First, a few comparison shots from along the hwy showing how slowly the ice is melting:
Just east of Multnomah Falls on 2/12:
Today, 3/1:
I took several more comparison pics and will post more much later as the season progress.
The EC trail was muddy for the first quarter mile or so but the work the volunteers did made it very easy going for the entire way. Where the ice still holds court, (90% of the way) the fir sprigs and dirt over the ice give decent traction and I did not need any devices to help me (though I brought them just in case!).
The new bridge still needs to have some work done to remove a couple of supporting braces and both ends need to be back filled with rocks and dirt to make entry and egress smooth. That likely has been finished as of this writing since I passed a couple of men heading in to finish the job just as I was heading back.
The old bridge was still sitting near the TH. Now that the stress is off of it and it has straightened out, it looks like it could be repaired and reused with not too much work:
The new bridge is made mostly of some composite material and though it looks at a glance to be steel, it is not. Hopefully, it will last for a lot longer than the recent one!
No trail clearing had been done beyond the bridge and it is as dangerous as ever. I went a few hundred yards beyond and, running out of time, called it a day:
My heartfelt thanks to the forest service for getting this project put together and to the many volunteers who cleared the trail so the job could be finished in time!
Finally, a hike at a good pace!!
Don
