GRAFFITTI

SOAPSTONE MOUNTAIN OBSERVATION DECK

SOMERS CT

 

Being the unabashed rockhound that I am, I got quite excited when I found the location for Soapstone Mountain on my way from the airport at Windor Locks, CT to Norwich last June.

At 1075 feet above sea level, it’s not exactly Everest, but it does rise rather precipitously from the lowlands below.

Soapstone, also called steatite, is a talc-rich mineral that can be carved into many items, both useful and ornamental. I found the mountain’s location on the DeLorme Atlas of Connecticut and Rhode Island, and it took some doing, but after several false starts, I climbed the mountain’s twisty road to a collection of towers at the crest of the mountain. I never found the soapstone deposit (I didn’t look very hard; I was more interested in getting to Norwich), but I did find the tower (a Doppler Weather Radar installation), a great view towards the north, and some interesting graffiti.

 

I like to think that the bare trees and patches if ice surrounding my farm will soon turn as green and warm as on the day I took the pictures.

The city in the distance is likely Springfield Massachusetts.