Hilary documenting

[John Morrow]

Three galleries on the park website with more photo documentation of road damage:

https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery....6F14626BEA
https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery....6DBD951932
https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery....2B2EBBD152

[TacoLand]

These photos are really disheartening ...

[John Morrow]

These photos are really disheartening ...

Indeed.  Seems like November is optimistic for anything beside state highway to be open.

[Beardilocks]

I'm guessing that Jan will be optimistic for anything other than 190 and possibly Badwater Rd just to Badwater. Maybe Zebraski Pt.

The damage doesn't look objectively terrible in any one spot. But how wide-spread it is is daunting.

I'm very curious what west Side Rd Looks like...

[MojaveGeek]

I'm guessing that Jan will be optimistic for anything other than 190 and possibly Badwater Rd just to Badwater.

I would think the NPS would, as you imagine, concentrate on the paved roads, though of course Cal has to tend to 190 and it looks like that got some major damage. The pic of the mud line at the SPW store was heartening - does not look like water damaged the structures or interior. Don't know about the Oasis area though. The North road seems to be relatively low priority, though getting one route or another open to Beatty is a bit higher. Sometimes with closures the 4WD / dirt roads become fun to walk - Titus for example - but if there is a long slog across alluvial fans, e.g. Cottonwood, less exciting. My trip is usually in March and there will probably be enough open by then to get at least some good times in away from roads. At least I hope so!

[Beardilocks]

This is one of those situations where I'm extremely frustrated that they won't open 267. That road has been repaired for years and the Castle is essentially restored. It's frustrating that they will not allow traffic on that road, especially when North Hwy is washed out. That could restore access to Mesquite campground, Ubehebe, and possibly the Racetrack if that road isn't destroyed or only needs a quick grading; last year Racetrack Rd was fixed weeks before North Hwy was.
</rant>

The scope is definitely a bit alarming. I'm glad DVNP shared the assessment photos. The only major things missing were West Side (possibly both ends cut off?) and 178/Jubilee. It's a bit daunting to see Emigrant damaged, Wildrose buried, both ways to Beatty washed out badly, plus all the parking lots/toilets buried. Insane amount of work needed.

[MojaveGeek]

I don't think back country access is high on their priorities. Agree about 267 - silly to assume the only reason someone goes in there is to get to Scotty's. Yes it took forever, well into the spring, before the North road opened last year. But I suspect they don't want to have to go into the north part of the park if they can't drive pavement to get up there. Is that ranger station / residence ever staffed?

I can appreciate the law enforcement issues but they are pretty slack on that. Last year there was someone pulled about 50 yards off road in a camper van near the toilets at the Beatty Rd. I called it in, via 911. 20 minutes or so later, friends drove by, and called it on, using the number shown in the park newsletter (better not to bother 911 if possible). Neither of us saw any evidence of response, even though it is only 10 mins from the SPW ranger station.

[DVexile]

Pavement loss the NPS has to contract for, so that almost always takes longer than just grading which they can do on their own (or like now with the help from other parks too). So actually some dirt roads can be fixed faster than paved. Right now the scope of everything is unprecedented and so very hard to predict based on past events. Also last year they got emergency funding from Congress, no guarantee that happens this year. Could end with fewer resources to tackle more damage than last year.

West Side never seems to open unless both ends of it are accessible. So until Badwater pavement is fixed all the way to Ashford I’d expect West Side to be closed even if it has been regraded.

[Daymoth]

My concern is they seem to just keep redoing the same roads and they keep getting washed away. Like all the repair work at Towne pass just lasted what, 8 months or less?
This is going to become more and more common, they need to start engineering some sort of enhanced drainge system at the most vulnerable spots at the main roads.

[DAW89446]

I found this video on the Saline Valley forum.

https://youtu.be/JKWfv528fTE

It is done by Brent Underwood, who is part owner and resident at Cerro Gordo. It shows the damage done to the road to town by Hilary; it also shows the damage done on CA190, and the back way into Cerro Gordo.