Suiattle River road

[Whatcomboy]

Anybody done the Ptarmigan Traverse this year yet? Rangers said the concrete bridge crossing Downy Creek has been removed. Whats the deal?

[Doug_Hutchinson]

I skied the Ptarmigan in late May this year. The bridge over Downy Creek was still there but there was a ton of construction occurring. The plan is to have the road repaired to pre-2003 condition by this October.

 

My understanding is, that when construction ramps up (like now), all access (even walking) will be limited or restricted on Suiattle Road at times this summer so restricted access may be more of a problem then the (future?) removal of that bridge.

[num1mc]

They were moving a old POS cable crane in there last week

[tanstaafl]

From the Forest Service website:

 

FS 26 closed to motorized traffic beyond mile 11.6. Ongoing repair work will cause delays and closures limiting access through the summer of 2014 Currently open to foot, bicycle and horse travel beyond the gate to Green Mountain Road (FS Road 2680. NOTICE: Beginning June 2, at milepost 20.8, the road will be closed to ALL TRAFFIC, including foot and bike traffic from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday–Friday. NOTICE: Downey Creek bridge will be removed for replacement beginning June 9. There will be no bridge access until work is completed. Please respect the hazardous nature of this construction area.

[Whatcomboy]

OK, I got all that. Was in there 3 years ago and I remember the concrete bridge but don't recall the size of the water to cross. Just have to find a log crossing up stream.

 

[mountainsloth]

http://www.wta.org/signpost/finally-suiattle-river-road-to-reopen-fall-2014

 

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/mbs/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5150570&width=full

 

HOLLA!

Edited November 7, 2014 by mountainsloth

[ivan]

just in time to get blown out again by these fall storms

[Fairweather]

THANK YOU USFS!! (x1000)

[curtveld]

just in time to get blown out again by these fall storms

That is always a possibility in the Cascades, it's a very dynamic landscape.

 

But part of the reason the rebuild took so long was that several sections were rebuilt farther away from the river. And the Downey Creek bridge, which got partially washed out, is now much longer.

[mattp]

[tvashtarkatena]

We drove the shit out of that bitch last weekend to check out the fly new Green Mt Lookout.

 

There is one short area just before the Downey Ck Bridge that looks like its still at risk for a washout, but the rest looks like it could take an asteroid strike.

[JasonG]

SWEET!