Mountain Cell-Site Servicing in Winter

[MarkBC]

I've wondered about those cell tower/radio-shack sites on the summits of Oregon high desert mountains -- such as Steens Mt and Glass Butte -- that I've visited in the drier months. I've wondered what happens when something needs servicing up there during the snowy months...

4 cell tower workers stranded on Oregon mountain

(If I wasn't stranded like these guys I'd love to be on the summit of Steens Mt. mid-winter...but it's a long ski to get there from the locked gate)

 

[UglyScout]

I've tried to drive to a few tower sites in the winter with my 4x4 club -- going 1 mile can sometimes take hours, but we don't go alone so the chance of getting stranded like these guys is zero...

The little snow cats they have are pretty cool though!

This:

Turns into a lot of this 125' at a time:

 

[LuckyDan]

We go through a winter survival course along with the Snow Cat training. They tend to break down with a certain sense of frequency.

 

[LuckyDan]

In case anyone wonders how it turned out:

http://burnstimesherald.info/

 

[MarkBC]

In case anyone wonders how it turned out:

http://burnstimesherald.info/

So...no cannibalism, then?

 

[craig333]

Not fun but not like being a mine for several weeks. Glad they got out.