The Great Smoky Mountains of Idaho - 2006

JEFFHEAD.COM ^ | September 24, 2006 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

While working this summer for the Federal Government on some communication issues on a ridgeline at about 7,000 feet in the mountains of Idaho, I was witness to the true, Great Smoky Mountains, not the mist and fog shrouded variety back east. Here's a picture I took.

The Great Smoky Mountains of Idaho - 2006

The wind had come up that day out of the south very strong and allowed us to get to this particular spot without fear of the fire. We passed through a National Guard check point and as Federal Employees, with a comm job to do, were allowed access.

Here are some more pictures from those days activities.

Looking the other way (to the south) from that same ridge line.


Mountain Comm shed. BTW, that building's roof line was covered by over 3 ft of snow in January. You can see
some damage in the background on the lower left to one of the solar cells from the heavy snow as it melted this Spring.


Yours truly working inside the shed on some PCB changes.


Working up on a tower at the other end, preparing to install a yagi directional antenna.

As a note, the next day, the wind turned around and blew from the north and the fire crossed the ridge line you see in that intial picture and the ridge we were working on had to be evacuated. Luckily, before it proceeded much further, the fire was extinguished by mountain rain and snow that has since fallen in that entire area.

[Jeff Head]

It's a terrible briar patch, I'll tell you...just terrrible.

[NormsRevenge]

Desolate spot,, where'd all the trees go?

Remember meeting a fellow a long time ago that was out re-planting forests in Idaho, looks like this spot could use a few more but great shots, Thanks! I like wilderness.

What kind of camera did you use, btw?

[andyk]

Cool pics! I was out at Hell's Canyon last week trying to sneak up on some trout, and the smoke was pretty thick there as well.

[cva66snipe]

Where's Rocky Top? Good pictures and you can deliver and set me up a tower and antenna for my scanners {in your spare time of course} :>}

[GOP Poet]

Idaho lover bookmark. Thanks for the pics!

[GOP Poet]

Idaho lover bookmark. Thanks for the pics!

[Jeff Head]

Well, the number of trees depends on the soil and slope of course. That particular location is high enough and rocky enough that the forests are not as dense...but there are LOTS of trees in there, particularly down in the lower drainages.

My camera is a a Kodak 4 MegaPixel digital camera with a 12X zoom lens. I have a gig of memory in it. It does pretty good videos too.

[free_at_jsl.com]

Looks like the ultimate DX site to me! Great pictures. Thanks.

[Bernard Marx]

Great pictures. They remind me of home, Jeff. I've hunted, fished and prospected large portions of central Idaho from the Lost River drainages west to Oregon, and north to the Clearwater. OTH we have similar smoky conditions here in southern CA every fall during "arson season." When the Santa Anas start blowing the arsonists get busy. Today's the first smoke-free day we've had for two weeks or so but I think the fires are still burning in the Los Padres area.

[LexBaird]

In the mountains of central Idaho.

Hiked 'em back in the day. Out from Sunbeam.

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks! That's rugged territory,, for sure,, that's a pretty good altitude.

[Alamo-Girl]

Buuump!

[Noumenon]

Nice shots - that sure is God's country. You're fortunate to have the sort of work that keeps you out there. We're going great guns with our satellite internet business, especially so since we picked up the WildBlue franchise. We're installing in every circumstance from grapes-'o-wrath to million dollar plus homes.

[Twinkie]

Very pretty. However, speaking from a Tennessee perspective - Bite yo' tongue!

[Twinkie]

Up side the "shrouded" mountains in the east, while possessing their own beauty, these mountains in the photo look like the East Tennessee/ North Carolina Smokies did before their visit to "The Tree Club For Mountains" several centuries ago.

[george76]

Thanks.

Are the dirt roads still open for older folks ?

[Dallas59]

Nice! Idaho...I always thought it was flat.

[Captiva]

Great hat!

GO NAVY - - BEAT NOTRE DAME!!

[hosepipe]

Grooovey post "and job"... being way out in bum heck Egypt is almost always a neat and unique experience.. Just getting there is worth the trip..

[Taxman]

Oh! How I miss living in the Big Sky Country!

Thanks for the reminder. Jeff.

Hope all is well with you and yours.