Warning signs missing from Oneonta Gorge footbridge

[arlohike]

The metal footbridge that crosses the Oneonta Gorge a mile from the Horsetail Falls trailhead used to have laminated signs warning hikers to cross one at a time. Those signs have fallen off or been torn off; I'm guessing torn off because one is visible on the bank of the creek below along with some other litter. Anyway, if these are really needed for safety, they should be replaced.

A little past the bridge, at the junction with the other trail that returns to the historic highway, the newer of the two wooden signs giving directions to Triple Falls has been covered in graffiti (magic marker). Not a safety issue, but unsightly.

[trailupdater]

Good catch on the missing signs. We (Forest Service) just got the bridge repaired so the signs are no longer needed. All the nuts and bolts on the bridge got replaced...the old ones were so rusty that they were falling off or cracking. That bridge was installed in the 60s so hopefully we'll get 50 more years!

Did you notice the horrible erosion on the west side of the bridge, downstream side? Pass the word to other hikers to stay on the trail, don't cut switchbacks and don't take steep routes down to the water. We had a large volunteer work party at Angel's Rest recently and repaired upwards of 50 switchback cutting problems. Eagle Creek is getting bad for shortcuts to the water also.

As for signage...a perpetual problem. We spend thousands of dollars on new signs, posts, hardware and labor. People get lost and complain about missing signs but usually the missing sign is a stolen (or vandalised) sign. We have taken to using theft-proof hardware as we replace them. Edan

[miah66]

Thanks for all the work you and others do trailupdater! It doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated by the community!

[arlohike]

Good news on the bridge. I can imagine how frustrating it is to keep up with the vandals.

[Chip Down]

Good catch on the missing signs. We (Forest Service) just got the bridge repaired so the signs are no longer needed. All the nuts and bolts on the bridge got replaced...the old ones were so rusty that they were falling off or cracking.

But...the single-user warning is now posted again!

Interesting that the fasteners were rusty. I saw no sign of damage, so wondered what the issue was (a moot point now, but the point is the problem wasn't visible to the typical user).