IDAHO COUNTY
QUARTZ RIDGE
Nez Perce National Forest
29N-4E-13
29N-4E-13
1934: 100-foot Aermotor MC-40. (Kresek)
January 2, 1936: "A U.S. Forest Service man was struck by lightning not long ago, and lives to tell the tale.
Al Moore was on duty on top of 100-foot steel tower on Quartz Ridge, in the Nezperce National Forest. A black storm rolled up. Lightning hit the tower.
Said Lookout Moore afterwards: 'My first impression was of a blinding flash, but I was not aware of any crash or noise. A hit like that leaves a man with a very limp, weak feeling, soon followed by a cold sweat and an empty sensation in the pit of his stomach.'
'There is some satisfaction in knowing that the tower can take a direct hit and the lookout live through it.'
Even without a direct hit, a steel lookout tower is an interesting place during lightning weather, as Mr. Moore describes it: 'The tower always buzzes and hums as a storm approaches, and small balls of blue flame hand to each corner of the cabin roof... Its good business to wear rubber-soled shoes, and keep hands off sides of the cabin and other metal parts.'" (El Paso Herald-Post - Texas)
Removed
DESIGNATION - QUARTZ RIDGE
PID - QZ0745
STATE/COUNTY- ID/IDAHO
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - HUNGRY RIDGE (1995)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 1962
RECOVERED AS DESCRIBED BY USFS. TWO RMS SET.
LOCATED ABOUT 12 MI SSE. OF GRANGEVILLE. IN SEC 13, T29N, R4E. ON
SOUTH END OF QUARTZ RIDGE.
TO REACH FROM GRANGEVILLE POST OFFICE, GO 11.1 MI E. ON STATE
HWY 13 TO BRIDGE CROSSING SOUTH FORK OF CLEARWATER RIVER, CROSS
BRIDGE AND TURN RIGHT ON LIGHTNING CREEK RD. N. 244, GO 7.5 MI TO
RD. FORK. TAKE RIGHT FORK 0.2 MI TO RD. FORK, TAKE RIGHT FORK 1.4
MI TO BRIDGE CROSSING MEADOW CREEK, CROSS OVER BRIDGE TO RD. FORK
ON EAST BANK OF MEADOW CREEK. TAKE LEFT FORK 0.8 MI TO RD. FORK.
TAKE RIGHT FORK 4.2 MI TO RD. FORK AND SIGN POINTING LEFT TO
QUARTZ RG LO 1-1/2 MI. TAKE LEFT FORK 2 MI TO LOT AND STATION.
STATION MARK--USFS DISK STAMPED---QUARTZ RG 1951---, CEMENTED IN
ROCK OUTCROP CENTERED UNDER STEEL TOWER.