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UER Forum > Archived Canada: Alberta / BC > Mt. Thynne - Microwave towers, Firewatch Station (Viewed 288 times)
Clutchy 


Location: B.C.
Gender: Male


Now with 20% less sarcasm!

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Mt. Thynne - Microwave towers, Firewatch Station
< on 8/13/2009 8:47 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I like Looking for benchmarks. You know those round brass discs that are set in stone/concrete about 2 1/2" diameter that are used for surveying. They look like this...




Well i was browsing through Natural Resources Canada website trying to identify one that I had found a long time ago that was without an ID#. There was no listing for the one that I had found, but I did find a listing for one on the summit of Mt.Thynne (the image above). In the description for its location they mentioned a firewatch tower....which just so happens to be something else I like to visit, so a couple of weeks ago I headed out there to check it out.

Along the way up the mountain road I came across a building, which turns out to belong to the Merrit snowmobile club.



Some one forgot to lock the door, so I gave it a quick look through before continuing on.



Nearing the summit you come to a microwave tower, which seems to be relatively new. Obviously it was well secured so no interior shots but the outside was interesting enough.











There was also a small building there which seemed to be for Ham/Vhf/ Amateur radio? that had a large solar panel on its roof, that I think made for a cool picture.



Moving on to the summit, you come to a second microwave tower, as well as some other type of electrical equipment that I am not familiar with.











Hmmm.... maybe thats why I was getting a headache....




Then finally at the actual summit (6600 ft elev.) I find the benchmark and the firewatch tower.










This is my favourite shot, showing the outhouse (sans door), woodshed, and watch tower. Interesting to see that all the buildings have tin on the roof, with heavy electrical cables going down to grounding rods. That would be quite the surprise to be using the outhouse, and be struck by lightning.





All in all it was a nice trip, a good way to waste a sunday. Hope you enjoy the pics.

nobody 


Location: VANCOUVER B.C.
Gender: Male


5:55 is a state of mind

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Re: Mt. Thynne - Microwave towers, Firewatch Station
<Reply # 1 on 8/13/2009 12:48 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Very cool, great shots too.

Thanks.

N.

Operating Entirely With Bad Intentions
SteamPunk 


Location: Sailing the seas of sleaze.




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Re: Mt. Thynne - Microwave towers, Firewatch Station
<Reply # 2 on 8/13/2009 5:41 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Ah, very nice! I too like mountain topping. What ya got there is yer basic BC Hydro Microwave relay station, for controlling power around the province. Those signals originate atop Burnaby Mountain in the VAncouver area. The microwave system allows them to turn on and off hydro lines, and power generation blah blah blah. The black and white phallic looking things are "radomes", and have a VHF, or UHF radio repeater sealed from the elements within. These are expensive, and often owned by the BC Gov as forestry service repeaters. There is also another repeater in an older looking shack, it is a repeater for the Southern Interior Radio Group, Coquihalla link, with a call of VE7TYN (VE for Canada, the 7 for BC, and TYN for the mountain). That repeater is on frequency 146.980. It is linked to other repeaters in the area, towards Vernon. I can bring it up from where I live on the Sunshine coast through repeater linking. Here are some pictures of it from some ham nerd... http://www.norac.b...tyn_thynne_mtn.htm
Just a note on your GPS,(without sounding like a know-it-all prick or anything) be sure to get a protective case for that particular model, the touchscreen is it's weakest part...any scratches, or water will give you grief. I had one, and went back to my old Vista HCX after returning it.
Sounds like a really cool trip, enjoyed your pix!

PS....you may want to check out the Carolin Mines, both the mine site, the mines themselves, and the road up behind to the top of Spyder peak.

[last edit 8/13/2009 6:09 PM by SteamPunk - edited 3 times]

I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me, and it'll happen to you, too!
Clutchy 


Location: B.C.
Gender: Male


Now with 20% less sarcasm!

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Re: Mt. Thynne - Microwave towers, Firewatch Station
<Reply # 3 on 8/14/2009 2:58 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Wow, thanks for the info steampunk. That fills in some of the blanks for me.

Actually I am kinda a gps junkie and I have 3 different models. The one pictured is a Colorado, which actually doesn't have a touch screen. All the input is done with the "rock n' roller" input device at the top. I also have an Oregon which does have the touch screen, but I mainly use the Colorado when I am mapping trails/backroads, as it allows for an external antenna, which the Oregon lacks.

Its funny that you mentioned Carolin mines, as I had planned to go there last weekend, but other things came up. I am hoping to make it out there this weekend though.

SteamPunk 


Location: Sailing the seas of sleaze.




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Re: Mt. Thynne - Microwave towers, Firewatch Station
<Reply # 4 on 8/14/2009 8:56 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Clutchy
Wow, thanks for the info steampunk. That fills in some of the blanks for me.

Actually I am kinda a gps junkie and I have 3 different models. The one pictured is a Colorado, which actually doesn't have a touch screen. All the input is done with the "rock n' roller" input device at the top. I also have an Oregon which does have the touch screen, but I mainly use the Colorado when I am mapping trails/backroads, as it allows for an external antenna, which the Oregon lacks.

Its funny that you mentioned Carolin mines, as I had planned to go there last weekend, but other things came up. I am hoping to make it out there this weekend though.


OK.... i have tons of software, like the old garmin software that allows real time gps/laptop interaction/tracking...without buying thier crap. land topo's, and marine. I have been on this for a few years, old garmin stuff......on yer lappy.....well. Let's PM, i think you'll gat a kick if you don't have it already.



HEHE ...drunk reply to post...but srsly....resourses...lets share 'em!!



I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me, and it'll happen to you, too!
UER Forum > Archived Canada: Alberta / BC > Mt. Thynne - Microwave towers, Firewatch Station (Viewed 288 times)



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