Backcountry bridges are so interesting. Usually, it's a log with a make-shift railing over some sort of 'shoe-soaking' creek or hazardous, angry water. The Eastside Trail on Mt. Rainier has lots of water crossings and I grabbed my camera at quite a few. I couldn't help but think of the Park Service crews who faithfully come to these areas at snowmelt and replace many of these bridges, year after tiring year. When Mt. Rainier decides to re-decorate and re-arrange, she often uses water as her power tool. Since the weather folks are calling for a La'Nina year, we are predicted to have more rain than usual. This may be the last we see of many of these bridges as we head into winter, then again... I marvel as how many of these have worn faces and have weathered the storms.
In November of 2006, 18 inches of rain fell in 36 hours causing 36 million dollars in damage in the Park. Many of these trails were impassable including this one. Since then, volunteers, the Army Corp of Engineers and Park Service officials have worked tirelessly to replace many of the bridges- big and small. Below is one of the new ones.
This one was really interesting. You can see the pillars where they are building a new bridge. The old bridge is washed up downstream. This is a deep, wild canyon and the thought of the Park Service putting this log over this creek was a little harrowing. It didn't bounce and I felt safe on it, but it was very skinny. By the way, this is the Ohanapecosh River, which flows from Indian Bar headwaters right above here. The Ohanapecosh headwaters are near where we saw the goats and had the snow crossings on the Wonderland Trail.
In November of 2006, 18 inches of rain fell in 36 hours causing 36 million dollars in damage in the Park. Many of these trails were impassable including this one. Since then, volunteers, the Army Corp of Engineers and Park Service officials have worked tirelessly to replace many of the bridges- big and small. Below is one of the new ones.
This one was really interesting. You can see the pillars where they are building a new bridge. The old bridge is washed up downstream. This is a deep, wild canyon and the thought of the Park Service putting this log over this creek was a little harrowing. It didn't bounce and I felt safe on it, but it was very skinny. By the way, this is the Ohanapecosh River, which flows from Indian Bar headwaters right above here. The Ohanapecosh headwaters are near where we saw the goats and had the snow crossings on the Wonderland Trail.
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