Jan 18, 2010, Hurricane winds

Apparently about 20' of roadway is completely washed away.
I wouldn't expect to see that repaired too soon.   

Perhaps the park can be convinced to open the road to Blue Mt. in the meantime.
That would be a good consolation.

I talked to a knowledgeable person at the Park today. They are evaluating options for either temporary or permanent repair. Coincidentally, the Park has money budgeted to redo the 5 mile section of road from town up to the entrance station this summer. The slide is in this section. There is no way around the washout, it is after the intersection with the Little River Road.

It is certain the road will be closed this weekend and almost certain the weekend following also. Past that, it depends on whether the Park opts for a temporary or permanent repair option.

I like your thought regarding Deer Park Snowbell, but I'm betting any access to the goods in the Olympics for the next while will be human powered, guess this will be a good opportunity to explore some new destinations.

Here is the official Park news release from earlier today followed by a picture of the washout. The picture is looking to the north (towards Port Angeles. The entire downhill lane is gone and almost all of the uphill lane).

Gary and Jan

Olympic National Park News Release

January 19, 2010
For Immediate Release
Barb Maynes 360-565-3005

Hurricane Ridge Road Closed By Large Slide Near Heart of the Hills;
Slide Follows Week of Heavy Rain

The 17-mile Hurricane Ridge Road is closed indefinitely just below the
Heart of the Hills entrance station, approximately five miles south of Port
Angeles. A slope below the roadway slid yesterday afternoon, destroying
both travel lanes along a 100-foot long section of road. The slide is just
beyond the Lake Dawn Road intersection; access to Lake Dawn is unaffected.

The road closure applies to all entry, including bicycle, foot, stock and
vehicle. The slide area is still active, and soil is continuing to move
down slope, undercutting the remaining narrow strip of asphalt.

We recognize how important access is to this area and are working as
quickly as possible to develop a plan for rebuilding the lost section of
road. With that in mind, engineers from the Federal Highways
Administration will be here tomorrow to assist, said Olympic National Park
Superintendent Karen Gustin. In the meantime, safety concerns dictate
that all public access beyond the closure is curtailed.

We are committed to restoring access to Hurricane Ridge as soon as it is
safely possible, emphasized Gustin.

Park staff first saw signs of damage to the road late on Saturday
afternoon, when members of the road crew noticed cracks and slight slumping
in the roads downhill lane just north of Heart of the Hills. A safety
inspection early on Sunday confirmed the initial reports and travel was
reduced to one lane only, using the uphill lane of the road. Immediate
repair action was taken as road crew members filled the cracks and spread
gravel to alleviate the uneven road surface.

The road was closed on Monday due to high winds and white-out conditions at
Hurricane Ridge. Meanwhile, road crew members cut and removed a number of
small trees on the slope beneath the road in an effort to protect and
preserve the road, and had hoped to open the road later in the day. Less
than an hour later, however, the slope failed and slid downhill, taking
most of the road with it. The soils that make up the slope are completely
saturated from recent heavy rains.

A timeline for reopening the road has not yet been developed, although
early estimates suggest that repairs may take at least a month to six weeks
to complete. Frequent updates and additional information will be released
as soon as it becomes available.

For information about alternative destinations within Olympic National
Park, people may consult the park's website at www.nps.gov/olym or call the
Olympic National Park Visitor Center at 360-565-3130. The recorded Road
and Weather Hotline is updated throughout the day with changes and can be
reached by calling 360-565-3131.

--NPS

Here is a link to an update on the Hurricane Ridge road washout.

Gary

www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=15144.0