2005 Board Meeting

Trip Report

Travels to and from Roanoke

Friday January 14 saw FFLA board members heading toward Roanoke, Virginia. Bob Spear and Henry Isenberg, followed by Steve Cummings, started the morning from Steve’s Chambersburg, PA residence. Ray Grimes came from New Jersey and Ralph Glover from West Virginia. Rob Hoeye and Gary Weber had each flown into Washington, D.C. the evening before, with Keith Argow chauffeuring them to Roanoke.

On the way, Henry Isenberg and Bob Spear attempted to find the Purgatory Mountain tower, but were unsuccessful. They found a road winding along the base of the mountain and the Purgatory Brook but no way up could be found. They later found out that the tower had been removed years before.

Keith and his charges got a late start after last-minute auto repairs, with their first after-lunch stop being Gibson Mountain. There, above the turkey farm, they found the cab and top section of the tower still on site, the remainder of the tower having been removed for scrap a few years ago. The next stop was the Central Plains tower, which had new communications dishes attached to it. A visit to the tower owner’s house found no one home. Buffard’s Mountain was next on the list, where a new fence surrounded the tower, which also appeared to have new dishes attached. On a short-cut past Piney Mountain, a locked gate was found on a road that appeared to have potential for leading to the tower, clearly visible a mile
away. There was the possibility that the “navigator” (Gary) had missed the correct road, but time didn’t allow for further searching. Nearing Rustberg, the quick trip up Long Mountain saw the fire tower dwarfed by communication towers on the mountaintop. The last attempt for the day was to be the Bedford tower. After stopping to obtain permission to go up to the tower in the fading daylight, Keith and Gary got sidetracked with the “good ole boys” who were frying up venison in the shop! By that time, it was too late to hike up the overgrown road, but they were welcomed back at another time. Arriving in Roanoke a short time later, they soon found Ray, Bob, and Henry.

Sunday’s touring started with Glen leading the group to Hanging Rock Fire Tower (photo on front page). It was noted that locally, all lookout structures seem to be called “fire towers” even if they are cabins on the ground! Leaving Hanging Rock, the group separated, with Keith and crew heading north and Glen
and his group returning to Roanoke.

Once back at Roanoke, Bob and Ray traveled to Gibson Ridge, where they found the tower without problem, but did not walk up to it as it was posted private land behind a closed gate. From there they went to Grassy Hill, meeting up with Henry again. Evening shadows were closing in fast but they located the tower and got to it just at dark, quickly snapping flash photos.

Meanwhile, Keith, Rob, and Gary saw Duncan Knob from the distance as they went by, but due to road conditions and time, did not attempt the several mile side-trip. At a roadside welding shop, they spotted the cab and top two sections of what was presumed to have been the Sounding Knob tower, which had been removed from its nearby summit last year. Late in the afternoon, they reached their goal for the day, High Knob, with its unique stone-based fire tower (photo on front). Both the CCC stone work and the recent cab restoration were impressive!

While Rob and Gary were flying home on Monday, Bob, Henry, and Ray were still working their way north with one last Virginia tower to attempt, Deer Head. They located the road leading to the tower, but were stopped at a closed gate clearly marked "Private Drive". By then it was really cold and they didn't need much encouragement to stay inside their warm vehicles as they continued toward home.

Photos - VA Towers

Deerhead from the West Valley Side

Gibson Ridge

Grassy Hill at Dusk

Long Mountain

Hanging Rock