Adventure: 009, Bridge 004 – Bailey Bridge across the South Fork of the Kings River

Sherri entering the bridge

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 009, Bridge 004 – Bailey Bridge across the South Fork of the Kings River

Team: YOLT

Date:  May 24, 2013

Location: Cedar Grove, Kings Canyon

Description:

Bailey Bridge across the South Fork of the Kings

So lets start in with the obvious question, Who is the Bailey Bridge named after? It is not named after a person, but it is a type of bridge. Leading up to World War II, the mechanized divisions of the army were getting heavier and heavier. The old style of temporary bridge replacement could not hold up to these machines. Along came a guy named Donald Bailey and figured out a way to build a strong bridge. Which can quickly be installed, even without a lot of heavy equipment. During WW II, Bailey bridges were erected in all sorts of situations, thwarting German intentions of blowing up bridges. As quickly as a bridge was blown up, a Bailey bridge was put in place. The Army still uses these types of bridges. It has even been suggested as a temporary replacement of the Washington bridge along I-5 which collapsed this year.

When the Kings River wiped out the old bridge a decade or two ago, the National park Service was in a pickle. They needed a cheap way to install a bridge. It would quickly be needed as hiking season was on them. Please they could not bring in heavy machinery. What did they turn to? A Bailey Bridge. They raised up the entrance to the bridge and constructed it, about as quickly as the government could work. So we have a bridge, probably about 150' or so long, anchored by a large boulder in the middle and safe for people like us to walk across.