For those of you not familiar with the area, it is one of the most scenic vistas along that stretch of highway. Known as the Macopin Gorge, the rest area sits at the base of Kanouse Mountain to the North, and overlooks the Charlottesburg Reservoir which is sandwiched between 2 smaller mountains to the South. Those of us that travel that road every day welcome driving this area on the way home every evening. For one because you know your closer to home, and for another reason, as you approach this area, on a warm summer evening the temperature drops in and around this area, prompting you to turn off the ac in the car and roll down the windows. The cliffs just above the rest area are a prime raptor area, and many people park their cars at the rest area to hike up the mountain to take in the views.
Sprint unfortunately sees it from another angle, a money making venture.
Even though there already is Verizon Wireless service through the area, Sprint feels the need is there to supply their wireless consumers with service over what they call a 1 mile dead-zone. After all the world might end if a cell phone user had to hang up the phone for a mile and take in the areas natural beauty. I know that it is virtually impossible stopping one of these monuments to the cellular gods from the standpoint of health concerns. But can anyone in the environmental community provide me with either assistance or information on migratory bird patterns or raptors that may be affected since they frequent this area because of the cliffs. As expected Sprint's environmental expert told us last night that there would be absolutely no environmental impact.