[K3VOA] Jordan Peak...a final note.

[Carl Swanson]

It seems that the SQL Complex fire has taken Jordan Peak. The announcement and a brief history of the site is below from Matt, W6XC.

I have also attached a picture of the site as it was.

Greetings to our friends, members and extended family in the community,


It is with sadness I report, based on photos obtained from Facebook (attached), the SQF/Castle Fire has claimed Jordan Peak. Both the historic Jordan Peak Fire Lookout, and our GRONK Comm Building appear to be a total loss. This is a significant setback for communications in the Southwestern Sierra not only for us, but everyone who relying upon this tower site as a gateway between the backcountry and outside world. There is limited or no cellular coverage there, dense forest, high altitude and many ways to be lost. The Tule County Sheriff used this as a primary relay site along with US Forest Service. For Amateur Radio and Emergency Location Transmitters (ELTs) for Search & Rescue, this is the only location providing reliable to any coverage into the wilderness Western Divide areas of Ponderosa, Johnsondale / R Ranch, Kennedy Meadows, Monache Meadows, Trail of 100 Giants, Olivas Spring and other areas between the western rim of the Owens Valley & the San Joaquin Valley. It has provided this service for 42 years.

Beginning in 1976/1977, Loman Atkin (W6NM) (ex-K6CRD) pioneered a UHF Remote Base WB6UBN of the GRONK Network in this area. First located at Shirley Peak near Lake Isabella, this Remote later moved to Jordan Peak in 1978 with link to the WB6SLR Remote in Wrightwood, CA and other linked stations. Initially housed within the Jordan Peak Fire Lookout tower, Loman received word a short time later his equipment needed to move out. Facility upgrades, additional users and heavy microwave relay were planned. There no longer was room for us.

Loman proposed developing a separate shelter under his existing permit. The local Communications Supervisor, District Ranger and Forest Supervisor all approved. Not long thereafter, a personnel change resulted in a challenge to Loman's permit. One new official wasn't keen on the project. Loman, being very meticulous and strong-willed, succeeded in securing final approval. The GRONK Building at Jordan Peak was built and activated in 1979. Through a good working relationship with USFS, some building materials were hauled up by helicopter as USFS transported their own materials for upgrades. Other materials were brought in by Loman & company with a Cushman Trackster or by hike. At this time, there were no true roads in this area. Only hiking trails & poor condition dirt paths.

Loman, his son and other members of the-then Jordan group spent various days as available piecing together this facility. As the site was entirely solar, Loman sourced solar panels from a prior employer who supplied them for space use. These panels were top-of-line for their day, a grand total of 10 being used. While in the Lookout, excess generated power was shared with USFS. These along with 6 golf cart batteries powered a pair of EF Johnson Fleetcom II highly modified radios for Local 440MHz and 420MHz Duplex Link service and rudimentary control system. Idle draw was a mere 75mA combined. Total battery capacity approximately 600Ah. The 440 antenna was a new Phelps Dodge Stationmaster PD400. The original coax was reused from placement at the lookout tower, 7/8" heliax approx 60ft left uncut. The link to Blue Ridge is solid as a rock! Despite the 136.7mi path, it enjoys a fade margin over 32dB!

The building was a modest but solid construction of wooden framing and sheetmetal overlay. It was achored by several 1" dia bolts into rocks below, suspended above uneven ground by its lower frame. A high pitched roof at 45 degrees ensured snow load could fall off quickly. A home-made rack of ingenious design (there were no standards in those days) held all 10 panels securely to the roof. Antennas mounted to building-anchored vertical pipes.

As the administrative makeup of our radio system changed following the sudden passing of our friend Gary Belda (WA6ENS) in 2003, the Jordan Peak site was transferred by Loman to me in September 2005. It has been dutifully maintained and upgraded, first seeing initial radio upgrades in 2006 where all materials were hiked to the site. (Fun story behind that, let's just say 4WD required!) Then further upgrades in 2013 and 2014. The performance is truly awesome from this 9,115ft perch atop the Sierras. It has been a labor of love since the beginning for all of us who've been part of its story. And for the many who've assisted us in maintaining it since 2005, and those before, I am profoundly and forever grateful.

With this great loss there is a vision for a new beginning. The unfortunate irony being we only just visited the site on August 21st. It was time for PM Checks, small repairs & staging of a few materials toward upgrade plans. The ~44 year old panels were due for replacement, though still producing, and batteries replaced with an interim set. All systems were working great. We were welcoming a new member in Hanford and likewise looking forward to Loman being on air again. Having re-established operations at Blue Ridge the year prior, and a link problem there being repaired in July, we were very happy to restore this link!

Not knowing what hurdles all lay ahead, the plan is to rebuild! It will take fundraising, proper planning, logistics and a few good men. We aren't letting the book close on this one. Our Special Use Permit was renewed a mere handful of years ago with its next renewal in December of 2045. We have a ways to go yet!  While the loss is a big setback, we can look forward to the new being better than ever. One area we were already exploring was adding further monitoring capabilities to aid the general public interest. ELTs in the form of PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) used by hikers or from downed aircraft can be detected, helping triangulate or being the only window into a missing persons situation. Detection can be relayed back via the analog radio system or future IP link to aid Search & Rescue efforts.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, as well as the many others across our state affected by these wildfires. That includes our Fire Fighting men & women working hard for us every day. We will likely set up a GoFundMe or similar fundraising effort. For those reading, your ideas for our best way forward are certainly welcome. We hope our big neighbor, the historic Jordan Fire Lookout, is also rebuilt. We look forward to resuming operation as soon as possible, continuing our long relationship with the US Forest Service and the community we serve.

Thank you to Loman (W6NM) for beginning the journey of Amateur Radio at Jordan Peak now spanning 42 years. And thank you again to the many playing a part over those years. Jordan Peak has a long history as a noteworthy place. Constructed in 1934, it may have the oldest sited lookout in the Sequoia National Forest. Jordan Peak is named after John Jordan, who in 1861 mapped out the Jordan Toll Trail for accessing silver mines in the Owens. Jordan also remained one of few actively manned lookouts.

[cid:3603E064-A8C5-4348-B40B-9BA3CB37F282]

Carl
_______________________
sent via mobile device. all errors
are klearly intenshunal.




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