Bald (Rondaxe) Mountain
Fire Tower Restoration Project
Website Provided By
Friends of Bald Mt., Box 914, Old Forge, NY 13420

 2011 Spring Vandals on the Summit UPDATED - Link
2010 News from FOBM link
2009 Progress Report – and photos!
2008 – Phase III of the Restoration Project Continues
Link to Photos of the New KIOSK installed in June!
 2007 NEWS – from FoBM
2006 Progress Report - We're Still Working!

Steering Committee
(Original Volunteers of  our "Adopt-A-Natural Resource Agreement" & current officers) 

Co-Chairman
Ann Spaziano - MacBride

Co-Chairman
Barb Ball

Secretary/Treasurer
Peg Masters

Janice Walter Ferrick
Sandy Tetreault
Reed & Barb Proper
Jack Ball
Charlie & June Kiefer
John & Betty Young
Kevin MacBride
Richard A. Ulrich
Walter Coogan**
Gary VanRiper
Jim Tracy
Pat Ferrick
Hans Schmid
Larry Coon
  **The committee sadly acknowledges the loss of Walter Coogan of Syracuse who died of cancer in December 2003

Hiking
Directions

The official DEC parking area is on the Rondaxe Road off Rte. 28 approx. 2 miles north of the Hamlet of Old Forge, NY

Summit Report 2005!
Party on the Summit! - Dedication Day
Re-Opening-Dedication Set for June 18, 2005

  2004 Work Project Photos
Nov. 2004 - Security Fence Installation - Donor Thank Yous!
September 25th-26th - Fire Spotters - 3-days of great progress!
September 18th - Platforms-New Cab Floor! - Great weather helps crews!  
September 15th - Supply Drop by Helicopter - Coordinated by DEC! 
September 8th, 2004 -Trash - Vandals - But . . . Progress Link!  
August 11th, 2004 - Mystery Summit Volunteers - haul platform boards
June 5th, 2004 - HOW DID THEY DO THAT? - painting the fire tower
Notes from our Supporters - Link  
July Financial Report - Link  
Fundraiser Patches Available - Info HERE
Bald (Rondaxe) Mt. Map Location from TopoZone

also Fire Tower History - in vintage photos! Updated 12/04!

2003 Workday Photos from June-July-August-September

 In June of 2003, this is what the tower looked like. If you haven't climbed to the tower recently, check out these pictures!

Marty Podskoch - New Book with Bald Mt. History

April 2003: Funds raised to date: $4,415!!
Great Story -  Bob & Janet Evans - Former Observers

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Friends of Bald Mountain Steering Committee
     In May of 2002, members of the Rochester based Genesee Valley Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club organized a meeting in Old Forge, NY for anyone interested in forming a committee to develop a plan for restoring the Fire Tower on Bald Mountain. The Bald Mountain Tower, also known as the Rondaxe Fire Tower, was officially closed by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in 1990.  More than 10 years of harsh weather and lack of maintenance have left the historic tower in great need of repairs. A committee was formed that evening to begin the task of restoring the tower to its original condition, developing an educational component that highlights the tower's human and environmental history, and to recruit partners who would lend manpower and financial support for the project. 

DEC Logo

Adirondack Architectural Heritage Logo

ADK Logo

Partnerships
     The steering committee is working with The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and have signed a formal 5-yr. commitment "Adopt-A-Natural-Resource" agreement with the DEC. In addition to restoring the tower, the committee plans to work with local DEC personnel on trail maintenance, improve signage, and an educational component that teaches good conservation practices including fire prevention. We are currently serving under a second 5-year "Adopt-A-Natural-Resource" agreement with DEC.

     Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), located in Keeseville, NY, agreed to work with the Friends of Bald Mountain Steering committee to provide administrative services related to funds, and share their experiences working with other Adirondack communities working to restore their local fire towers. AARCH recently was successful in getting eight other fire towers in the Adirondacks listed on the National Historic Register. AARCH served as our not-for-profit sponsor for the first five years of our restoration project. 

     We were fortunate to have several members of the Genesee Chapter of ADK in Rochester on our steering committee.  They are committed to recruiting additional laborers for tower work projects, trail maintenance, and helping to publicize our efforts to raise funds for the restoration of the Bald Mt. Tower. 

Location from USGS

Progress Notes from 2002 - A summer of fund raising & public awareness of our project

August 23, 2002 - OLD FORGE, NY: The Friends of Bald (Rondaxe) Mountain Steering Committee met recently to outline work projects for the fall of 2002. Priority will be given to upgrading the staircase of the Bald Mountain Tower by replacing stair treads, landings, and security fencing. Depending on fundraising efforts during the winter of 2002-2003, the committee hopes to repair and paint the cab, replace the flooring, add security windows, and install an interpretive map of the geological features viewed from the tower. Treasurer Janice Walter Ferrick announced that $917 has been collected to date from donations to the restoration fund. Expenses for brochure printing and postage total $181.65. A collectible patch design has been selected which the committee hopes to produce and sell at $5 each plus $1 for shipping. To reserve a patch, contact Treasurer Janice Ferrick.

September 4, 2002 - Old Forge, NY: The Friends of Bald (Rondaxe) Mountain Steering Committee have distributed nearly 2000 brochures to date. Our funds are growing and we have collected $1,557. Thanks to all who are getting the word out and to all our donors! Members of the committee are working on a new brochure, final approval of the patch design, publicity releases to area newspapers, and details of the "Adopt-A-Natural-Resource" agreement with the DEC so that work can commence soon. 

September 20, 2002 - OLD FORGE: Steering committee members L. Coon, D. Ulrich, and P.  Masters met with ADK Fall Outing Hikers on the summit of Bald Mt. over the weekend. More than a third of the group attending the conference at Water's Edge in Old Forge made the trip to the summit to hear about the fire tower's history and plans of the committee for their restoration project. Photo provided by Larry Coon of the ADK Genesee Valley Chapter.  NYS Forest Ranger Doug Riedman from the region reports that in 2002 thru 8/31/02 - 10,014 signed the register book. This compares with an average of 6500 users per year over the past several years. Friends of Bald Mt. Treasurer Janice Ferrick reports that as of September 18, 2002, the restoration project has received $3,492!