Above and Beyond – Restoring Service to Baldy Mountain
April 29–30, 2025 | Sandpoint, Idaho
When equipment fails on Baldy Mountain, restoring service isn’t just a job; it’s a full-on expedition.
On April 29, 2025, our customers in the Sandpoint Baldy region began experiencing a service outage affecting internet, hosted voice, and transport connections. Our team quickly traced the issue to a complete failure of a critical piece of equipment, a switch, located at our Baldy Mountain fixed wireless tower, one of the most remote and rugged locations in our network.
The Challenge
The switch acts like a digital traffic splitter for internet data. It takes a single high-speed connection and distributes it to multiple paths to provide service on and around the mountain. Without it, internet access to a large portion of the region simply stops. The switch had failed completely, and our team needed a full replacement to restore service to our customers. The problem? Getting to the tower site on top of the mountain with spring’s unpredictable weather.
"Baldy is no joke.”
Day One
Our teams’ initial attempts to reach the summit in their own vehicles were unsuccessful due to the snowpack and rapidly deteriorating conditions. Cloud cover ruled out using a helicopter. Our Tower Team made multiple attempts to ascend Baldy in tracked side-by-sides and support vehicles, battling relentless rain, deep snow, and harsh terrain, but were ultimately defeated by the mountain.
"After getting stuck several times, they managed to dig themselves out and push forward, but eventually the snow became impassable, forcing them to hike five miles down through wet, heavy snow—after a full day of work—just to get back to the truck."
Day Two: Doubling Down
Early the next morning, the crew was back at it without hesitation. They deployed a full-sized snowcat (provided by EL Internet) to recover stuck vehicles and make another attempt up the mountain. 12- to 15-foot snowdrifts made the final ridgeline impassable and stopped them just shy of the summit.
Even Steve, our veteran snowcat operator, who works across the U.S. with major firms, admitted Baldy ranks in the top three most difficult mountain sites he’s ever encountered.
The Helicopter Solution
With ground access impossible, we turned to the skies. Thanks to coordination from Dustin M., Network Engineer, an Inland Helicopter pilot, Dave V., adjusted his schedule at the last minute to assist with our mission. A replacement switch and a technician were flown directly to the summit.
“Dustin was ultimately responsible in helping get Inland Helicopter involved to get me up there. With his help remotely, we were able to quickly get it swapped for a temporary replacement, test the battery system, and take off before it started getting dark.”
Once on site, the team removed the failed switch, mounted the replacement, reconnected nearly 15 cables, and reprogrammed the unit — all in freezing temperatures and rugged conditions.
"No small task when you're doing it on top of a remote mountain in harsh weather."
Outcome
By April 30, full service was restored to the region. Customers were brought back online, with only basic router reboots required in a few cases.
We want to recognize the incredible perseverance of Johnny M., Erik F., Josh N., and everyone involved in the recovery effort. Over two long days, with 12- to 14-hour shifts, they pushed through weather, terrain, and fatigue to get our rural customers connected again.
“Despite the conditions, you kept your heads up and your spirits high. I couldn’t be more proud of your effort, your attitude, and your commitment. You guys truly went above and beyond—and it doesn't go unnoticed.”
Why It Matters
Baldy Mountain isn’t just a hard-to-reach place — it’s a critical hub for regional connectivity. When service goes down, countless customers are impacted. This case emphasizes the resilience of our team and our unwavering commitment to keeping even our most remote sites online.
Thank you to the entire crew for your grit, ingenuity, and determination.
Find Connection with Intermax Networks
Locally owned and operated since 2001, we’re proud to offer high-speed wireless internet, fiber, voice services, and more to thousands of residential and commercial customers. Headquartered in Coeur d’Alene with offices in Spokane, Seattle, Sandpoint, and St. Maries, Intermax is the local’s choice for reliable service in hard-to-reach places.
Our friendly support team is here to answer any questions you may have. Visit Intermax Networks, or call us at (208) 568-7979 today!