Garrison Hill Fire Tower

I've had cabin fever so far this Summer.. although I haven't been inside the entire time, I haven't been in the woods either. Between camps, Summer school, weekend getaways to the beach and loads of ice cream.. none of which are terrible, I've been kept busy. Realizing just how little Summer is left, I made the boys promise (with bribes and such) that for the next 2 weeks we would try to get out every day in some way, shape or form. I thought working on our NH Fire Tower list might be the easiest way to get in some exploring, while not doing anything crazy.. at least this week when son #1 has a morning camp. Next week we might go a little further.

So Day #1 dawned with rain, which wasn't going to stop me. We headed first for Garrison Hill Fire Tower in Dover. Which is ironic, because I lived down the street for 2 years and have driven past at least a gazillion times, but had never actually taken the turn up the rather steep Abbey Sawyer Memorial Highway (odd name for a little side street) to Garrison Park and the fire tower. It is relatively well maintained, with some picnic tables and plenty of greenspace for the kids to run around. I can see that it might be a good hideaway hangout with its somewhat hidden location.. beer can remnants were a confirmation of that. We headed up the tower anyway, which is dauntingly tall for someone with a fear of heights..  but extremely sturdy. Definitely the biggest fire tower I've been on, not sure about height, but overall width and size of platforms etc.. the top has a 360 degree platform (stairs come up the middle) with a metal bench and everything! Aidan was excited as there was a Pokemon ball painted at the top of the stairs. He quickly took out his Pokémon Go app and discovered it's actually a "Pokémon Gym".. whatever that means, although he wasn't able to overturn it. We took the obligatory pictures, a quick video, then descended and made it back to the car right before the heavens opened up and it started raining.

Strava Activity

overlooking downtown Dover

The somewhat overgrown sign at the bottom of Abbey Sawyer Memorial Highway