This is Really Weird!
 

This evening a little before 7 PM a neighbor called us to ask if we were seeing the same strange light on the peak of Rattlesnake Island that they were. We hadn't noticed it, so we went outside to look. Sure enough, right at the peak of the highest part of Rattlesnake was a light. We got out our spotting scope and were amazed to see a perfect triangle comprised of a number of individual lights. I mounted my camera on a tripod and zoomed out to the maximum focal length to see if I could get a picture of the light. The photo isn't nearly as sharp and clear as what we saw through the spotting scope, but I thought it was worth posting here to see if anyone has the slightest idea what it could be! We believe that electrical power is out over the entire island, so whatever this light is, it must be either powered by a generator or a battery. And who would climb to the highest peak on Rattlesnake in the winter to erect a triangular light like this, resembling a Christmas tree? Anyone have any ideas?

http://echoshores.com/Photos/Rattles...ght_030110.jpg

face with a cross?
 

What would you estimate the highth and width at base of the object Don?

That *is* weird! :eek: I wonder what it is?? Hopefully others saw/see it too and respond.

Weird
 

Don,

Is it definitly "on" the island or maybe something beyond the island on the other side of the lake?

This image was just a point of light that initially looked like a star until we viewed it with the spotting scope. We quickly discounted it being a star, however, as the sky is overcast tonight and no stars were visible. It's really impossible to estimate the actual size of this object, based on it's distance from us (at least a mile away) and the fact that the photo I posted is tremendously enlarged.

Steve, I can't say with certainty that it is actually "on" the island, but it certainly appeared that way to us. We could just make out the peak of Rattlesnake against the sky beyond it (from our vantage point), and the triangular light appeared to be directly on the peak of Rattlesnake. Rattlesnake Island is so high that from our house we cannot see any of the Ossipee mountains beyond it. In other words, when we look at Rattlesnake in the daylight, all we can see above it is sky. So I don't believe the light could be on any other point of land.

Too dark for the Twilight Zone
 

do do do do; do do do do; :laugh: (see that would be like the Twilight Zone theme. What dear????? Yes dear, I will take my medication and go to bed.:emb:)






do do do do; do do...

Strange Light
 

My wife and I have a house in twenty-mile bay. For years we have seen an odd light out over the lake in the direction out beyond Long Island and or Sandy Island. From our perspective the light appears to be miles away and sometimes at the level of the distant mountains and sometimes lower. We have watched it for hours with binoculars or spotting scope. It definitely moves around and then hangs stationary for long periods. We can't figure it out.

Could it be "The Great Smiling Spirit"?
 

I blew it up on my PC and was amazed at what I saw![

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...00/rattle1.jpg

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

Love it!

Am I missing something
 

Where is the link to the original picture?

It is not really a link but is within the body of the first entry in the thread.

Me too! Excellent, Riverat!

Could it be the lights for night skiing at Gunstock? They are quite bright.

We're on the southern shoreline of the lake just west of Minge Cove, and Rattlesnake is north of us. Gunstock's to our southwest and we can't see it from our house.

Here's a winter photo I took of Rattlesnake a couple years ago. There's nothing beyond it from our vantage point but sky.

http://echoshores.com/Photos/Rattles...n_Daylight.jpg

The strange triangular light we saw last night appeared to be coming from the tallest crest of the island.

wow
 

that is creepy!

Now that it's daylight, is there anything visible on the crest of the hill? Maybe a telescope could allow a better image of what's up there. Keep us informed!

Nothing There
 

QL and I scanned the entire large crest of the island with our scope this morning and could not see anything other than trees and rock. Here's a photo I took a couple years ago showing a close-up of that area.

http://echoshores.com/Photos/Rattlesnake_Closeup.jpg

I'm a bit geographically challenged, and wonder what town or area is beyond Rattlesnake, following the line of sight from your house? Is it possible that whatever it is could have been there? Regardless of what or where it is, this is a fun mystery! :)

Town Hall Ghost
 

I think that the Alton Town Hall ghost was out for an evening fly around. Maybe a case of cabin fever and too many Girl Scout cookies.

Should the incident be reported here?
http://www.paranormalnews.com/

Beyond Rattlesnake from our vantage point is Winter Harbor, Tuftonboro and beyond that, the Ossipee mountain range. But Rattlesnake is so high at it's peak that we can't see anything beyond it from here.

You will have to tell us if it reappears tonight.... then we can really panic, because it means the little green guys are coming back to either pick somone/something up or drop something back off......

Similiar lights were reported in Haiti and Chile shortly before the earthquakes! :devil:

Something to try
 

DRH, something we do when taking preliminary photos of a job when we need a close up is to put one reticle of a pair of binoculars over the lens of the digital camera. It zooms us in far closer than the standard zoom on the camera. Try it out and see if it will get you a little closer, you will have a black edge all around as the relief will not be correct, but that should not matter.

I think a call to the government is in order, maybe they are conducting tests on the island while everyone was in the dark.:rolleye2:

St. Elmos Fire
 

Maybe it was this phenomena called St. Elmos Fire attaching itself to a Barren tree trunk at the top of the island. NB

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Elmos_Fire

Or maybe its some Mexican geese with a full load of beans headed north ?

I think it is the new night time speed limit sign. :eek:

Actually I was watching a show on disc channel (I think) last night that was about strange lights at night that appeared out of nowhere in the mountains and in a dessert. There were many theories to these but one of them were that the granite was giving of electrical emission in the form off a plasma type ball or bubble that would float and sometimes move around, this was usually just before an earthquake of great to moderate magnatude was taken place sowewhere in the world, sometimes far away. The granite would compress causing electricity and than would find it's way to the surface through a fissure and burp out a bubble of plasma, they duplicated it in a lab atmosphere but could not make it last more than a blink of an eye.
One study of the phenomenon was in NC mountains where the folklore has it as spirits of native americans had a fierce and bloody battle in that area 3-400 years ago and legend has it that the strange lights seen by many are from spirits trapped and reliveng the battle. Very interesting, did anyone else happen to see this show? How strange that the next day this post is here.

Brown Mountain NC
http://www.ibiblio.org/ghosts/bmtn.html

awaiting the Mother Ship . . .
 

I'm wondering who will show up first: Richard Dreyfuss and his pile of mashed potatoes or Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. If they all show up, the will the movie be called "Close Encounters with Men In Black"???? :laugh::laugh::laugh:

Inquiring minds want to know!!!!

Most interesting....
 

Sitting here on the beach in Florida reading these posts and it makes us wicked anxious to get back up to the lake! Hey, Lake Snake, how is your mom doing over in Naples? And, Quilt Lady, how are your Siamese cats?
We'll be back early this year and REALLLLY looking forward to another fabulous summer!:D

Found It!
 

I think we've found the source of the strange triangle of lights from last night. It was virtually pitch black when I took the photo of the light on Rattlesnake last night. The sky was overcast so there was no visible moonlight. However, by significantly increasing the exposure of the picture in PhotoShop, I was able to bring out the treeline on Rattlesnake. Also, I was able to spot a conspicuous tree that is growing out over the water on the southeastern tip of Sleepers Island (the closest tip to Cub Island). The triangle of lights was directly above that tree on Sleepers. Here's the overexposed shot:

http://echoshores.com/Photos/Triangle_Shape_1.jpg

Having a good idea of where the light was coming from, today I scanned that area of Rattlesnake where the light came from. With Quilt Lady's help, we found the source! It appears as though someone was having some fun. We were able to spot a very thin blue triangular outline in the exact spot where the light came from last night.

Next, I tried what jmen24 suggested and shot a picture directly through the spotting scope. The quality of the image is not very good, but by cropping and sharpening the photo the outline of the blue triangular frame is just barely visible. I put a red circle around it in the photo below:

http://echoshores.com/Photos/Triangle_Shape_2.jpg

We are suspecting that the outline of this frame is lined with small, white, bulbs that are powered either by a battery or maybe a solar panel/battery combination. Someone went to some trouble to set this up, and we're wondering who did it (excellent prank, by the way!), and when they set it up. No one along our shoreline had seen the light until last night.

So, the mystery is partially solved in that we now know it probably wasn't the Alton Town Hall ghost out for a prowl on Rattlesnake, and it probably wasn't a UFO landing. But who did it and when? :laugh:

Rational explanations sure take the fun out of things. But good detective work! Congrats.

This is kinda like looking for Sasquatch in the bushs. :D :D NB

I dunno... I sharpened this some more and I think we're missing a heck of a party...

http://usera.ImageCave.com/calvinandginger/Party.jpg

I knew you'd figure it out...
 

Hi Don.. Glad to see you are keeping busy. I know that Russell and Joyce are back home in ME.. so it wasn't him. Sure wish I could have been on our side of the island to see this....

I like AG's explaination better, if Jim Morrison was there than we did miss a heck of a party!

This Could be the answer: :D :D NB

Wait a minute: I see another VISION below the Space Ship...........Is that Peter, Paul, and Mary..??

It's Baaaaaaaaack!
 

The triangle shaped lights were back on this evening. We suspect they may be solar powered because they start out bright and then fade away after an hour or so.

Dam drugs....someone has to do something about the drugs

We'll Know by Next Month?
 

;) Possibly, the answer is in the original post:

:confused: It's also possible that it's an innocently placed solar-powered pathway that hadn't been "focused-on" until now. :look:

brings back memories
 

That's the same one that picked me up a few years ago and forced me to do unspeakable things with some of the female aliens!! :laugh:

Stranded
 

Could someone be stranded up there and is signaling for help!!! :coolsm:
As soon as I can get on the island, a trip up there is certainly in order!!!!! DRH, you and Quilt Lady should help on this expedition. Can you use a satellite photo and your photo to get the LAT LON coordinates?

IG

I could estimate the lat/lon location pretty closely. Also, now that we have identified the spot visibly from our house, we could stay here with the spotting scope trained on the exact location and communicate with you by cell phone out there. We'd be able to see you when you got close, and could direct you to the exact spot.

Now be honest with us ... isn't the real reason you want to go up there so you can snag a ride in the saucer? :laugh:

You got that right
 

Of course I want a ride in the saucer.... a fast one!!

Sure, you guys sit in a nice warm house with a spotting scope, while we hike up in the snow and mud and cold..... :laugh:

IG

jeanzb1
 

Where are you sitting on a beach in Naples??? Been here since end of December and it has been the coldest winter in years - but warmer than Smith Point, that's for sure. Looking forward to being back before ice out.

I was really hoping this wasn't man-made. If anyone wants to take me up in a plane to solve this, I'll bring my camera gear. :)

You should insert an image of a rock bass to complete the picture.

(Linger longer!)

Reply to Lake Lady 6
 

Actually, we're not in Naples, but rather we're on the other side of Florida.
A wonderful barrier island between Vero Beach and Fort Pierce called North Hutchinson Island. You're right, though, it's been the worst Florida winter ever, record-setting cold, wind and clouds day after day after day. :confused:

sighting
 

see I suggested a windmill on top of Rattlesnake for elect power, and I suggested that AT&T put a cell tower. Now we will get better phone use on the lake.:emb:

saucer
 

Island Girl Is Flying Saucer the next mode of transportation to and from the island??:confused:

lights on Rattlesnake
 

Well i sure did enjoy reading the thread about the lights on Rattlsnakes Mtn.
I skied out to the Island this past weekend and Sunday we hiked to the top.
And not to ruin anyones fun but yes there is 4 pieces or rebar formed into a triangle with 3 solar collectors and a string of Christmas lights. It faces west kinda towards Gunstock. The rebar is wrapped in green tape maybe to help hide it in the daylight,I don't know. But It sure was an adventure for my 12 year old to go up the Mtn with a mission. No signs of Aliens. I think she was hoping on finding Edward from Twighlight though.

Mystery solved! Although I was looking forward to the saucer rides.

This discovery is really going to cut into the crowds of people who were going to come and ride the mount to spot the aliens this summer. Could have been our version of the loch nes monster.

That thing could still be some sort of Beacon for the Mother Ship to home in on.. or maybe to draw energy out of the mountain. I HOPE you didn't Touch it...:D NB

touch it ???
 

oh no i did not touch it. Maybe we can keep this our little secret. Keep people wondering

Thanks for Solving the Mystery!
 

Thanks for posting your adventure for us to enjoy SS-194! It's just great.

Thank yous also go to DRH and Quilt Lady for bringing this fun to us in the first place.

I can't wait to get back to the island!!! :D

Now if we can only solve the mystery of What is this Stone Structure? :laugh:

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...il05_084_2.jpg

Someone was very creative! Wonder just how long it was there before DRH & Quilt Lady saw it.

Since it has now been discovered watch and see if it disapears soon or after ice out. It would just add to the mystery.

Shhhhh ....... ;)

Is this a faulty Silo on Three Mile Island?

It is a colonial period missile silo
 

Although it is hard to find in history books, New England farmers were quite inventive. This was a precursor to the Nike missile sites that surrounded major cities in the late 50's. It probably was for the defence of Laconia and was erected when it appeared that we would be at war with England in the early 1800's. You dump several barrels of gunpowder down the stack and then pick up all the boulders that farmers would donate and place them on top of the powder and ignite!

Missile silo
 

That is correct - if you measure the angle of the silo it is precisely targeted at a likely approach/camping area for British troops south of Laconia. The amount of charge loaded would determine the distance. The abundance of glacial rocks in the area provided plenty of ammo.

Check Mate
 

Methinks there's a king on Governor's Island.

We on the other hand are sitting in Naples, enjoying the finally warmer weather.

I think the stone structure pictured above is part of the well known subterranean cow tunnels on Moultonborough Neck. It may be connected to the rail siding at the Kona Mansion discussed on another thread.:laugh:

did anyone see a light to the south last summer?
 

Last summer (can't remember the date) a saw a very bright stationary white light to the south with a clearly visible white cone below it, We watched for a couple minutes then it disappeared. I called Wolfeboro police to see if anyone reported a UFO (they had not). The next day online there was news of UFO reports from Virginia to Connecticut of a light in the sky. Turned out to be a satelite launched from Virgina that intentionally had lighted material in the exhaust to study the atmosphere. Hard to believe you could clearly see a rocket launched in Virgina in NH.

... I was talking with someone at the polls on Tuesday about this website and they said: "Hey, did you see that post where some nut put a UFO and Big Foot in a picture?" :laugh:

Lets not forget "Peter, Paul and Mary". :D NB

Note: That was a Folk singing group in the 60s.

How about some pictures, after all your effort to get out there I was hoping you didn't forget your camera.

Newbie, how did you know... I mean how do you think they got the Cows out to Cow Island after all....My understanding is that at some point there was a dispute about land rights from one of the land owners that owned the land that the tunnel went under, and they caved it in. So it is no longer in working condition. On top of that at some point there was a UFO crash into Cow Island which demolished the opening over there. In order to try and clean up the crash site the Men in Black build the first few water front camps on the Island, one of which it is rumored was built right on top of the old transport tunnel opening.....

Unfortunately do to all of this the tunnel system never really got completed but it was to include some of the other islands in the area, and eventually tie into the rail line from Kona, with a station located somewhere out in the middle of the broads....

Dam Aliens the ruin everything.......

Yes, I know. I've seen them in concert - Mary had just become a grandmother... and was crowing about like any new grandmother.... :)

(I kinda liked putting Morrison, Hendrix, and Jopin the pic... couldn't find a good one of Amelia Earhart...)

Hanalei Island?
 

There is a "Magic Dragon" out on that island?? Maybe the rattlesnakes were just a ploy.

We saw that as well. It was pretty cool to see, and once we found out what it was we weren't so scared. :emb:

You do know full well that in ten years or so, you or I will hear this story retold as fact from someone.:laugh::laugh:

Well as an owner of a photo lab I am ashamed to say, I did not have a camera with me

Serpent Island
 

If you read the novel, Serpent Island, you will find the Magic dragon lives in the bowels of the island.

IG

bwahahahaha!!!
 

Oh man Argie'sWife, I just choked on my Girl Scout Cookie when I saw that picture! That is a classic, classic piece of work. It should be framed and sold to the highest bidder at Forum Fest:laugh:

Now I Remenber....WOODSTOCK ('69). I didn't remember by myself. My wife (of 43 years) had to remember for me. I was going to College at the time and didn't have time to pay attention. :D :D

Sometime Later: I worked with a guy in my field (Engineering) who "said" he went to Woodstock. :) Woodstock was a "Happening". ...History. NB

It's a portal.....:eek: