[PSUBS-MAILIST] Fw: 2019 Flathead Lake Expedition 12-31-19 Update

Wed Jan 2 14:02:27 EST 2019

Is there a local source for helium as well as oxygen? That will be necessary if a dive rescue plan is to cover the entire depth range. Many years ago, I drove over the US border on a dive trip, having already mixed gas in several cylinders I was traveling with. Customs officers made me drain them all and spin the valves off so they could take a look inside to ensure I wasn't smuggling drugs or something. Maybe I look shady? Anyway, it was several hundred dollars worth of heliox. I'd rather not repeat the experience. Much better to partial-pressure mix and air top with an on-site compressor, if the option is available.

There is also the option of surface supply gear, depending on the nature of the available support vessels.

Sean

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-------- Original Message --------
On Jan 2, 2019, 11:47, Bansak, Tom wrote:

FYI,

The closest dive shop with a compressor is in Missoula, 1.5 hours away.  We fill our tanks up at the local fire hall, using their compressor.  Several of our employees are both divers and firemen.

We have O2 tanks delivered to our lab.  Norco comes weekly on Thursdays.

And Senator Tester is a good friend of the Bio Station.  So by all means mention your trip to FLBS to him.

t

Tom Bansak

Assistant Director

Flathead Lake Biological Station

University of Montana

32125 Bio Station Lane

Polson, MT 59860

(406) 872-4503 Direct Line

(406) 982-3301 Main Office

tom.bansak at umontana.edu

https://flbs.umt.edu/

From: Brian Hughes [mailto:mondosubmerso at gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 1, 2019 12:56 PM
To: Alec Smyth
Cc: Jon Wallace ; Jim Craft ; Bansak, Tom ; Rick Maxwell ; Sean Stevenson ; Douglas Suhr ; Doug Suhr Sr. ; Hank Pronk ; Josef S. Crepeau ; David Colombo ; Cliff Redus
Subject: Re: 2019 Flathead Lake Expedition 12-31-19 Update

Wow Alec, that's a great contact!

I'm owed another sabbatical so lots of time to drive out, but would welcome your help as surface support and backup pilot.

I assume there's a local dive shop to refill air tanks and welding for O2, yes?

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From: Alec Smyth
Sent: Tuesday, January 1, 2019 2:50:35 PM
To: Brian Hughes
Cc: Jon Wallace; Jim Craft; Tom Bansak; Rick Maxwell; Sean Stevenson; Douglas Suhr; Doug Suhr Sr.; Hank Pronk; Josef S. Crepeau; David Colombo; Cliff Redus
Subject: Re: 2019 Flathead Lake Expedition 12-31-19 Update

Happy new year everyone! Wow, I just looked it up and that’s 2400 miles each way.  We still have a few tracks/leagues that have not released their 2019 schedules, but the main events have done so and we’re in the clear so far. The good news is it’s looking increasingly likely I can attend. The bad news is I can’t see taking the time away from family for a tow of that distance, and there’s no way I could convince them to come along for the drive (are we there yet?)

It so happens my next door neighbor is Jon Tester, senator for Montana. I’ll let the Testers know of this initiative and see if they have any ideas for say media contacts. Is there any practical issue unresolved, analogous to the lack of parking at Tahoe?

It should be an interesting year!

Best,

Alec

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 31, 2018, at 3:12 PM, Brian Hughes  wrote:

Now that the daughter was married off on Saturday, I can focus more on this trip. I'll be reaching out to my bud Bob Rognlien. His family has a house on Flathead lake and maybe they have a boat. He's already invited all sub crews for a BBQ at their place. My wife's cousin served on the board of the research institute, might still as it's been two years since we talked about it,  and I'll be reaching out to Lin. He has several boats and I'm sure he knows people in the area. He's well connected with Rotary Club and is president of a local bank. Another of her cousins was the mayor of Whitefish, MT so he might have contacts too.

As an aside, I think it would be cool to dive Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park!

This will be a big deal for Northwest, Montana. Will anyone coordinate media exposure?

Christine and I will be towing Harold out. She might need to fly back early for work, but we'll see. Alec, want to make it a submarine caravan?

Brian

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From: Cliff Redus
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2018 3:01:42 PM
To: Jon Wallace; Smyth, Alec; Jim Craft; Tom Bansak; Rick Maxwell; Sean Stevenson; Douglas Suhr; Brian H Hughes; Doug Suhr Sr.; Hank Pronk; Josef S. Crepeau; David Colombo; Cliff Redus
Subject: Re: 2019 Flathead Lake Expedition 12-31-19 Update

I have sent out the invitation to join the Dropbox shared folder for the Expedition.  Let me know if you are having issues accessing the folder.

Best Regards

Cliff

Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance. Samuel Johnson

Cliff Redus Ph.D., P.E.

Redus Engineering

USA mobile:  830-931-1280

cliffordredus at sbcglobal.net

On Monday, December 31, 2018, 1:50:11 PM CST, Cliff Redus  wrote:

Attached is an update on the 2019 Flathead Lake Expedition and the roster as we know at his time. You will be getting an email to join a Dropbox shared folder for the Expedition.  We can use this to share files concerning the Expedition.  Since our last communication we have gone public with the Expedition to the Psub.org list.  That generated one additional submersible that will join the Expedition.  Brian Hughes will be towing Harold, a K-350 Psub from Maryland.  Brian's boat, Harold, is a two man K-350 boat so will be available to take passengers for the science objectives along with Gamma.  Jon Wallace has agreed tentatively to be the Surface Operation Coordinator (SOC) for the Expedition.  Sean Steveson is coming to help with dive/rescue support.

If you have changes to the roster, please update them in the roster file in the Dropbox folder.  At this point the FLBS research boat will tender Gamma, and Josef Crepeau's boat will tender the R300.  We still need to identify a tender vessel for Harold.

Best regards and a happy new year to all

Cliff Redus

Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance. Samuel Johnson

Cliff Redus Ph.D., P.E.

Redus Engineering

USA mobile:  830-931-1280

cliffordredus at sbcglobal.net
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