On September 20 this year (2009) one of Aluma Systems' scaffold crews came out to the Sandpiper Golf Course on the banks of the Chehalis Estuary about 65 miles from Vancouver, BC. Scott Baird, the project manager, brought the crew and all the pieces needed to assemble a 10'x10' by about 20' high scaffold for us to use to hold our cameras out on the flats to watch the eagles eating the dead salmon that will spawn over the next few months. We needed something tall and steady and waterproof - the water level can come up several feet after a heavy rain.

The Sandpiper has a grass and gravel air strip that runs along the river edge. While we were there a local aerobatic team came for lunch and prior to landing gave us all a great show - including smoke-on!

As the planes pealed off to land we realized that they were going to be landing literally within feet of where we had set up the scaffold - and again we were treated to quite a show as the five planes each came in for a landing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The crew continued to work and finally had the skeleton built. At that point we called in the helicopter. The scaffold and each of the other loads had to fit within the helicopter's maximum weight load, so the final assembly including the addition of a full floor at the 15' level and a plywood surround to protect the equipment had to be done out on the flats at the final site.

Just before the helicopter arrived, the aerobatic team, having finished their lunch at Rowena's Inn on the River and started taking off, again right in front of us!.

No sooner had they all taken off than the helicopter arrived and proceeded to pick up the tower and take it to its place out on the Chehalis flats.

The crew went along and took the rest of the materials.

While the crew were busy finishing up the tower the helicopter ranged about and picked up some stumps and other "interesting" things that David Hancock thought might entice the eagles to spend time around our new tower.

As they were doing this, yours truly had to console myself with going up to Eagle Point to take some pictures of the work out on the flats and some of the birds around that area. Ah well, my time would come when we finally got to put the cameras and other equipment out at the site.

Next step - readying the equipment and getting it all "burned in" in David's ample back yard.

I spent several enjoyable days the

re setting things up and testing - and trying to keep the baby sandhill crane from picking at the wires and causing problems. 

Thank you Aluma Systems!

If you need industial scaffolding please contact them at:

7046 Brown Street, Delta, BC
V4G 1G8
Phone 604-940-3000
www.Aluma.COM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Job Guys! Thanks From All Of US!