August 14, 2004, Climbers' Bivouac, Mt. St. Helens, WA

A team of volunteers (Thomas Powers, Brian Williams, Michael & Jean Williams) met shortly after 6 PM at the end of Forest Road 830. (see map) Our equipment: eight 2 million candlepower (2MCP) units, two 1.5MCP units, and one 3MCP unit (total 22 million candlepower nominal). We also brought two sets of long-range walkie-talkies to test communication between the spotlight site and camera location. And, of course we had several cameras to document the site and spotlight testing.

First order of business was the walkie-talkie test. Michael & and Jean proceeded to Marble Mt, about a half hour drive. We started with Thomas's Uniden 8-mile units, signaling on the walkie talkie periodically. Communication ceased within about a half mile when the road dropped down the mountainside. There was no more communication until Michael and Jean reached the Marble Mt viewpoint. With almost a direct sight line to the Climber's Bivouac about 5 miles away, the walkie-talkies worked very well. Then we tried my Midland 6-mile units. They worked, but had more static and occasional dropouts. They will be used for communication between each end of the spotlight area (up to 80 yards long) and as backup.

Next, Michael & Jean returned to the Climbers' Bivouac. The team unpacked all the spotlights and improvised a way to aim them at the peak from the tops of two cars. Michael & Jean returned to Marble Mt and set up the camera, an Olympus OM1 loaded with Fuji Superia 1600 film. Brian and Thomas completed setting up and aiming the lights. When activity in the camp died down about 11:45 PM, Brian signaled that they were ready to energize the lights. Michael made a series of 7 exposures of the spotlight beam illuminating part of the peak. It was faint, but clearly visible. Several of the lights ran out of energy during the exposures and will need to be recharged and tested. After shutting off the lights, Michael made another 7 exposures for comparison purposes. We then made camp separately for the night, and in the morning Brian met Michael & Jean for breakfast in Cougar.

Examination of the negatives and prints shows the spotlight beam on the mountainside very clearly. Comparing the area lit to the total area of the peak and multiplying by the number of spotlights used matches closely Michael's previous estimate of 50 spotlights to accomplish the project. The Light Brigade project has now passed its final testing. Several of the volunteers have indicated they are willing to buy more lights, and Brian will design and build some fixtures to hold 4 lights. There's no reason we can't set a major new world record on September 11, weather permitting.