by Bea Peterson
The foliage in Grafton is at its peak, and it is spectacular. The trails in Grafton Lakes State Park are a real treat this time of year. Last week the Hudson Valley Community College course for seniors called “Hiking in the Fall with Phil (Fountain)” trekked to the Dickinson Hill Fire Tower, the first of four Tuesday jaunts in October. 
A mixed group of ages and skills met at Walker’s Trailhead at the far end of Long Pond. There were members of the Taconic Hiking Club as well as those hiking with Phil, about 30 in all.
During the orientation session the week before, hikers had been told to wear sturdy boots, bring a walking stick and carry a pack with water, lunch, first aid kit, etc. in it. It looked as though most had complied.
The hike began by walking up the Fire Tower Trail. It was washed out in places, and it was a hard hike. After a while we hit good road. Somehow our leaders missed the gate to the Fire Tower, and we walked well beyond it before discovering the mistake and turning back. No problem, as the day was mild, and the woodlands attractive.
The trail to the Tower is a little rugged for a novice, and it appeared that everyone was happy to sit down on whatever was handy and dig into some lunch. The hearty climbed the Tower. Several articles have been written about the Dickinson Hill Fire Tower. Plans to claim ownership and restore it have been underway for years. However, the latest information from officials of the New York State Police is that we should not have been there and no one should be climbing the tower at this point. Hopefully, one day it will be refurbished and the public will be able to enjoy the view from the top.
The Dickinson Hill Aermotor steel fire tower in Grafton was erected in 1924. It is 60 feet high and stands at an elevation of 1,760 feet.
According to the minutes of a meeting on the internet, in 1996, at the Eastern Meeting of the Forest Fire Lookout Association, there was a motion by the Vermont member to relocate the Dickinson Hill Tower to that state. Interesting. That was before efforts began here to save the Tower for Grafton.
Several days of mental preparation is suggested before climbing the Tower. It’s not for the faint of heart. But it’s worth it; the views are spectacular. You can see the Tomhannock Reservoir in one direction and Greylock Mountain in the other.
After lunch the group trekked back down to the road and returned on the Chet Bell Trail. It was a fun day.
