Yeah, I figured it was a lightning shelter (it just becomes a Faraday cage) but I didn't want to say and be wrong. As for getting it there, it appears to be fairly light and could have been dropped there by helicopter. Still, my feeling is that if you're going to climb mountains, you should take your chances, so I don't really like to reach that summit and be confronted with the thing. Patrick, why don't you fly past and photograph it for us? See if there are any winter mountaineering enthusiasts up there. To get back OT... Once I tried to reach the summit to catch the sunrise, but I was too late. At 11,749 feet (uh, sorry Patrick, 3,582 meters) observing would be great there, as with any high mountain, but the summit ridge is basically a knife edge and there's no good place to set up the Paramount, C-11, computer, and all other necessary equipment to enjoy the night sky. ;-) Speaking of the knife-edge ridge, my sister-in-law once hiked the mountain and followed a family who took a two-year-old and a large family dog with them to the top. Near the summit, the dog enthusiastically bounded past the little girl, knocking her off the trail. She fell about 2,000 feet to her death. It can be a dangerous mountain, as are all of the Wasatch peaks. Being so accessible lulls many into thinking they are like the proverbial walk in the park. I have been on other Wasatch peaks at night and the light pollution is incredible. If you like city lights, that's the place to - enjoy them. Happy Western-culture New Year, everyone. Kim -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+kimharch=cut.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+kimharch=cut.net@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Robert Taylor Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2012 11:25 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Timpanogos My understanding is that it is a shelter. I have been up inside it the times I have hiked to the top of Timp. Lots of names scratched and written inside with the most infamous one being Ted Bundy. On Sat, Dec 29, 2012 at 4:09 PM, Wiggins Patrick <paw@wirelessbeehive.com>wrote:
On 29 Dec 2012, at 10:13, Kim wrote:
Patrick, there is indeed a metal structure (aluminum, as I recall) at the summit. It is an open frame with a pyramidal roof, solidly guyed to the rock. I have no idea who put it there or why.
Or HOW. :)
patrick