Some slippery slopes up over Galena

It’s remarkable that for decades our Forest Service has kept a historical sign posted on the winding Galena climb, which commemorates with ambiguous wording, early 1820’s trapper Alexander Ross discovering this striking gateway to the Sawtooths. Certainly he ‘discovered’ the jagged summit for his fellow explorers, but I wonder what the Sheepeater Indian who zinged a grouse with an arrow up there on the same sunny day(as reported by Ross) would have thought about this discovery hoopla if he were able to gain a visionary glimpse into the future.

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Another challenge at the summit is at the elevation sign, as vandals have unhinged it several times. Although I’m mostly against government total awareness programs, this is a case where I’ve become so sick of seeing this sign stolen, that it would be refreshing to see our highway department set a clever trap, by imbedding a transmitter into the sign, to catch some culprits.

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Further aspects of the pass I’m puzzled about are at the remodeled overlook parking lot. Whatever, happened to the emergency callbox that the Forest Service was going to install there? Well, at least for now, our community has some dedicated ham radio enthusiasts to help patch this severe communication gap. Another harsh fact up there is that the restrooms are gone! On top of that, as pleasant as the new remodel appears cosmetically, the upper end no longer has barriers to prevent motorists from sliding off the edge.

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Back in the era, when Al Ross was writing his traveling memoirs, rugged mountain men probably would have empowered themselves to haul up excess railroad ties and spike them in as guardrails to ensure that nobody would roll off the rocky overlook. It would be nice if our modern Forest Service Department could find it in their budget to follow similar safety procedures.

Tripping over Galena Summit

Tripping over Galena Summit

It’s remarkable that for decades our Forest Service has kept a historical sign posted on the winding Galena climb, which commemorates with ambiguous wording, early trapper Alexander Ross discovering this gateway to the Sawtooths in 1824. Certainly he ‘discovered’ the jagged summit for his fellow explorers, but I wonder what the Sheepeater Indian who zinged a grouse with an arrow up there on the same sunny day(as reported by Ross) would think about this discovery hoopla if he was able to gain a visionary glimpse into the future.

*

Another challenge at the summit is at the elevation sign, as vandals have unhinged it several times. Although I’m mostly against government total awareness programs, this is a case where I’ve become sick of seeing this sign stolen so much, that it would be refreshing to see our highway department set a clever trap, by imbedding a small GPS unit into the sign, to catch some culprits.

*

Further aspects of the pass I’m puzzled about are at the remodeled overlook parking lot. Whatever, happened to the landline the Forest Service was going to install there? Well, at least for now, our community has some dedicated ham radio enthusiasts to help patch this severe communication gap. Another harsh fact up there is that the restrooms are gone! On top of that, as pleasant as the new remodel appears cosmetically, it does not have sufficient barriers to prevent motorists from sliding off the edge.

*

Back in the era, when Al Ross was writing his traveling memoirs, rugged mountain men probably would have empowered themselves to haul up excess railroad ties and spike them in as guardrails to ensure no one rolled off the rocky overlook. It would be nice if the Forest Service could find it in their budget to follow similar safety procedures.

Scott Phillips’s, one-dimensional letter, regarding the defeat our much needed Galena Cell tower makes it sound like all 300 members of the Nordic and Backcountry Skiers Alliance have unanimously backed this misguided decision.

If this is actually true, then blood is on all 600 of your hands, every time from now on; when somebody crashes in the SNRA and experiences communication delays during life or death situations.

If this winter, one or two of your own cherished family members or friends perishes in a treacherous crash for want of a quicker emergency medical team response; I propose that you all start practicing ginormous energetic healing group hugs in advance.

Galena tower debate is one for the history books

200 word version

The Galena tower debate has come to stand for more than a mere cell tower. The disruptive battle has mired on longer than most wars, and even picked up certain mythic qualities. Some of the healthiest dialogue offered has come from spokespersons for and against the tower, who occasionally contradict themselves in funny papers and public meetings.

While some who claim they are indigenous Idahoans, say they prefer living in the Flintstone ages versus the digital; we should examine the motives of those speaking against the tower, as several hold animosity against former associates, or competitors from other fields, who could benefit by better communications.

Whatever the outcome, people will discuss the results of this Dark Age communications clash for decades. Astute Idaho historians should include this chapter in state history textbooks, so our grandchildren may gain clearer perspectives than we have.

Even if efforts to install the potentially lifesaving tower are defeated; to complement our history books, ITD should install a historical sign at Galena, to commemorate the epic battle over the toppled tower. To appease earth-muffins and virgin snow-sprites, they could mount it smack-dab next to the new landline phone, to soak up less sacred SNRA space.

Galena tower debate is one for the history books

The Galena tower debate has come to stand for much more than a mere cell tower. The story has now picked up certain mythic qualities. Some of the healthiest dialogue offered has come from spokespersons both for and against the tower, who occasionally contradict themselves in papers and public meetings.

Some see Idaho Tower as Atlas, not shrugging her epic efforts; though others perceive her as Medusa and avert looking reason in the face, suspecting it will crush their logic into gravel.

Suddenly, the Forest Service supervisor has selected a special path for redesignation, with the secret motive of making the tower impossible, until the Mayan calendar ends. And using Labyrinthal language that only the most adept of Minotaur attorney’s can follow without strings. Meanwhile, Homeland Security prepares to shift Atlas onto his own back, with an improved plan, to foil us all, by paying two Princess Bride government factions to swordfight it out, at the edge of the reception area cliff, near chirping beetles.

While some who claim they are indigenous Idahoans, say that they prefer living in the Flintstone ages versus the digital; we should examine the motives of others speaking against the tower, as several hold animosity against former associates, or competitors from other fields, who could benefit by better communications.

Citizen angst against the tower sometimes stem from dissatisfactions within, which the fuming ones project, gnashing their dragon’s teeth, to channel harsh sound bites onto the tower.

Whatever the outcome, people will discuss the results of this battle for decades. Astute Idaho historians should include this chapter in state history textbooks, so our grandchildren may gain clearer perspectives than we have.
To harmonize history books, ITD should install a historical sign at Galena overlook, commemorating the multifaceted tower. To appease earth-muffins and water sprites, they could mount it smack-dab next to the new Galena landline phone, to soak up less sacred SNRA space.

Letter 4: http://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/story/719828.html

Public comment on Galena cell tower analysis

February 17, 2009
2647 Kimberly East Road
Twin Falls, Idaho 83301-7976


Dear Forest Supervisors:


Here are my comments regarding the Supplemental Analysis to the Environmental Assessment Galena Summit Communication Project. I hope that you will not throw my comments out due to any technicalities, because after reading and re-reading your instructions for submission, I find them difficult and think that others will also have trouble understanding them.


That being said, I have followed the Galena Cell Tower project closely, since Idaho Tower first proposed their project back in 2003. I have commented before on this with a great deal of passion, mostly in favor of the cell tower from a safety standpoint, though I also could not resist writing a couple of satirical pieces, so as not to be labeled a one dimensional character.


After expressing myself from several parameters, I forwarded my thoughts to an old friend. He responded insightfully, asking, “What are people’s real reasons for not wanting the cell tower?” His question brought me back to a day a few years ago, when one of the staff managers for a local newspaper where I worked, walked into Idaho Tower’s Ketchum office and saw that they were sharing the office with one of the newspaper’s chief competitors. The newspaper’s upper management then made the presumption that their competitor could profit off Idaho cell towers.


Shortly thereafter, I noticed that the editorials, written by the newspaper where I worked, took a stronger slant against cell towers. To be fair, our newspaper had written about politeness and etiquette in the woods before. However, this point definitely marked a shift in the newspaper’s attempts to shape public opinion, to be mostly against the Galena tower. The thing that set me off the most was when one of the longtime influential managers went off on an unreasonable rant, using strong expletives against cell towers. I discussed this at length with an award-winning reporter whose desk sat adjacent to mine. We both believed that logic behind his long rant was lacking and it made me feel for a minute that he had spit on the graves of the two girls I saw killed in a head-on crash several miles north of the SNRA Headquarters.



Another person of note, whose motives against the tower we should examine, is Greg M.
Greg, used to work as an emergency dispatcher for the City of Ketchum, and is a world-class athlete. I used to be Greg’s boss, when he worked part-time for the same newspaper. I found Greg to be an exemplary worker, and have enjoyed listening to some of his lively opinions, but the Galena Cell Tower is one subject on which I will have to disagree with him. My intuition tells me that for Greg as an emergency worker, to speak out against improved communications, he must have experienced some type of bad disagreement with those in charge. After all, most EMT’s live strong by the credo, that in emergencies “Every second counts.” Furthermore, on his last day as a Ketchum emergency dispatcher, I’m told by several reliable sources that Greg played “TAPS” over the entire 911-radio system. Although he may have had a legitimate beef with his bosses, how can we trust Greg’s judgment on this important issue with people’s lives at stake, when he has publicly expressed such disregard towards the whole 911 system?


Lastly, I ask that the Forest Supervisors in charge of making such vital decisions examine their own unspoken motives. Ask yourselves truthfully; how you feel about the people who live and visit northern Blaine County? Is there something inside you that does not wish them well? I hope that there isn’t, but I find your reasoning equally perplexing if you truly believe that the unsightliness of a reception tower somehow outweighs its vast potential for safety benefits and hope that you no longer play TAPS with our long overdue and crucially needed Galena Cell Tower.


Sincerely,
Jim B.

If beetle infestations occur at Galena Summit, it makes for a stronger pro-cell tower argument, as this will have then made the area even more avalanche-prone, in a territory where young sports enthusiasts have already lost their lives after suffering needless communication delays.

I used to feel much the same way as the anti-monopine huggers. Then my mindset matured on that dark day when, I saw two young girls have their lives agonizingly stripped away from them, for want of an ambulance - if not for saving their lives, at least for relieving their horrible pain and that of their family's.

In this context, the cultural values of our SNRA should include providing these long overdue and potentially lifesaving cell towers.

It is great that an emergency landline will soon be installed at the Galena Overlook. About a dozen years ago, some friends and I stood at that exact spot witnessing a lightning-started forest fire spreading quickly, and wondered if we should dangerously rush down to the Smiley Creek payphones to report it, as none of the twenty witnesses standing there had any way of knowing if the Forest Service had yet been informed.

But what happens if crash victims are nowhere near the soon-to-be installed landline, or if it's disabled, or the crash disables the victims and their vehicles, so that they can't possibly cowboy up to it? In the event of one those probable cases, wouldn't most of us wish that we had the foresight to implement a dynamic back-up plan, logically starting with cell towers, as now most travelers use cell phones?

While it's true that our forebears did not use cell phones, as they recklessly cowboyed over Al Ross's ancient pass; back then they didn't have to contend with monster rigs barreling down the icy highway straight towards each other, at 65 mph +. And why is it that none of the fossilized-Flintstonians came out opposing the raising of the SNRA's Highway 75 speed limit to sixty-five, refusing to acknowledge the inherent and widely documented danger involved in operating a motor vehicle on narrow, twisting mountain roads at such high irresponsible speeds?

Moreover, disinformation in the above letter claims, "At best the proposed tower will provide a narrow band of cell coverage near the top of Galena Summit." This is a Baldy-faced lie, as the Galena tower will greatly fill in the gaps, not serviced by town towers. Extensive surveys conducted for the strongly capitalistic tower company have shown, that another simple cell tower strategically placed, way up yonder in the piney woods behind SNRA Headquarters will greatly augment 95% of the remaining most used recreation areas.

The above letter also states, "Proponents speak broadly of public safety concerns, but ignore the fact that the landline option is in development. They also refuse to acknowledge the inherent and widely documented danger involved in operating a motor vehicle on narrow, twisting mountain roads while talking on a cell phone." This makes me wonder how close these four expert authors have actually followed the issue. Either these pillars of the community are refusing to acknowledge, or have missed my widely published commentary; Cell phones, not cell towers, are the problem:

www.magicvalley.com

blog.sunvalleyonline.com - comment-66873

One of my friends wondered why Homeland Security would want to be involved with SNRA communications. Are we forgetting, the important dignitaries who often enjoy visiting, Idaho? Besides the annual Allen & Company event, in the last five years plenty of powerful figures have visited this area, including John Kerry, Dick Cheney, Hillary Clinton, The President of Mexico, Tony Blair, One of Google's founders - the list is long.

Will Secret Service pointmen politely laugh, when they inform future Presidents who might want to visit this special place, that the SNRA is sadly out-of-bounds for their enjoyment, because we don't have simple back up plans in place for their important safety, and we're crippled by non-coverage without these interactive pillars for our community?

The Cell Catcher in the Galena Rye

“Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some unconnected game in this big field of SNRA and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody’s around - nobody big, with cell phone reception I mean - except me. And I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the reception area cliff- I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I do all day. I’d just be the cell catcher in the SNRA and all. I know it’s crazy, but that’s the only thing I’d really like to be.”

Positively chirping phones

A friend brought it to my attention that some of the people who have been adamantly writing against any positive aspects of cell phone use in our SNRA and surrounding area, and who won’t buy a phone on principal think it’s perfectly okay to borrow other people’s phones to make their calls.

Something else that’s not being talked about much is that some people in small Idaho communities still unsecured by cell towers hesitate to speak their true feelings out of fear of being shunned –or worse - by the prevailing Flintstone-aged attitudes of their townspeople.

In one community, this fever has reached such a high chirping pitch that even a physician has gone on public record to speak out against cell phone towers. So far, though, I have not heard any police or EMT’s make convincing arguments about how the potential unsightliness of Galena’s cell tower –or any other tower - would not outweigh its multitude of benefits.

Some naysayers worry about how the safety beacon on the hill might smear the landscape if pine-beetles munch their way over Alexander Ross’s ancient pass. If this does happen, it is actually one more reason to have a cell tower on that exact spot, as it will have then become more avalanche-prone, in this dangerous area where young sports-enthusiasts have already lost their lives, after needlessly suffering because of extended communication delays.

Some in the community are welcoming these long overdue beacons-of-safety cell towers.

Over a dozen years ago, some friends and I witnessed a horrific crash, twelve miles north of Ketchum. Several people were severely injured in a head-on crash and nobody in the group had yet called for an ambulance. I sped back to the SNRA to call 911, but unfortunately, two young girls died from their wounds. I often wondered if they might have survived, had the emergency technicians been notified by cell phone sooner, as every second counts in these harsh situations.

Soonafter, I vowed to get a cell phone and keep it with me, fully charged and with a spare battery at all times, in event of a similar emergency. Since then, local sportspersons have been caught and even killed in avalanches several times. Mountain bikers have flipped over their handlebars and smashed their faces onto unforgiving rocks or been accidentally pierced by sharp hardwood branches. Horses have thrown riders and motorcycle incidents have whisked away too soon, some of our most beloved friends and family.

Undoubtedly, some of these incidents would have had more fortuitous outcomes had not our unenlightened cell phone area of Idaho been crippled by non-coverage.

Moreover, there is more: Automobiles have been quickly caught in ravines or pinballed off roadside snow-banks and then back into traffic, spinning at 65 mph to uncertain fates on the icy roadway. Countless campers and their vehicles have tangled together with outsized migrating mammals. There have been more than a handful of bad boating incidents, where a lifesaving cell phone might as well have been tossed to the barren wind. Hunters have become bewildered in the frozen tundra and skiers wedged unwell in tree wells. Once a group of us standing at the Galena overlook saw the immediate aftermath of a lighting started fire, blazing in the mountains, with nobody knowing if the forest service had yet been called.

Having a few beacons of safety seems a small price to pay when the lifesaving benefits are considered. Letting our evermore-bustling Galena area remain a cell phone acme of barrenness is not the answer in this age. As dingy as it may sound, we should embrace these disguised pine tree lifesaving cell towers with receptive warm hugs.