Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board South Fork Big Pine Creek bridge

The log bridge over the South Fork of Big Pine Creek was destroyed by an avalanche over the winter. Does anyone know if this bridge will be rebuilt by Labor Day? We are planning to hike Brainerd and Finger Lakes that weekend. Thanks!

LONE PINE RANGER SAYS IT IS BEING REBUILT AS WE SPEAK.Bishop ranger says it wont be rebuilt til nx year!

Even if it isn't rebuilt you could easily cross at the horse crossing just before the damaged log bridge. Might get your feet wet but you aren't going to be swept away or anything.

Apparently, there are no plans to rebuild the bridge. I received this email from the Inyo National Forest:




Interestingly, 4 backpackers posted a video of crossing the creek on foot on June 20. I don't see any problems wading across:

http://vimeo.com/25362154

Like I said.

Scott - The video of those 4 backpackers crossing the creek does not look like a horse crossing. The footing appears too uneven for horses. Am I correct that the horse riders are using a different spot? Thank You!

Richard,
This does look like the horse crossing. They are on their way out based on the waterflow direction. The crossing has a sandy entry quite similar to the exit point. The crossing is just downstream a bit from where the log foot crossing was.
Scott

I was there two weeks ago and wouldn't have crossed it, I considered it too hairy (but I am conservative in stream crossings). The North Fork is fine and a great 16 mile semi-loop hike is to go to the sixth lake and then return via Black Lake.

Speaking of washed out bridges, does anyone know if they will ever rebuild the bridge over Convict Lake, 3.5 miles from the trailhead? It leads to the backcountry and Lake Dorothy. I was there last week and there is no way any human (or animal), is crossing that area. It's a shame because the trail is beginning to show signs of little use and in high water years, no hiker could cross into the backcountry via this route.

I don't know for a fact that the Convict Canyon bridge will not be replaced, but I would be very surprised if it were. I believe the last bridge was destroyed over 20 years ago. The bridge site is at the receiving end of major avalanche chutes, so another bridge there would only be temporary. The best you can probably hope for is that someone drops a log across, which I have seen done in some years.