На обсерватории Пайн Маунтин восстановлено электроснабжение, но проезд по дороге все еще закрыт

Power back on at Pine Mountain Observatory, but road remains closed Published 5:30 am Tuesday, September 1, 2026 The Pine Mountain Observatory will fire up a brand-new electrical system this week, months after a storm caused significant damage to the road leading to it and tore up miles of electrical line. A reopening date is yet to be announced for the observatory, which has been closed since June. “If we were open, smoke from the Rowe Creek Complex fires would have affected public viewing, but it was a moot point this summer,” said Alton Luken, head of operations for the observatory. In April, the U.S. Forest Service conducted a controlled burn at the observatory, which Luken called a “cruel reward” because it burned all the vegetation that could have been fodder for wildfires. But when a May rainstorm swept in, the ground vegetation wasn’t there to absorb the water. The storm tore up the road and unearthed 4.8 miles of power lines, Luken told The Bulletin Thursday. Power has been off at the the property since June 2. Forest Service Road 2017, which goes to the observatory, is in terrible shape and will take longer to fix. The U.S. Forest Service will put in larger culverts to move water under the road instead of over it. Luken has been driving to the observatory once or twice a week in a service truck. Subjecting a passenger vehicle to the road would be doable, but “cruel to the Subaru,” he said. “It’s a fine and choking dust, like driving through powder snow. It’s a health hazard,” he said. “The U.S. Forest Service did an excellent job. We never know what Mother Nature has up her sleeve … at the end of September, there should be a considerable improvement (for the road).” The U.S. Forest Service said it was unsure when the road would be open again. Day Wireless towers were affected, he said, which includes local radio station KPOV. The Pine Mountain campground has been closed this summer as well. Some of the observatory domes are sealed and operated by electricity and haven’t been opened since June, but Luken said it’s better for power to be out in the summer, because winter weather would damage the equipment. The observatory’s live camera will be up and running again this week or next, said Luken. “We can’t salvage the season because of the road,” he said. But for now, he’s looking forward to not living off the grid.