Trestle fire, tunnel cave-in and multiple slides  
On September 3, 2011, a wildfire swept up the mountainside and
  completely destroyed trestle 21.3,
pictured at right
totally engulfed
in flames.
    On October 25, 2011, Jim, Peter, Dick and Michael rode down from Rubens to the burned-out trestle.  The ride down the grade proved difficult as there were many rock slides which required carrying the railbikes.  In one of the tunnels the roof had collapsed at the transition between the timber shoring and the natural bore about 50 feet into the tunnel.  A large hole has developed in the ceiling and the condition of the tunnel will surely worsen as winter sets in.

    Dick and Michael carried their bikes around the hillside and across the burned-out gully to
continue down to Culdesac.  Jim and Peter returned to Rubens in order to video the upper portion
of the canyon.

    Although there has been rumors that Mike Williams might rebuild the trestle the reality seems
highly improbable.  There is absolutely no economic reason to do so, and the damage occurring in and around the tunnels will be very costly. 

    Assuming that the bridge is not rebuilt, the upper section between the trestle and Rubens will
continue to deteriorate rapidly.  A complete collapse in the tunnel or a major slide blocking one of
the deep cuts could mean the end of our access.

This view shows the space previously occupied by trestle 21.3 with trestles 21.2 and 21.1 just to the right.The void left by 23.1Dick , Michael and Peter overlook what's left of 23.1.One rail still spans the canyon.The ground collapsed under Michael and one leg dropped into this smoldering hole, still hot and smoking after seven weeks.Dick starts the long portage around the parched canyon.Dick and Michael can be seen portaging their bikes across the burned out canyon. The hillside was loose and going was difficult and slow.
The large rockfall from the collapsed roof of the tunnel completely covers one rail. The hole in the roof can be seen at the left. Now that it is open to the elements rapid deterioration will occur.Peter can't wait to carry his eequipment over this mess. Just one of more than a dozen spots where rockfalls blocked our bikes.The approaches to all the tunnels were rock-strewn.Jim helps Peter carry over a rockfall. Peter was experimenting with some steel booms to mount his new Hero video camera and was burdened with some extra weight.Note how the boulders have displaced the rails.Looking past these boulders another slide can be seen ahead.Jim has already crossed this rock fall at the entrance to one of the tunnels and is heading downgrade toward trestle 21.3.There was seemingly no end to rocks on the rails. It would have been even more difficult had we not had our lightweight folding railbikes.
Photo Album 1 - Trestle 21.3

Photo Album 2 - Rock slides and tunnel damage
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threaten our ability to railbike in Lapwai Canyon.