Thursday, October 26, 2006
Flaming marshmallows of DOOM!
Camping was great. We just trucked up the road about 45 miles to a spot along I 90 heading towards the Idaho. It is the abandoned RR grade for the old Milwaukee line. The camp spot was in a wide area just off the old track bed about a mile in. If you couldn’t have heard the trucks on 90 it would have been absolutely perfect but as it was we were impressed. We walked miles exploring, checking out road cuts and bridges. Found lots of the date nails used to gauge when the ties were installed, artifacts from the RR, spikes, tie plates, broken china and telegraph equipment. I even stumbled across a switch magnet. I promise I would have hauled it home IF I could have moved it. Think of the fun you could have with an electromagnet strong enough to rip off a car door. Cool huh? Absolutely will go back if only because I am addicted to this sort of stuff.
The Camp Site.
Stream, from colapsed RR bridge.
Are we there yet?
The accident I mentioned earlier was quite a surprise. When we first arrived I bet we hadn't been out of the truck more than 5 minuets before we heard this huge BANG from I 90. It was a truck slapping the guardrail with its trailer as it slowed for the curve. The wife and I had a conversation about how odd it was to be right there at that time and place. The next morning we started off for a hike with the mutt, meandering slowly looking for stuff. About 1/4 mi. from the camper we hear another crunch, looking up we watch a small pickup slap several times into the rail before catapulting up and over. It flipped end for end at least twice before coming to a stop against some trees. Even before the echoes stopped there was a whoosh and the dumb thing caught fire. Having just watched this unfold less than 40 yds away we knew we had to help. Trouble was getting there meant climbing down the RR embankment, fording the waist deep river and climbing back up to the truck. I told the wife to hold the dog crossed and over. By the time I got up two others were on scene and the three of us helped extract 3 high school girls. I was surprised how well they faired considering. Cuts and an obviously broken arm. Lucky. I crossed back after all the paperwork was filled out. I didn’t notice how cold the water was on the way out but coming back, well lets just say shrinkage. On that note...
The river, road on the right, RR on the left.
The truck, hard to see in the picture, camera just didn't zoom enough.
High water and aparently gut mark
The rail
The Camp Site.
Stream, from colapsed RR bridge.
Are we there yet?The accident I mentioned earlier was quite a surprise. When we first arrived I bet we hadn't been out of the truck more than 5 minuets before we heard this huge BANG from I 90. It was a truck slapping the guardrail with its trailer as it slowed for the curve. The wife and I had a conversation about how odd it was to be right there at that time and place. The next morning we started off for a hike with the mutt, meandering slowly looking for stuff. About 1/4 mi. from the camper we hear another crunch, looking up we watch a small pickup slap several times into the rail before catapulting up and over. It flipped end for end at least twice before coming to a stop against some trees. Even before the echoes stopped there was a whoosh and the dumb thing caught fire. Having just watched this unfold less than 40 yds away we knew we had to help. Trouble was getting there meant climbing down the RR embankment, fording the waist deep river and climbing back up to the truck. I told the wife to hold the dog crossed and over. By the time I got up two others were on scene and the three of us helped extract 3 high school girls. I was surprised how well they faired considering. Cuts and an obviously broken arm. Lucky. I crossed back after all the paperwork was filled out. I didn’t notice how cold the water was on the way out but coming back, well lets just say shrinkage. On that note...
The river, road on the right, RR on the left.
The truck, hard to see in the picture, camera just didn't zoom enough.
High water and aparently gut mark
The rail
