We were just informed that there will be a tour for MCPA folk into the townsite on each of the following Saturdays: September 21 and 28 and October 5. This will allow us to see progress on the new access route and have some time to work on readying the area for this winter and next year’s exclusion for the hazardous materials cleanup. If you would like to join us and help out, please let David Cameron know at camlind@richpoor.net or (360) 793-1534 by Thursday the 19th for this weekend, as we need to have a count by then. We will meet at Barlow Pass at 9 a.m. Saturday, follow a contractor’s pilot truck, and leave Monte Cristo at 4 p.m. the same way. This will be passable only by four-wheeled drive vehicles, so the count is important for passenger space. Bring along lunch, drinking water, suitable clothes for the weather, and tools for brushing or tread work.

A change in route has made this access possible. Instead of intersecting the current county road atop Hap’s Hill at M.P. 2, it will instead follow Forest Service road #6714 to its junction with the the county road just before the base of the hill. This reduces the amount of new construction impacts, but retains the troublesome approach near the camping area, which is highly susceptible to washing out.

Contractor work is expected to end by mid-October with the onset of fall rains and snow. Conditions change within the day, especially with storms and swiftly rising river levels.