Thursday, December 10, 2009

HIGH WIND WARNING::TIME TO CLIMB A FIRE TOWER::ALL FOR SKY WATCH FRIDAY

Near Lancaster,Ohio (NEWS FLASH) we have beautiful Tar Hollow State Park.

A wind gust of 46 mph was recorded Wednesday morning in Columbus as an unstable weather system was moving through central Ohio. I think I’ll go climb a Fire Tower for this SKY WATCH FRIDAY

skywatchlogo High Wind Gusts Reported; Thousands Without Power. A high wind warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected or occurring.  Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 59 mph or higher can be expected at times. (First photo from my backyard about 9:00Am Temp in the fifties windy)

100_5199  So lets head on down the road to Tar Hollow state park.

100_5214 The road is clear but those clouds are moving fast (better hurry)

100_5218 Made it to Tar Hollow State Park (Photo of the dam) The clouds are getting darker and the fire tower is on the ridge to the left.

100_5284 Here we are, I’m out of breath just looking up (Time to climb)

FOREST LOOKOUT TOWERS
ICONS OF FOREST CONSERVATION

100_5256 I’m out of the car and have walked up to the base of the tower (see how the sky has changed)

100_5264

 Made it to the top. I really don’t want to look down but I guess I will.

100_5263 My car looks a little smaller from up here. Time to start down.

100_5267 Nothing like a 40 mph gust of wind to make one hold tight to the handrails. ( A LITTLE VERTIGO AT THE WRONG TIME)

signfiretower

(MAYBE THE MONEY TO BUILD THE TOWER CAME FROM A STIMULUS PACKAGE)  LOL

 Sure seemed like I was more than 73 feet in the air. All I can say, “when I was at the top of the tower taking pictures I sure braced myself.” Wow that was fun! The rain didn’t start til I was on my way home.

100_5344

Stay tuned for future posts “More about Tar Hollow State Park” Find out what is behind the dam or maybe not behind it. Don’t forget hiking and camping.

joetodd2 Joe Todd says, “Thanks for stopping by.”  Linda may be a little upset with me I’ll let you know.

Ok, I tried to go a whole post without a collage but just couldn’t do it.

TARHOLLOWcollage

BYE……… ONE LAST THING TO THINK ABOUT

Rental_Logo

41 comments:

Guy D said...

Fantastic shots Joe, love your header pic as well.

All the best
Guy
Regina In Pictures

Martha Z said...

That's dedication to your art. I think I will pass on climbing in the wind.

Sylvia K said...

Terrific captures, Joe! Really loved them all, but like Martha I think I'll pass on climbing in the wind, too! But you did get some great shots! Fun post!

Enjoy your weekend!

Sylvia

Unknown said...

haha, I didn't think you were actually going to climb it until I saw the other photos. Nice collection :) Have a nice weekend.

Photo Cache said...

I applaud the lengths you had to go to just so you could bring us these wonderful photos. Your efforts paid off.

Carolyn Ford said...

You really put out the effort to get some amazing shots! Very fine post!

Lona said...

Joe are you nuts ? LOL
Your braver than I am climbing the towers on the windiest day of the year.
It has been years since I was a t the Tar Hollow park. It probably has changed sp much now. Did you get pictures of the lake?

Carletta said...

Wow - awesome shots and a wonderful photo essay!
You were mighty brave to scale the tower in that wind.
Love the shots you took from up top - especially the bare trees with the leaves on the ground.

Jean said...

likd second pic where you shot the cloud with a small part of the tree at the down right side

A smile from SJ =)

Rune said...

Fantastic shots!

Quilt Works said...

Those are some seriuos clouds!!!

Love the view from the fire tower - you are one brave dude to climb in such winds :-)

Gaelyn said...

Joe, I love the fact that you hurried to the tower preceeding a storm for a SW shot. And they are excellent, along with the story. I just can't figure out why, after climbing all the way up the 73 ft, you didn't hang out for the storm. Then we could call you John Muir. ;-)

storyteller said...

Lovely skies ;-)
What an adventurous spirit you are! I'm not sure I would have been able to make myself climb that tower, but I'm glad you did ... I love the shots you took from the top too.
Hugs and blessings,
My Sky Watch

Johnny Nutcase said...

Fun pictures, those clouds are great! This reminds me of when i climbed a fire tower in Flagstaff with winds in the mid 60's. I was hiking on a ridge and the wind actually knocked me over! that was pretty crazy. climbing the tower was scary!! thanks for the post! :)

eileeninmd said...

Cool shots of the tower and the sky. Great photos and happy skywatching.

Rajesh said...

Fascinating shots of the clody sky.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Joe: I must say that was a crazy day to climb the tower. The winds surely did howl.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Joe, I think you are kin to George and me.... We were out hiking today searching for new waterfalls --in 27 degree weather with a WIND CHILL.... It was just SO much fun!!!!!!

GADS---glad that fire tower didn't topple over while you were up on it... I assume that Linda was NOT with you on that one!!!!!!

Great pictures though... We got some good pictures today also.
Betsy

Small City Scenes said...

Super shots--super story to go along with the shots. I have stayed in a fire tower in Oregon--way up high in the mountains--for the past 5 years. It is great summer fun. Mostly it is beautiful but one year the wind blew like crazy--rocked us to sleep every night. (Not fun) but i'd do it again. MB

BlossomFlowerGirl said...

Marvelous photos. I love the header - beautiful scene. How did you get the cartoon comment to appear there?
Enjoy your weekend.
Cheers.
Melbourne Daily Photo

DrillerAA said...

Great photo set. I got tired just looking up at that fire tower as well.

AKO said...

Ouch! I don't think I would manage to climb that tower! Lately I've started to be afraid of heights. Maybe beacuse I've grown up. ;) I really love one of the last photos, the one with the trees and the reddish ground.

Sally said...

Nice adventure for Skywatch, and nice to "meet" you, Joe. (Neat music, too!)

1934, eh? Maybe it was built by the CCC?? They did a lot of fire towers and state park facilities. Here's the camp list for Ohio--maybe you can find it. (I couldn't.)

Joe Todd said...

Thanks Sally for the CCC link
In the 1930s, the region was purchased by the government for conservation purposes under a New Deal program called the Ross-Hocking Land Utilization Project. The purpose of the program was to locate families to more productive land, thereby enabling them to better sustain a living.
http://ccclegacy.org/index.htm

Anonymous said...

You're much more adventurous than me. I don't like heights, and I certainly wouldn't climb a tall tower when there was a high wind warning! It was worth your climb, though; nice pictures (and I liked the narrative to go along with your trek). By the way Mother Nature blew your storm my way. If you look at my previous post, the one before Skywatch Friday, you'll see what I mean.

Anonymous said...

P.S. I like your header, too. Oh, and I became one of your followers too.

Janet said...

What a trip! I wonder why fire towers never seem to succumb to the wind. Glad you held on tight.

The Lly Dilettante said...

Nice shots. Looks real scary from the top of the tower looking down. I'm afraid of heights!

Dewdrop said...

Great collection of shots! Keep safe!

Lorac said...

What fun! I love those fire towers although I climb them considerably slower now. There used to be an old one in Dorset that we would get rocking back and forth by running side to side! When I was a kid of course! You got some great photos from the air!

Unknown said...

Love the shot of the dam. The composition is great! Thanks for taking me along. Those fire towers always scared me as a kid. Hope Linda wasn't mad!

Cheers!
Julie
Julie Magers Soulen Photography
Blog of Note

Three Rivers, Michigan said...

I love your "skywatch story"! Better you than me up there!

:-)

Three Rivers Daily Photo (Michigan)

Dave said...

Nice images Joe - I really like the perspective in the shots with the tower, especially the photographs looking straight up.

Mary said...

Great shots of the clouds! I think all those steps would keep me on the ground. Glad you climbed for us :-)

Anonymous said...
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Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Jeeepers Joe -- Linda should be a little bit upset. We love your blog; you don't have to risk life and limb for us. (but thanks anyway-- the pictures were great and the story too.)

April said...

Fabulous view and great shots of the clouds!

Karine said...

Great shots of the clouds! It's been very windy here for the last few days to, 40-60 kms an hour, about 70 kms an hour up the hill where I work.

Joe Todd said...

Time to tell:: Linda wasn't upset with me I guess she is just used to me doing "nutty things" Second, I had to delete a comment was spam. How does that happen with word verificarion. The same message was on seven different posts.

TONY LETTS said...

I get bad wind too - think it's my age

EG CameraGirl said...

You must not have a fear of heights. LOL I'm glad I can see the sky from down here. ;-)