West side Hyak Gold Creek Road washed out

[tomx]

Went up to GC today and hit a rude awaking. The road on the west side coming in from Hyak exit has washed out. Doesn't look good, not sure what this means for the season, or for the groomer since it normally comes in this way. Going to make for an interesting cluster fawck at Kachess side if we get some good snow going.

We ended up going in from Kachess side, had to tow a good 80ft tree out of the road, chainsaws are a good idea, lots of trees down. We did a lot of pruning today.

 

[KTG151]

This is not good news at all. I doubt this will get fixed until next spring.

 

[Vasya]

Hopefully there will be enough snow this season to help out DOT by filling up the pot holes and missing chunks of road ways...

 

[gr8skidoo]

Wow seems like construction may have had something to do with this issue? We are losing snowparks like crazy from this project. I do not think we will be using that snowpark this year or the other along the side of the highway.. Maybe sledders should see if we can get WSSA involved and talk to the state to see if they can get those repairs rushed so we can ride over there! This is what our tab money for snowparks and Wssa memberships are for.

 

[tomx]

Yeah Price Creek is gone as well. I checked it out on Friday, you can see the lot back there, but they've dozed out the entrance and construction vehicles block everything. So getting into Gold Creek is going to be from Kachees side only. Ugh.

 

[inspector01]

Wow seems like construction may have had something to do with this issue? We are losing snowparks like crazy from this project. I do not think we will be using that snowpark this year or the other along the side of the highway.. Maybe sledders should see if we can get WSSA involved and talk to the state to see if they can get those repairs rushed so we can ride over there! This is what our tab money for snowparks and Wssa memberships are for.

If this winter is anything like the last couple, I think we need to try and get some snoparks up higher so they're actually usable.

 

[millerwd]

If you look at the photos closely you will see two electrical conduits. I could be mistaken but I believe these conduits contain fiber optic cable for communication across Washington state. If not they must be for electrical services. Let's hope this expedites repair of the bridge.

 

[SNOBI-WAN-KENOBI]

All the State has to do to fix this is get a 1 inch thick steel plate,about 20 feet long and bolt it across the washout!! No rocket science there!!!!!

 

[Matte Murder]

Is that before the sno park or after?

 

[Carbon77]

Is that before the sno park or after?

after

https://www.google.com/maps/@47.372...4!1s0abXf5TLRn3BC7xKt7Xjag!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

[winter brew]

Just build a jump.

 

[summ8rmk]

Paint ur truck orange with the rebel flag on top before attempting the jump, i think u got to do some hootin and hollering too. It works, I've seen it done 100's of times yeee haawww!

GS6

 

[FlyingW]

All the State has to do to fix this is get a 1 inch thick steel plate,about 20 feet long and bolt it across the washout!! No rocket science there!!!!!

There's always rocket science involved when the government is involved. Read the following press release from the Forest Service:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD483465

Storm Damages Forest Roads

Release Date: Nov 30, 2015

Flood water associated with heavy rains in the Cascade Mountains have damaged several roads in the Cle Elum Ranger District.

Of the damage reported at this time, the most significant is to Forest Service Road (FSR) 4832, Keechelus Frontage, at the Rocky Run Creek Bridge near Hyak. The fill material of the bridge approach on the north end has been washed away undermining the asphalt surface.

“This is a very hazardous situation. The road is not safe to drive, or even walk on at this time” said Jason Peterson, Engineering Staff Officer for the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest. “It is very deceptive. The asphalt is in place yet there is nothing supporting it” Peterson went on to say. Barricades have been set in place to prevent travel over the bridge. Signs have also been posted warning of the hazard.

The bridge itself appears to have suffered only superficial damage but until bridge engineers from the Forest Service Regional Office in Portland, Oregon carry out an inspection next week, the full extent of the damage will not be known.

Keechelus Frontage Road originates at the highly popular Gold Creek Sno-Park and accesses groomed snowmobile trails as well as popular backcountry ski and snowshoe areas. There will be impacts to winter recreation as a result of this damage, the extent of which is unknown at this time. Every effort will be made to repair this route as soon as is possible.

Flood damage as well as trees down across roads has also been reported in the Teanaway, Cle Elum Valley and Stampede Pass areas. Please contact the Cle Elum Ranger Station to report additional damage.

 

[mc2stroke]

I'm with Winterbrew. Build a jump!!!

 

[Vincenthdfan]

Be lucky if that thing re-opens within the next five years.

Engineering studies, engineering reports, environmental impact inspections and reports, funding procurement, contract bidding....on and on and on with the red tape, ugh.

 

[PNWSKIBUM]

Ill bet this wont take too long as the bridge seems to be fine, it's just the approach and asphalt that needs repair.

 

[Jeff800]

The State will use it as a way to keep snowmobilers out of there, next thing it will all be wildlife land. Because someone will have spotted the Northern Yellow Crested WannaBee Woodpecker last seen before the 2 cycle engine was invented.

 

[cascadesnowjunky]

Somebody on here has to have a cat or john deere key, drive one of the dozers or excavators over from the construction on the pass and fill it in. Problem solved.

 

[saha6818]

I parked at Kachess today with everyone else, but I couldn't resist taking a look at the bridge. I ran into three guys on one sled who had parked at Gold Creek and ridden around the bridge by using the shoulder of westbound I90. There were a bunch of semi trucks parked there, so it looked pretty safe. It's going to be reeeealy tempting to do the same if they don't fix the problem soon. For what it's worth, the gap is pretty small - I could have jumped it on foot.

Also, the spur road to the Lillian back door has a tree on it. It looked very recent. As (if) the snow builds up, it might prevent sleds from passing. See the photo, assuming I can post it. I'm also going to try to report it as per the post above.

 

[Matte Murder]

If it's after the snowpark it'll fill in and bee passable soon. We were jumping creeks way wider than that last weekend!