Posted by Carl Donohue on October 27, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Hey Folks,
Anyone who's been to Brooks Camp, Katmai National Park, or intends on going there, might want to drop by the park website and review the proposals for future plans.
One of the considerations is a new, elevated bridge to cross the lower Brooks River, instead of the current floating bridge they have - due mainly to the 'bear jams' they have with folks waiting to cross. Anyone who's been there and waited hours to walk across the bridge knows what a hassle it can be. The project is in the “scoping” process, and it's definitely worth, if you've any interest, putting your thoughts in.
They have a bunch of different pages up with information, and you can browse around them and read the proposals if you want. This pdf is a pretty decent “cover-all” webpage here.
Brooks River is one of the great wonders of the world, IMO. This fall there were something like 100 bears in the corridor. It's an incredible experience, and one of the very few places anywhere to see something like that.
Read over the info, and if you're interested, whatever your preference or thoughts might be, do take the time to put in some comments. And whatever you feel, make sure you say “No way in he**” to the stupid single-span suspension bridge .. is that the WORST or what?
Cheers
Carl
Posted by Lon Overacker on October 28, 2009 at 1:13 AM
Carl,
Thanks for the heads up. I just wanted to drop a note and say that I spent 3 wonderful days there in 1993 and it was the single most exhilerating nature experience of my life. Granted, I may not have the world-traveling experience that some may have, but still.... there may be few things that can get the blood pumping than walking past a snoring 1,000lb brown bear in chest-high grasses along the Brooks river - or being literally surround by 3 bears on the way back to camp. The whole time feeling like the humans were the ones in cages, be corralled, and it was the bear that roamed free....
Anyway..... as far as the bridge goes, when I was there it was just the foot bridge and they didn't even have the side railing yet. Here's a picture taken from one side of the river to the other with the bridge in between - this is the viewing platform where the humans get corralled during a bear encounter.
Oops... just hit reply. To be continued...
Posted by Lon Overacker on October 28, 2009 at 1:18 AM
As far as the bridge goes, what's the objection to the suspension bridge? I would think that the two of the main criteria would be: A. Cost and B. raised above the river to allow bears/fish to travel. If the suspension bridge is more expensive, then I'd go for the other options.
As long as they don't paint it Golden Gate Red, then I'm ok with it.
Lon
Posted by Carl Donohue on October 28, 2009 at 3:13 AM
Hey Lon,
Estimates the Law Enforcement officers from the park gave me were around $7million dollars for the suspension bridge. But did you look at the mock images they drew up? It's about as obtrusive and ugly as it needs to be.
Criteria B isn't really an issue .. the current bridge works perfectly for that .. bears and salmon swim under the bridge all day long - even at low water levels.
I'm with you on a trip to Brooks (or anywhere in Katmai) .. absolutely amazing experience to be around those creatures. It's a treat.
Discussion
3 repliesAnyone who's been to Brooks Camp, Katmai National Park, or intends on going there, might want to drop by the park website and review the proposals for future plans.
Web page.
One of the considerations is a new, elevated bridge to cross the lower Brooks River, instead of the current floating bridge they have - due mainly to the 'bear jams' they have with folks waiting to cross. Anyone who's been there and waited hours to walk across the bridge knows what a hassle it can be. The project is in the “scoping” process, and it's definitely worth, if you've any interest, putting your thoughts in.
They have a bunch of different pages up with information, and you can browse around them and read the proposals if you want. This pdf is a pretty decent “cover-all” webpage here.
These 2 are briefer, without all the details:
Newsletter #1
Newsletter #2
Brooks River is one of the great wonders of the world, IMO. This fall there were something like 100 bears in the corridor. It's an incredible experience, and one of the very few places anywhere to see something like that.
Read over the info, and if you're interested, whatever your preference or thoughts might be, do take the time to put in some comments. And whatever you feel, make sure you say “No way in he**” to the stupid single-span suspension bridge .. is that the WORST or what?
Cheers
Carl
Thanks for the heads up. I just wanted to drop a note and say that I spent 3 wonderful days there in 1993 and it was the single most exhilerating nature experience of my life. Granted, I may not have the world-traveling experience that some may have, but still.... there may be few things that can get the blood pumping than walking past a snoring 1,000lb brown bear in chest-high grasses along the Brooks river - or being literally surround by 3 bears on the way back to camp. The whole time feeling like the humans were the ones in cages, be corralled, and it was the bear that roamed free....
Anyway..... as far as the bridge goes, when I was there it was just the foot bridge and they didn't even have the side railing yet. Here's a picture taken from one side of the river to the other with the bridge in between - this is the viewing platform where the humans get corralled during a bear encounter.
Oops... just hit reply. To be continued...
As long as they don't paint it Golden Gate Red, then I'm ok with it.
Lon
Estimates the Law Enforcement officers from the park gave me were around $7million dollars for the suspension bridge. But did you look at the mock images they drew up? It's about as obtrusive and ugly as it needs to be.
Criteria B isn't really an issue .. the current bridge works perfectly for that .. bears and salmon swim under the bridge all day long - even at low water levels.
I'm with you on a trip to Brooks (or anywhere in Katmai) .. absolutely amazing experience to be around those creatures. It's a treat.
Cheers
Carl