VAITOMANOCU Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 Anyone who's been to New Hampshire knows what a site this was. http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2003/US/Northeast/05/03/old.man.mountian.ap/story.n.h.old.man.ap.jpg'> FRANCONIA, New Hampshire (AP) -- New Hampshire awoke Saturday to find its stern granite symbol of independence and stubbornness, the Old Man of the Mountain, had collapsed into indistinguishable rubble. The fall ended nearly a century of efforts to protect the 40-foot-tall landmark from the same natural forces that created it. Only stabilizing cables and epoxy remained Saturday where the famous ledges had clung. "There's only so much you can do," said Mike Pelchat, a state parks official who hiked up the mountain Saturday to make sure there were no signs of foul play. "With heavy rains and high winds and freezing temperatures, the combination was just right to loosen him up," he said. "We always thought it was the hand of God holding him up, and he let go." It was unclear when the outcropping actually fell from Cannon Mountain because clouds had obscured the area Thursday and Friday. A state park trails crew reported Saturday morning that the Old Man of the Mountain was gone. Gov. Craig Benson quickly declared that the face should be restored and said in a written statement that he was meeting with state officials and planned to form a fund to take donations for the project. "I am committed to doing everything possible to restore this important monument to our Granite State," he said. The Old Man was New Hampshire's most recognizable symbol. It appears on the state quarter, on state road signs and on countless souvenirs and tourist brochures. Millions of tourists have traveled through Franconia Notch to view the profile, 1,200 feet above Interstate 93 about 65 miles north of Concord. In the 19th century, the profile inspired New Hampshire statesman Daniel Webster to write: "In the mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men." Dick Hamilton, president of White Mountain Attractions, a tourism group, has commuted through the notch every day for more than 30 years, and said goodnight to the Old Man every night when he drove by. On Friday, with his view blocked by the clouds, he said, "Good night, boss, wherever you are." "I've just lost my number one attraction," he said Saturday. The state had used cables and epoxy to try for years to keep the rock profile from falling from erosion and the natural freeze-and-thaw cycle. Those who did the work had warned that a collapse was inevitable, but few thought they would live to see it. David Nielsen, whose father was the profile's official caretaker for decades before passing the job on to his son in 1989, had tears in his eyes as he looked at the mountainside Saturday. "The oldest person in my family just died," he said. http://astro.wsu.edu/worthey/astro/html/im-indian-heads/old-man-mountain.jpg'> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Rage- Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 whoa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pissdrunkwhat?! Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 now it looks like a luchadore in a ankle lock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anonymity1 Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 ^what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAustin Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 I find it kinda funny that they are proposing a face lift for the old man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUCK FUSH Posted May 9, 2003 Share Posted May 9, 2003 jesus christ dont people have better things to do in new hampshire than praise "spooky rock people" and hump thier cousins... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
$360 Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 should have fixed it years ago. i went once, when i was in overnight camp in NH. all i remember is being like "what the fuck? that looks nothing like an old man. ive been fucking lied to." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anonymity1 Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 ^^^^^those last two replies got me a laugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krook Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 Originally posted by BUCK FUSH jesus christ dont people have better things to do in new hampshire than praise "spooky rock people" and hump thier cousins... :lol: :eek: :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juggernaut Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 Originally posted by VAITOMANOCU The fall ended nearly a century of efforts to protect the 40-foot-tall landmark from the same natural forces that created it. precisely. nature hates you people. get over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VAITOMANOCU Posted May 11, 2003 Author Share Posted May 11, 2003 Originally posted by VAITOMANOCU: "We always thought it was the hand of God holding him up, and he let go." God is the one that hates you, not nature. Wait, but god made nature so...ah nevermind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldenglish Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 i like cops. i write graffiti. they dont bust me. know me and all that shit. love cops. hate the corrupt ones....read RAMPART LOS ANGELES and RIDERS OAKLAND. execute those bastards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrGraffiti2 Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 RIP Old Man Mountain! :cry: That honestly sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 why can't humans get over death? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Quickwood Posted May 16, 2003 Share Posted May 16, 2003 rip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest willy.wonka Posted May 16, 2003 Share Posted May 16, 2003 that shit was totally gay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TEARZ Posted May 17, 2003 Share Posted May 17, 2003 rip. i'm glad i got to see it, but i think that it's pathetic that a state that is cutting all social services and education is thinking about spending millions to rebuild a strange rock formation. guess nh cares more about an old man in a mountain than a young man in the street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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