Most of N.H.'s Old Man of Mountain Falls

Yahoo ^ | 5-3-03 | unknown

[jmc813]

The Old Man of the Mountain, New Hampshire's natural stone profile that looks like a gnarled human face, fell from its mountainside overnight, a state official said Saturday.

AP Photo

Don Bliss, the state's director of emergency management, said there were no injuries. A Franconia emergency dispatcher also confirmed that the rock profile had fallen.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the damage, but Amy Bahr, president of the Franconia Heritage Museum, said she has long been aware that the natural profile could slide. There had been several efforts over the years to stabilize it.

"I knew it would go sometime, I just didn't think it would happen in my lifetime," Bahr said.

The profile, about 40 feet high and 25 feet wide, was one of the most photographed sites in the state and was considered New Hampshire's state symbol, appearing on travel brochures and even the state quarter.

It was located in Franconia State Park, about 70 miles north of Concord, and to the west of Interstate 93, about 1,200 feet above Profile Lake.

"You don't think about it much, but it's what everybody comes to see, it's our thing. And now it's gone," said Eric Mueller, who works at Franconia Hardware Store.

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On the Net:

http://www.nhparks.state.nh.us

[Lil'freeper]

Goodness gracious, wht a shame.

[RightWhale]

it's what everybody comes to see.

That's right. It's the main reason for going up there. Was.

[El Sordo]

It's an omen!

A dark omen, I tell you!

[Dog Gone]

Now, they have to change the design of their state quarter.

[battlegearboat]

They lose the early primary.

[konaice]

So where is the "After" photo?
Or is this a LATE april fool joke?

[GiveEmDubya]

As a New Hampshirite at heart, this is terrible news.

[Larry Lucido]

It's always a shame when any state loses face.

[Brilliant]

Apparently, God doesn't like someone in New Hampshire.

[gitmo]

When you get that old, lots of stuff falls.

[COBOL2Java]

Also posted here.

[sauropod]

Yup. Sure is.

But don't ask me to box it up for you for a donation as part of your education efforts ;-).

[Mike Darancette]

Geology in action. Probably loosened by ice in the cold weather this winter.

[rface]

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Wasn't the Old Man of the Mountain a moslem sect
that started the assassins cult?

[RaceBannon]

This is awful! I have been there half a dozen times, that was so cool to look at!

[eno_]

This is about the time of year something at that elevation in northern NH thaws. So if ice forced open a crack, this is when it would let go. You will find lots of falling rock in all mountain areas this time of year.

[Dog Gone]

BEFORE:

Sat May 3, 2:26 PM ET

AFTER:

Sat May 3, 2:26 PM ET

[RaceBannon]

All my videos are rare now!!