As I rounded a turn on Arizona Highway 188 this scene appeared as if by magic!

This pole was built in 1956. Some of the included more "recent" additions/upgrades are the cutout, transformer (25-35 yrs old?), neutral wire spool, and etc... The brown insulators, Ohio brass two-disk suspensions, crossarm, and wooden brace remain...

Also...

One thing that made me wonder... I'm imagining these are the similar kinds of deadends that used to be a bit common in Danbury, CT before the armless corner (straight insulator chain) poles came (among other areas that had the same conversion)...

I've never seen Canyon L. this calm.

View On Black

I was taking action shots, and he stopped and did this.

When you're looking for space

And to find out who you are

When you're looking to try and reach the stars

It's a sweet, sweet sweet dream

Sometimes I'm almost there

Sometimes I fly like an eagle

Tonto National Forest, Maricopa County, Arizona USA

I don't have one of the awesome lunar eclipse shots that are going around today, but I do have this humble lunar contribution from last night's trip to Saguaro Lake with my son.

Check out our latest desert adventures at my blog, Arizona Writer!

Canyon Lake is one of four reservoirs that were formed by the damming of the Salt River in the U.S. state of Arizona as part of the Salt River Project. It was formed by the Mormon Flat Dam, which was completed in 1925 after two years of construction.

Canyon Lake is located along the Apache Scenic Byway (AZ State Route 88), a former Apache Tribal route turned stagecoach road, where cowboys and miners once traveled. Follow the trail to nearby Tortilla Flat, an old Western town and a former stagecoach stop in the middle of Arizona’s Tonto National Forest. Grab your Stetson for drinks at the saloon, get messy eating great barbecue, and add country music and prickly pear ice cream to round out the Southwest experience. Twenty minutes south of Canyon Lake is Lost Dutchman State Park, named after the fabled gold mine. There are more than 100 RV and tent sites, and you won’t want to miss special events at the park such as full-moon hikes, bird walks and live music by the campfire.

View Large On Black

Aerial view of Theodore Roosevelt Dam which created Roosevelt Lake at the confluence of Tonto Creek and the Salt River.

Finally, the image I wanted to submit for the power assignment. Encompassing the power of water, electricity, and of course, Mother Nature.

BLKM 6005 a 6000hp GE E60CF is seen at Kayenta Mine in Arizona, whilst it's train of 78 empty coal wagons are loaded between 1300 & 1410 on 03/04/01.

The Black Mesa & Lake Powell railroad is owned by the Salt River Project & was opened in 1973, to transport coal from the Kayenta Mine in Arizona owned by Peabody Energy, the 78 miles tot he Navajo Generating Station power plant at Page, near Lake Powell and the line was the 1st railroad to be electrified at 50,000 volts. It is completely isolated from the rest of the US network & is (was) not under FRA control.

The train that day was powered by 6005, 6002, 6001 (three E60CF's) & EA038 (an E60C-2 from ex Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico) & was formed of 78 high capacity bottom discharge hoppers.

E60C-2s are now the standard motive power for these 80 wagon trains & with the power plant is due to close in 2019, twenty five years early, the future isn't bright, as this is the only traffic on the line.

This is part of the SR 202L, South Mountain Freeway Construction. SRP is having to relocate several transmission lines where the I-10/SR 202L system interchange is being constructed.

Back to Saguaro Lake, my son's favorite spot lately. I couldn't resist the colors tonight, and I love the expression on his face here.

Phoenix, Arizona

My son, enjoying himself at Saguaro Lake (or perhaps laughing at my plight as I nearly fall into the water).

After going outside this morning I couldn't let this day go by without capturing something with the clouds that were overhead this day.

Just a quarter mile or so north of the Mesa city limit on Power Road is where I stood to take this image.

This is a difficult mountain to get a good angle to shoot at different times of day. Most of the land around it is closed off in use by one entity or other.

He told me he was watching his reflection "dance." (I would make a Face Dancer reference here, but I'm not sure anyone else reads the Dune series. I'll just leave it at I love this shot.)

Details best viewed in Original Size.

This panorama was constructed using Photoshop Elements to stitch two landsca-peoriented images horizontally.

According to Wikipedia, Both the reservoir and the masonry dam that created it, Theodore Roosevelt Dam, were named for U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt who dedicated the dam himself in March 1911. Roosevelt Lake is a popular recreation destination within the Tonto National Forest, as such the facilities located at this lake are managed by that authority. Roosevelt Lake is the oldest of the six reservoirs constructed and operated by the Salt River Project. It also has the largest storage capacity of the six lakes with the ability to store 1,653,043 acre-feet (2.039 km3) of water when the conservation limit of Roosevelt Dam is reached. When the dam is in flood-control mode, the lake can store 2,910,200 acre-feet (3.590 km3) of water. However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requires all water over the conservation limit to be released from the lake within 20 days.

According to a site plaque, before necessary modifications could be made to the Theodore Roosevelt Lake Dam (which created the lake), this $21.3 million bridge had to be built to relocate traffic off the dam. The bridge, spanning 1,080 feet (330m) across Theodore Roosevelt Lake, is the longest two-lane, single-span, steel-arch bridge in North America and its design had to address a number of obstacles. Among these were: the porous limestone foundation, a small width to height ratio and erection 300 feet (90m) above the water.

Gila County, Arizona USA

I see I am running out of time to finish the hunt so now it will be a mad dash to complete.

I shot this a couple weeks ago I think while on my dog walk. A local sewer cover.

This is a 1972 SRP deadend pole complete with those skyglaze porcelain bell chains. SRP built these poles primarily with armless construction throughout the 70's-90's. They occasionally still put these up.

PPL of Pennsylvania used to install deadend poles with a similar triangular configuration.

As Beijing suffers yet another day of unsufferable air quality (AQI is 432 and looks like this), it is interesting to see the impact of pollution against a completely clear sky, as shown at this power station in Page, Arizona. The pall of smoke was visible for many miles downwind of the power station. In China, you don't usually notice anything but the initial smoke cloud above the chimney.

But only for now. We plan to go chasing waterfalls very soon. Another from Saguaro Lake.

Details best viewed in Original Size.

This panorama was constructed using Photoshop Elements to stitch two landscape-oriented images horizontally.

According to a site plaque, before necessary modifications could be made to the Theodore Roosevelt Lake Dam (which created the lake), this $21.3 million bridge had to be built to relocate traffic off the dam. The bridge, spanning 1,080 feet (330m) across Theodore Roosevelt Lake, is the longest two-lane, single-span, steel-arch bridge in North America and its design had to address a number of obstacles. Among these were: the porous limestone foundation, a small width to height ratio and erection 300 feet (90m) above the water.

A typical 1990's-2000's crossarm pole for a single-phase line. This ugly method for line taps are all over the place here.

New Mather Point Amphitheater and Landmark Feature Dedication Ceremony Monday, October 25, 2010.

.

Diana Sue Uqualla, representing the Havasupai People. .

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park dedicated a new rim-based amphitheater and landmark feature at Mather Point on Grand Canyon’s South Rim on Monday, October 25, 2010 starting at 3:30 p.m..

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The new amphitheater allows park visitors to view the Canyon’s famous vistas from a beautiful location, while seated on native limestone. The amphitheater’s setting, adjacent to the rim seats approximately 50 – 80 people providing space for ranger talks or viewing the Canyon’s sunrise and sunsets in a peaceful spot..

.

The landmark feature, honoring the Native American Tribes affiliated with Grand Canyon National Park, is also created from native limestone. This feature has a plaza with a meeting area for visitors walking to and from Mather Point. Stone slabs in the construction include etchings inspired by stories with input gathered from these tribes. Diana Sue Uqualla, representing the Havasupai Tribe offered a blessing at the landmark feature..

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park are thankful to the Salt River Project and their partners; U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Arizona Public Service, NV Energy and Tucson Electric Power - owners of the Navajo Generating Station for providing the funding to help construct these two key elements at Mather Point near the park’s main visitor center – the landmark feature and Mather Point Amphitheater. These areas will become a central part of the visitor experience for the nearly 4.5 million people from around the world who visit Grand Canyon National Park each year..

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NPS Photo by Erin Whittaker.

It's certainly no Venice, but Phoenix does maintain an intricate system of canals that criss-cross the city. Maintained by the Salt River Project, the canals provide much of the water and electricity that Phoenix consumes. Almost every summer sees several drownings in the canals, even though the water typically is only about waist-height in most places.

Freeways; Highways; Safety;

This is an early 1960's 12kv SRP pole, with a riser, a circuit-breaker, and a transformer! All added later.

Also, here's a shot of the pole before it was upgraded sometime in 2007-'09: www.flickr.com/photos/37211681@N06/6281364470/in/photostream

South Mountain, AZ. S 24th St.

The Kayenta mine is a coal mine operated by Peabody Energy's near Kayenta, Navajo Nation, Arizona. This is a view of the conveyor that brings the coal from the mining area down to the rail tracks where it is transported by a private railroad owned by Salt River Project and the co-owners of the Navajo Generating Stationin Page, Arizona.

This is a typical 1970's double-sided deadend pole used around armless construction. I always thought these were rather neat, if not odd.

This is a 1950's 12kv SRP pole with double crossarms and flat-top(?) construction. The only parts that are part of the original pole is the crossarm and insulators. The riser (and circuit breaker and transformer) of course must have been added very recently.

South Mountain, AZ. S 24th St.

New Mather Point Amphitheater and Landmark Feature Dedication Ceremony Monday, October 25, 2010.

.

Susan Schroeder, Grand Canyon Association CEO addresses the group..

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park dedicated a new rim-based amphitheater and landmark feature at Mather Point on Grand Canyon’s South Rim on Monday, October 25, 2010 starting at 3:30 p.m..

.

The new amphitheater allows park visitors to view the Canyon’s famous vistas from a beautiful location, while seated on native limestone. The amphitheater’s setting, adjacent to the rim seats approximately 50 – 80 people providing space for ranger talks or viewing the Canyon’s sunrise and sunsets in a peaceful spot..

.

The landmark feature, honoring the Native American Tribes affiliated with Grand Canyon National Park, is also created from native limestone. This feature has a plaza with a meeting area for visitors walking to and from Mather Point. Stone slabs in the construction include etchings inspired by stories with input gathered from these tribes. Diana Sue Uqualla, representing the Havasupai Tribe, offered a blessing at the landmark feature..

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park are thankful to the Salt River Project and their partners; U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Arizona Public Service, NV Energy and Tucson Electric Power - owners of the Navajo Generating Station for providing the funding to help construct these two key elements at Mather Point near the park’s main visitor center – the landmark feature and Mather Point Amphitheater. These areas will become a central part of the visitor experience for the nearly 4.5 million people from around the world who visit Grand Canyon National Park each year..

.

NPS Photo by Michael Quinn.

SRP had switched between gray steel, wooden, and rusty steel (current) poles between the 1990's up to the present.

New Mather Point Amphitheater and Landmark Feature Dedication Ceremony Monday, October 25, 2010.

.

Diana Sue Uqualla, representing the Havasupai People. .

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park dedicated a new rim-based amphitheater and landmark feature at Mather Point on Grand Canyon’s South Rim on Monday, October 25, 2010 starting at 3:30 p.m..

.

The new amphitheater allows park visitors to view the Canyon’s famous vistas from a beautiful location, while seated on native limestone. The amphitheater’s setting, adjacent to the rim seats approximately 50 – 80 people providing space for ranger talks or viewing the Canyon’s sunrise and sunsets in a peaceful spot..

.

The landmark feature, honoring the Native American Tribes affiliated with Grand Canyon National Park, is also created from native limestone. This feature has a plaza with a meeting area for visitors walking to and from Mather Point. Stone slabs in the construction include etchings inspired by stories with input gathered from these tribes. Diana Sue Uqualla, representing the Havasupai Tribe offered a blessing at the landmark feature..

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park are thankful to the Salt River Project and their partners; U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Arizona Public Service, NV Energy and Tucson Electric Power - owners of the Navajo Generating Station for providing the funding to help construct these two key elements at Mather Point near the park’s main visitor center – the landmark feature and Mather Point Amphitheater. These areas will become a central part of the visitor experience for the nearly 4.5 million people from around the world who visit Grand Canyon National Park each year..

.

NPS Photo by Erin Whittaker.

New Mather Point Amphitheater and Landmark Feature Dedication Ceremony Monday, October 25, 2010.

.

Diana Sue Uqualla, representing the Havasupai People. .

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park dedicated a new rim-based amphitheater and landmark feature at Mather Point on Grand Canyon’s South Rim on Monday, October 25, 2010 starting at 3:30 p.m..

.

The new amphitheater allows park visitors to view the Canyon’s famous vistas from a beautiful location, while seated on native limestone. The amphitheater’s setting, adjacent to the rim seats approximately 50 – 80 people providing space for ranger talks or viewing the Canyon’s sunrise and sunsets in a peaceful spot..

.

The landmark feature, honoring the Native American Tribes affiliated with Grand Canyon National Park, is also created from native limestone. This feature has a plaza with a meeting area for visitors walking to and from Mather Point. Stone slabs in the construction include etchings inspired by stories with input gathered from these tribes. Diana Sue Uqualla, representing the Havasupai Tribe offered a blessing at the landmark feature..

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park are thankful to the Salt River Project and their partners; U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Arizona Public Service, NV Energy and Tucson Electric Power - owners of the Navajo Generating Station for providing the funding to help construct these two key elements at Mather Point near the park’s main visitor center – the landmark feature and Mather Point Amphitheater. These areas will become a central part of the visitor experience for the nearly 4.5 million people from around the world who visit Grand Canyon National Park each year..

.

NPS Photo by Erin Whittaker.

New Mather Point Amphitheater and Landmark Feature Dedication Ceremony Monday, October 25, 2010.

.

Diana Sue Uqualla, representing the Havasupai People. .

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park dedicated a new rim-based amphitheater and landmark feature at Mather Point on Grand Canyon’s South Rim on Monday, October 25, 2010 starting at 3:30 p.m..

.

The new amphitheater allows park visitors to view the Canyon’s famous vistas from a beautiful location, while seated on native limestone. The amphitheater’s setting, adjacent to the rim seats approximately 50 – 80 people providing space for ranger talks or viewing the Canyon’s sunrise and sunsets in a peaceful spot..

.

The landmark feature, honoring the Native American Tribes affiliated with Grand Canyon National Park, is also created from native limestone. This feature has a plaza with a meeting area for visitors walking to and from Mather Point. Stone slabs in the construction include etchings inspired by stories with input gathered from these tribes. Diana Sue Uqualla, representing the Havasupai Tribe offered a blessing at the landmark feature..

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park are thankful to the Salt River Project and their partners; U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Arizona Public Service, NV Energy and Tucson Electric Power - owners of the Navajo Generating Station for providing the funding to help construct these two key elements at Mather Point near the park’s main visitor center – the landmark feature and Mather Point Amphitheater. These areas will become a central part of the visitor experience for the nearly 4.5 million people from around the world who visit Grand Canyon National Park each year..

.

NPS Photo by Erin Whittaker.

New Mather Point Amphitheater and Landmark Feature Dedication Ceremony Monday, October 25, 2010.

.

Park Superintendent Steve Martin.

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park dedicated a new rim-based amphitheater and landmark feature at Mather Point on Grand Canyon’s South Rim on Monday, October 25, 2010 starting at 3:30 p.m..

.

The new amphitheater allows park visitors to view the Canyon’s famous vistas from a beautiful location, while seated on native limestone. The amphitheater’s setting, adjacent to the rim seats approximately 50 – 80 people providing space for ranger talks or viewing the Canyon’s sunrise and sunsets in a peaceful spot..

.

The landmark feature, honoring the Native American Tribes affiliated with Grand Canyon National Park, is also created from native limestone. This feature has a plaza with a meeting area for visitors walking to and from Mather Point. Stone slabs in the construction include etchings inspired by stories with input gathered from these tribes. Diana Sue Uqualla, representing the Havasupai Tribe, offered a blessing at the landmark feature..

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park are thankful to the Salt River Project and their partners; U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Arizona Public Service, NV Energy and Tucson Electric Power - owners of the Navajo Generating Station for providing the funding to help construct these two key elements at Mather Point near the park’s main visitor center – the landmark feature and Mather Point Amphitheater. These areas will become a central part of the visitor experience for the nearly 4.5 million people from around the world who visit Grand Canyon National Park each year..

.

NPS Photo by Michael Quinn.

New Mather Point Amphitheater and Landmark Feature Dedication Ceremony Monday, October 25, 2010.

.

Susan Schroeder, Grand Canyon Association CEO..

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park dedicated a new rim-based amphitheater and landmark feature at Mather Point on Grand Canyon’s South Rim on Monday, October 25, 2010 starting at 3:30 p.m..

.

The new amphitheater allows park visitors to view the Canyon’s famous vistas from a beautiful location, while seated on native limestone. The amphitheater’s setting, adjacent to the rim seats approximately 50 – 80 people providing space for ranger talks or viewing the Canyon’s sunrise and sunsets in a peaceful spot..

.

The landmark feature, honoring the Native American Tribes affiliated with Grand Canyon National Park, is also created from native limestone. This feature has a plaza with a meeting area for visitors walking to and from Mather Point. Stone slabs in the construction include etchings inspired by stories with input gathered from these tribes. Diana Sue Uqualla, representing the Havasupai Tribe offered a blessing at the landmark feature..

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park are thankful to the Salt River Project and their partners; U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Arizona Public Service, NV Energy and Tucson Electric Power - owners of the Navajo Generating Station for providing the funding to help construct these two key elements at Mather Point near the park’s main visitor center – the landmark feature and Mather Point Amphitheater. These areas will become a central part of the visitor experience for the nearly 4.5 million people from around the world who visit Grand Canyon National Park each year..

.

NPS Photo by Erin Whittaker.

This is a 1959 corner structure used for 69kv. The 69kv top build retains most (if not all) of its original construction.

This is the standard (1990's-current) construction of a SRP pole. Standard 6' crossarm with a wide, wooden brace seems to be preferred. The pole serves as a 3-phase line tap (12kv) that travels through an alleyway in a residential neighborhood. The steel brace wooden crossarm below the main circuit (and the pole to the right), much like many other utilities have changed to, is the main choice for deadends with SRP.

New Mather Point Amphitheater and Landmark Feature Dedication Ceremony Monday, October 25, 2010.

.

Diana Sue Uqualla, representing the Havasupai People. .

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park dedicated a new rim-based amphitheater and landmark feature at Mather Point on Grand Canyon’s South Rim on Monday, October 25, 2010 starting at 3:30 p.m..

.

The new amphitheater allows park visitors to view the Canyon’s famous vistas from a beautiful location, while seated on native limestone. The amphitheater’s setting, adjacent to the rim seats approximately 50 – 80 people providing space for ranger talks or viewing the Canyon’s sunrise and sunsets in a peaceful spot..

.

The landmark feature, honoring the Native American Tribes affiliated with Grand Canyon National Park, is also created from native limestone. This feature has a plaza with a meeting area for visitors walking to and from Mather Point. Stone slabs in the construction include etchings inspired by stories with input gathered from these tribes. Diana Sue Uqualla, representing the Havasupai Tribe offered a blessing at the landmark feature..

.

The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park are thankful to the Salt River Project and their partners; U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Arizona Public Service, NV Energy and Tucson Electric Power - owners of the Navajo Generating Station for providing the funding to help construct these two key elements at Mather Point near the park’s main visitor center – the landmark feature and Mather Point Amphitheater. These areas will become a central part of the visitor experience for the nearly 4.5 million people from around the world who visit Grand Canyon National Park each year..

.

NPS Photo by Erin Whittaker.