Sanderlin Mountain becomes a war zone Print E-mail

The winter gift that keeps on giving—ice and sleet

Deer Run Ridge Essman
Tree uprooted near a home on Deer Run Ridge during the Feb. 5 ice storm. (Photo by Mike Essman)

Sanderlin Mountain Update, Monday, Feb. 8
By Laura Link
llink@bigcanoenews.com
Ice - Last Resort
The "Last Resort" may be shrouded in mist and ice once more with the potential of temperatures dropping on the evenings of February 8 and 9.
While road crews and residents on Sanderlin Mountain removed ice storm debris from the previous Friday’s storm, another potential winter event is threatening more damage.

By Monday morning Big Canoe road crews had worked through the weekend to spread 180 tons of gravel mix since last Friday on Sanderlin roads. Residents who could clear their driveways of trees and debris could at least get to stores to replenish their food supplies before more potential ice could hit their high elevation homes Monday and Tuesday nights.

The National Weather Service issued an alert for Pickens County’s higher elevations for potential road freezing Monday and Tuesday nights in these elevations. Black ice on the roads could also be a factor from overnight freezing. Long range forecast also suggest possibly more of the same for Friday, Feb. 12.

Looks like an iced tornado struck
Sanderlin Mountain looked like an iced tornado hit it Friday, Feb. 5, while the rest of Big Canoe looked like yet another rainy day.Bill Bates, director of public safety, said Friday morning residents on Sanderlin and Deer Run Ridge have limbs, trees and debris to the extent Bob Battle, a resident of Sanderlin, described as  “a war zone.” Big Canoe road and public safety crews on the scene agreed with Battle.

“All we can do right now is just try to keep the roads clear for any emergency,” Bates said.

He said all workers are confined to their trucks and no chain saws can be used because of the hazardous conditions. Bates said one worker was nearly struck by a large falling limb Friday morning and managed to escape injury by diving into a ditch.

No traffic is being allowed on the mountain. A propane truck, trying to make a delivery, had to turn around because the roads were impassable.

There is no prediction as to when people on Sanderlin can get out of their houses and neighborhood according to Bates. He said the residents, who are responsible for clearing their driveways and property, are going to have a big job on their hands when it is safe to go outside.