Peter Natscher wrote:
>
> Does anyone know how long ago the locked gate was instituted? If I
> remember correctly, the gate was being locked back in 1995 when I
> started up with observing at the Peak with TAC. Has the gate always
> been locked?
The gate was there from pre-history; it was the ranger's residence.
Allowing people to set up came later, as the number of astronomers
grew. A ranger named Kate preceded Rick, and allowed people to come set
up near the shop. The informal rule was that photographers would set up
there, visual observers at Coulter Camp. (Use of SW lot came later.)
At an SJAA meeting, Rick told of his first Friday evening in the
residence, hearing a vehicle and voices. He strode out to firmly
explain that this was off-limits, and met two people setting up scopes.
They explained the understanding with Kate; she had not told him! But
he was willing to "give it a try" and was soon hooked on astronomy.
So by Rick's coming, it was usual practice to have the gate unlocked,
or perhaps there was a combination lock that the astronomers could open.
Sorry I can't tell you the year. Early to mid '70s, I believe.
-- Jim Van Nuland, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association <a href="http://www.svpal.org/~jvn/ ">JVN's web site</a>