Fourth Sub Updates

    In August, John, Michael and

I found the condition of the

Headquarters Branch virtually

unchanged from last year.  We

managed to ride from Jaypee to

Orofino traversing the three

major washouts with the same

level of difficulty as our previous

ride.  Apparently  the rails

will not be removed in 2005.

                           - Peter -

The last major bridge across Orofino Creek (heading toward Orofino

from Jaypee) has lost more of it's substructure and many ties.

Crossing on the bikes was spooky.  The concrete abutment on the

uppermost side of the bridge is badly undermined and may not survive another winter which would probably bring the bridge down

entirely.  Bikes would have to be carried across the creek, only fordable during low water.

The first bike made it

safely across, the

second derailed and

fell through the ties

into the creek.  The

third (and lightest)

was carried around the washout along

the river bank.

The low sun at the end of day made seeing hazards on the rails difficult and it was not unusual to derail after hitting and obscure obstruction.

This summer was dryer

than last and many of

these tall weeds, after

dying, would lay across the rails

requiring constant dismounting

to clean out guides and

outrigger wheels.

The canyon view

descending into Orofino

and the grand trestle on

the outskirts of town

will always be etched

in my memory.