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Message: <blockquote data-quote="hark" data-source="post: 218663" data-attributes="member: 13196">Not far from the Van Sant Covered Bridge which is posted at the beginning of the thread is Bowman's Hill Tower. It is very close to Washington's Crossing and was built in 1929-31 to commemorate George Washington and his troops crossing the Delaware River. It sits atop a hill that overlooks a vast amount of the area although no one knows for sure if this hill was a lookout spot for Washington's troops. <img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3745/10841539496_d45f634053_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />The inside of the tower was built with a circular staircase to the top. At some point they installed an elevator so people have the choice of climbing the stairs or using the elevator. However, when you get off the elevator, there is a small landing. At this point, you can't get outside yet. There is another very tight staircase comprised of 23 steps that must be climbed before you can walk outside onto the roof. I was standing on the landing when the elevator doors opened carrying 3 senior citizens (all of whom looked to be at least 68 years young, and one who looked to be at least 10 years older). When they realized they still had a set of stairs to climb, they weren't sure if they would proceed. Here's a view from the small landing, and you can see the bottom few steps that lead to the roof. <img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3771/10841488425_48435f4674_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />They started to climb the steps but fear kept the oldest from going too high. They returned to the landing then made another attempt. This second time they were successful at reaching the top!Those last 23 steps are incredibly challenging to climb. They are triangular in shape, and the only way to place your foot completely on the step is to turn your foot sideways. I'd say the width of the staircase is no wider than 3-feet so it's a tight squeeze especially when placing your foot sideways on the steps. If you don't set your foot sideways, the back part of your foot and heel cannot fit onto the step. The depth of each step (from front to back on the wide side) is only about 8" ::what:: although it appears larger in the photo. Below is a view of what the steps look like from the roof. I wish I could have taken a shot with my foot on the step, but I'm afraid I might have tumbled headfirst down the stairs! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7406/10841630794_c6520ee881_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></blockquote>

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