Thread: Ice+wind=disaster

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Well, I haven't really said much about my other hobbies because this site is mostly Gearheads but I think this is kinda interesting.
After reading the post on Snowfall, I thought I'd share.

Back in the late 60's, I built up a radio relay network across Washington State for use by those interested in Radio communications.
It is Amateur in nature but seems to be pretty popular even in this Cell phone day and age. Since it's open to the public, hundreds of folks use it to stay in touch especially in emergencies. Most of these sites are diesel, solar or wind powered.
The relay stations are located on Mountain tops around the state and that gives them the vantage points to send signals hundreds of miles and then relayed on again to the next location.

One of my sites is located on a tower near Mt Vernon Washington. It is 4500 feet elevation and gets some of the harshest weather you can imagine.
Last week, the relay station quit working along with several commercial and law enforcement stations.

Some of the guys who help me maintain this thing made the 15 mile trip by snow cat and found the tower we use laying on the ground in pieces.
seems like the bolts that hold one of the legs to the concrete just broke off.
After seeing it's companion tower further up the ridge you can imaging the ice loading weight. Winds were recorded at well over 100 mph during the ice storm.

Leaves me with about 2000.00 in ruined antennas and transmission lines, not to mention the labor of re installation.
I think I'm gonna stick to cars.....It's cheaper and I'm glad I didn't go on this trip. Snow was 25 feet deep in places.
I included a few pix but I've got dozen's more.

DT

WOW!!!!!!!! I'll stick with complaining about my East Tennessee 20 degree temps and no snow!!! :-)