# Why were the mountains wearing tarps? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 15, 2024, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332 "2024-04-15T19:57:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/1 "2024-04-15T19:57:37Z")
Spotted to the east of I-81, near Scranton PA, on Saturday. I glanced to the left, and saw that several of the mountains there appeared to basically be covered in absolutely ginormous black fabric. I know there’s coal mining in that part of Pennsylvania, and my first thought was something to do with strip mining, but I didn’t think that was still being done. Erosion control for other reasons? Something else? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/2 "2024-04-15T20:03:45Z")
In the winter when I drive by there, I see the ski slopes; maybe something to do with that? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/3 "2024-04-15T20:10:56Z")
I’ve seen them do that with trash heaps. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/4 "2024-04-15T21:34:55Z")
One of the people in the car suggested trash, though these seemed larger than trash mountains we have seen elsewhere. Those also tend to be a single mound (pretty sure there were at least 2 such mountains). It’s conceivable that they were for ski installations, but those tend to be strips, not an entire mountaintop. We typically drive that way once or twice a year; I’ll keep a look out the next time (likely August). If we happen to stop for lunch in Scranton, maybe I’ll ask someone. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/5 "2024-04-15T21:36:58Z")
Christo back from the dead and hard at work again? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/6 "2024-04-15T21:38:47Z")
I was up the Poconos today, traveling through the Lehigh Tunnel up to Albrightsville (near Big Boulder). I saw zero mountains wearing yarmulkes, so I’m no help. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/7 "2024-04-16T03:51:14Z")
If the OP means [these things](https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/newport-beach-california-january-16-2017-1941063976) it is for erosion control (along a highway that eroded stuff falls on the highway which can cause problems, be dangerous and cost money to clean-up). ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/8 "2024-04-16T16:06:39Z")
It was very much like that, but seemed to be on a much larger scale. It was some distance (a few miles?) from the interstate, but there may well have been other roads somewhere near there that were at risk; it’s a very, very hilly area (to the point where, if we stop for lunch / fuel there, we’re doing a lot of zig-zagging). In NJ and NY, where roads have been cut through mountains, you’ll often see mesh over the vertical surfaces to reduce the risk of falling rocks. ---
**Author:** ![Cwturner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Cwturner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cwturner)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/9 "2024-04-16T22:41:10Z")
If this was North bound just pat Moosic, Im sure it was a landfill (Waste Management Alliance). I just passed it last weekend myself, and have been watching it grow for the past 20+ years. Huge area. Several hundreds of feet long. They’ll eventually add soil and some sort of grass for erosion control, I guess. There are “vent pipes” all across the mountain. Surprised at that as I’d expect a methane collection system? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/10 "2024-04-16T23:11:25Z")
> [@Cwturner](#): > > If this was North bound just pat Moosic, Im sure it was a landfill (Waste Management Alliance). > I just passed it last weekend myself, and have been watching it grow for the past 20+ years. Huge area. Several hundreds of feet long. Could be. It was to the east - on our right as we were driving south. I could swear there were at least 2 mountains involved. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/11 "2024-04-16T23:24:16Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > It was some distance (a few miles?) from the interstate, but there may well have been other roads somewhere near there that were at risk; Presumably the erosion control is meant to protect things above it and/or below it. Buildings at risk above and/or roads/buildings below. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/12 "2024-04-17T00:40:12Z")
If you were driving south and it was to your right, then it would have been to the west rather than to the east. Even in NEPA! ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/13 "2024-04-17T01:43:34Z")
D’oh!!! I meant it was on our LEFT, as we drove south. i.e. east. I can tell directions, really I can. (I did get it right in the OP, at least). ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/14 "2024-04-17T01:54:51Z")
It’s okay…I meant what you knew. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2024, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-the-mountains-wearing-tarps/1000332/15 "2024-04-18T18:49:49Z")
One man’s mountain, may be someone else’s molehill.