA2C] t249 :D 24EF2==J EH@ 4CJDE2=D @7 76=5DA2C 8C@H? E@86E96C :? 2 AC@46DD 42==65 “EH:??:?8]” %96D6 H6C6 7@C>65 3J E96 6IEC2\D=@H 4@@=:?8 @7 E96 >28>2] xE H2D AC6EEJ 9@E c >:=6D 566A]k^Am
kAmp=D@[ E96C6 2C6 >2?J H9:E6 BF2CEK G6:?D @7 G2CJ:?8 H:5E9 :? E96 DF>>:E 4@?6[ DH:C=:?8 23@FE E96 D@=:5 C@4<] (96? E96 >28>2 H2D 4@@=:?8[ :E 4C24<65 2== @G6C] w@E DE62> E92E 4@?E2:?65 5:DD@=G65 D:=:4@? 5:@I:56 7:==65 E96 4C24<D] %9:D 4@@=65 2?5 7@C>65 F?:7@C> H9:E6 BF2CEK :? E96 4C24<D]k^Am
kAm%96 H@@565 DF>>:E 3FC?E @G6C :? `gdd[ C6G62=:?8 2== E9:D H@?5C@FD 86@=@8J]k^Am
kAmx 2AAC@24965 E96 E@A 2?5 H2=<65 FA E@ E96 H@C< D965] xE H2D @FE @7 E96 H:?5[ 2?5 x E2=<65 3C:67=J E@ @?6 @7 E96 H@C<6CD] xE H2D 92C5 E@ D66 6G6CJE9:?8 :?D:56 E96 D4277@=5:?8 ?6E[ 3FE @3G:@FD E92E E96J H6C6 C6DE@C:?8 E96 423 @7 E96 7:C6 E@H6C E@ :ED @C:8:?2= D92A6] w6 D2:5 96 925 4=:>365 E@ E96 DF>>:E 2E 52H?[ A6C92AD 2D 2 H2E49>2?] w6 D2:5 E92E E96J 925 23@FE 2?@E96C H66< E@ 4@>A=6E6 H@C<[ 2?5 E96 D4277@=5:?8 H@F=5 36 7=@H? @FE] w6 E@=5 >6 23@FE E96 52J 2 96=:4@AE6C 925 5C@AA65 2 4@>A=6E65 ?6H C@@7 @?E@ E96 ?6H 423] xE 7:E A6C764E=J]k^Am
kAmp D:8? @? E96 D965 D2:5i “'2==6J #6DE@C2E:@?i w:DE@C:4 !C6D6CG2E:@?[ $E66A=6 y24<D 2?5 w:DE@C:4 !=2DE6C]” x 2DDF>65 E96? E92E E96 '2==6J >62?E E96 &AA6C '2==6J 36EH66? }6H w2>AD9:C6 2?5 '6C>@?E] qFE :E EFC?D @FE E96 4@>A2?J H2D 7C@> %@CC:?8E@?[ r@??64E:4FE]k^Am
kAm%96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 }2EFC2= 2?5 rF=EFC2= #6D@FC46D :D FD:?8 S`]a >:==:@? :? 7656C2= >@?6J 7C@> E96 p>6C:42? #6D4F6 !=2? E@ C6A=246 EH@ 7:C6 E@H6C 423D @? |@F?E r2C5:82? 2?5 q6=<?2A |@F?E2:? :? E96 q6=<?2A #2?86] r2C6?@ r@?DECF4E:@? @7 !@CED>@FE9 H2D 9:C65 E@ 5@ E96 H@C<[ 2?5 E96J 3C@F89E :? E96 D<:==65 '2==6J #6DE@C2E:@? 7C@> r@??64E:4FE]k^Am
kAmx H2=<65 ?@CE9 2 D9@CE H2J 7C@> E96 E@H6C E@ 86E D@>6 A6CDA64E:G6[ E96? C6EFC?65 E@ E96 H@C< D965 367@C6 9625:?8 5@H?] {@@<:?8 5@H? E96 >@F?E2:? @? E96 62DE D:56[ x ?@E:465 2 96=:4@AE6C 9@G6C:?8 23@G6 2 =@H C:586 @7 E96 >@F?E2:?] xE =@@<65 =:<6 2 AC:G2E6 96=:4@AE6C[ 3FE E96 H@C< 4C6H D2:5 E92E E96 52J 367@C6[ 2 3=24< 92H< 96=:4@AE6C H2D 5@:?8 E96 D2>6 E9:?8]k^Am
kAmp BF:4< 42== =2E6C E@ E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 }2E:@?2= vF2C5 C6G62=65 E92E 3@E9 E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 pC>J }2E:@?2= vF2C5 2?5 E96 %6?E9 |@F?E2:? s:G:D:@? @FE @7 E96 pC>J’D u@CE sF?? :? (2E6CE@H?[ }]*][ H6C6 FD:?8 E96 >@F?E2:? 7@C EC2:?:?8]k^Am
kAm%92E 52J E96J H6C6 =:<6=J AC24E:4:?8 9@G6C:?8 :? 2 9:89 H:?5 23@G6 E96 8C@F?5[ 2? 6DD6?E:2= D<:== 7@C C6D4F6D :? E96 >@F?E2:?D]k^Am
kAmp?JH2J[ :E H2D 2 3FDJ 52J @? |@F?E r2C5:82?[ ?@E H92E x 6IA64E65 H96? x =67E E92E >@C?:?8[ 3FE :?E6C6DE:?8] ~? >J H2J 5@H? E96 EC2:=[ E96 ?:?6 E@H6C H@C<6CD A2DD65 >6 @? E96:C H2J 5@H?] xE H2D 23@FE ` A]>] ~? E9:D 52J[ E96J 925 925 6?@F89 @7 E96 4@=5 H:?5]k^Am
kAmq24< E@ a_ae[ 5@6D E92E 4@@= J@F @77 2?5 :?DA:C6 J@F E@ E2<6 E96 f_\>:=6 5C:G6 @G6C E@ |@F?E r2C5:82? :? E96 4@@=:?8 E6>AD @7 =2E6 pF8FDEn xE’D H@CE9 E96 EC:A]k^Am

(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.