Adventure 009, Bridge 15-Tenaya Creek Bridge

Gary on Tenaya Creek Bridge

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 009, Bridge 15-Tenaya Creek Bridge

Team: YOLT

Date:  October 30, 2013

Location: Yosemite Valley

Description:
While the walk is short, the view is incomparable. Looking eastward, Half Dome is right there. It is one of the best views in the Valley, making the walk across long, not with weariness, but in contemplation. By the way, this is another of the historic bridges of Yosemite Valley, built in 1928.

View From Tenaya Creek Bridge

Design

Closed spandrel arch with stone facade

Dimensions

Length of largest span: 56.8 ft.
Total length: 95.0 ft.
Deck width: 42.0 ft.

Adventure 009, Bridge 014-Stoneman Bridge

Sherri Walking Stoneman Bridge

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 009, Bridge 14-Stoneman Bridge

Team: YOLT

Date:  October 30, 2013

Location: Yosemite Valley

View From Stoneman Bridge

Description:
On this cool, frosty October morning, we walk across Stoneman Bridge. This is one bridge Gary wanted to walk across. Why you might ask? First it is one of the historic bridges of Yosemite Valley-built in 1933. But more just because of the bridge's name, Stoneman. It seems so appropriate, all the stone work done on it seems so fitting. Besides, the view is good. As a note, we were note able to determine the source of the name Stoneman. Could it be for George Stoneman, the Governor of California? The one referred to in the song, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down where it refers to Stoneman tore up the tracks again?

Design

Closed spandrel concrete arch with stone facade

Dimensions

Length of largest span: 71.9 ft.
Total length: 205.1 ft.
Deck width: 23.0 ft.

Also called

Valley Loop Road Bridge

Adventure 009, Bridge 13-Mary Ave Bridge-Cupertino

Sherri on the Mary Ave Bridge

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 009, Bridge 13-Mary Ave Bridge-Cupertino

Team: YOLT

Date:  October 24, 2013

Location: Cupertino

Description:

Nice looking bridge! It goes over highway 280, where we could see all sorts of rushing traffic going under us. But having just walked across some of the Yosemite Valley bridges, our preference is still the rustic look of those bridges to the urbanic look of the Mary Ave bridge.

From Wikipedia

The Mary Avenue Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge over Interstate 280 (California) in Cupertino, California carrying bicycle and pedestrian traffic. North of I-280, Mary Avenue ends as a parking lot and drop-off area for Homestead High School. Bicyclists and pedestrians may cross I-280 using the bridge; Mary Avenue continues south of the highway.

At night the bridge is lit up and is a beautiful sight for those driving on or crossing Interstate 280.

Adventure 009, Bridge 012-Sentinel Bridge

On Sentinel Bridge

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 009, Bridge 012-Sentinel Bridge

Team: YOLT

Date:  October 22, 2013

Location: Yosemite Valley

Description:
This busy Yosemite bridge caters both to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. While not terribly long, it is a major connector between the north and south parts of the Valley; between Yosemite Village and Falls with Camp Curry. Besides it is a fun bridge to walk, and such a great view of Half Dome to boot.

History

Built 1918-19, Widened 1960, Replaced 1994

Dimensions

Length of largest span: 46.8 ft.
Total length: 94.3 ft.
Deck width: 20.0 ft.

 

 

Adventure 009, Bridge 11 – Cabrillo Bridge

Sam and Gary on the Cabrillo Bridge

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 009, Bridge 11 – Cabrillo Bridge

Team: YOLT

Date:  October 7, 2013

Location: San Diego

From the east end of the Cabrillo Bridge

Description:
When we exited from the California Quadrangle area, we find ourselves on Cabrillo Bridge. Having gone under the bridge coming in, we wanted to go over it. It goes across a pretty nice canyon, with a man-made lagoon at the bottom. Like much of the structures, it was built for the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition. Sherri, Gary and his Dad walked it and and returned to Balboa Park.

Adventure 009, Bridge 010 – Wildcat Creek Bridge

Capture California, the Game-2013
Adventure: 009, Bridge 010 – Wildcat Creek Bridge

Team: YOLT
Date: September 28, 2013
Location: Highway One, South of Carmel

Description:
It is so interesting walking the bridges along Highway One. For one, the scenery is top-notch. But even more intersesting is when you look below the bridge. What do you see? Under the Wildcat Creek Historic Bridget, you see, well a creek, meandering through a canyon. Lots of trees, and ocean, and, oh yeah a pool. Like I said, interesting what a short walk across a bridge can bring you.
So a few interesting facts about Wildcat Creek Bridge:

• Location: Monterrey County, just south of Point Lobos (+36.49771, -121.93596 ). There is another bridge in Contra Costa County with the same name.
  
• Built: 1933
  
• Type: Closed-spandrel concrete arch. You might ask, what is a spandrel? It is the triangle area beneath the roads surface and above the arches.
  
• Length: 165', with the longest span being 57.1', width: 34.1'
  
• Bridge ID: CA 44-16
  
• Average daily traffic: 13,000 vehicles
  
• Quirkiness: This is the only pointed-arch spandrel bridge in California.
  
• Quirkiness #2: the spandrels, the space between the curves of the arches, are filled in with rubble and finished with concrete, stone, or a mixture of both
  

Adventure 009, Bridge 09 – Steven's Creek Trail Bridge

Capture California, the Game-2013
Adventure: 009, Bridge 09 – Steven's Creek Trail Bridge

Team: YOLT
Date:  August 27, 2013
Location: Mountain View


Description:
This 350' pedestrian bridge is the current end of the Steven's Creek Trail. It spans the 6 lanes of Highway 85 and stops at the Sunnyvale city limits—we are hoping Sunnyvale and Cupertino will continue the trail all the way up to the Steven's Creek dam. This bridge was completed in 2012 and reflects the more sweeping style which has become popular.

• Steven's Creek Trail-City of Mountain View site
  

Adventure 009, Bridge 008-Happy Isles Bridge

Sherri and sign

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 009, Bridge 008-Happy Isles Bridge

Happy Isles Bridge

Team: YOLT

Date:  August 8, 2013

Location: Yosemite Valley

Description:

Sherri and Gary have walked over this 126' long bridge. Most of the time, the name given to the area by John Muir is appropriate—Happy Isles. This is because the Merced River passes under it, singing it way through Yosemite Valley. But this evening, the Merced is on a slow and low course through the Valley. We still enjoy the evening walk with our friends Lindy B and Ann U across the bridge.

This bridge used to see a lot of vehicular traffic. Now it is and Valley's shuttle buses and an occasional car bearing disabled plates. And of course, the thousands of visitors each day which walk the bridge to see Vernal Falls.

From the application to be on the National Registry of Historic Places:

The Happy Isles Bridge on the Happy Isles Road was built in 1929 with one span of 75 feet (23 m) and two equestrian subways in its abutments similar to those of the Clark Bridge, its near twin. The bridge's total length is 126 feet (38 m). Cost was $46,673.03.

Adventure 011, Tagged Person 040, Paul from Green Bay

Paul from Green Bay and Sherri on top of Muir Pass

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 011, Tagged Person 040, Paul from Green Bay

Team: YOLT

Date:  July 9, 2013

Location: Muir Pass

Description:
We met Paul and Larry around McDermond Lake on the way up to Muir Pass. At the Pass we had Paul pose with us for a picture. We will be traveling with them off and on for the next week. See Adventure 005, Hike 034.

Adventure 009, Bridge 008 – Lane's Bridge

Sherri the Bridgewalker

 Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 009, Bridge 008 – Lane's Bridge

Team: YOLT

Date:  June 18, 2013

Location: Fresno, 36°52'34" N, 119°47'31" W

Description:
We learned something new tonight. Two years ago when we walked this bridge, all which we could call the bridge was old Highway 41 bridge over the San Joaquin River, that is pretty good in itself. This evening we found a plaque naming it Lane's Bridge.  But about 20 years ago, the two lane highway was replaced with a six lane highway and moved. But this old road is still there and is used to bring people into a mobile park.

The 750' length bridge was walked. The largest span is 60', with 14 spans making up the roadway. It was originally constructed in 1941. It can still hold 71 tons of traffic. Why is this called Lane's Bridge? Will, not sure, but according to Paula Lloyd of the Fresno Bee,

View of the San Joaquin from the bridge

In that answer was an account of the collapse of the original 1889 bridge. Below is the last part of the detailed accounting.
“The collapse pulled the bridge loose from its moorings on the west end,” Lloyd wrote.
(“West end” of the bridge no doubt provides another clue).
In any event, “A replacement bridge was built for $235,000. It’s not clear whether that replacement bridge still exists,” Lloyd related.

But that is not all, at the turn of the century, there was a small town at this location. What was it called? Bridges, CA-it even had a post office. Why was it called that? Because of the Lanes Bridge cross. A drawing of the original bridge can be found online.

Adventure 009, Bridge 006 – The New Wawona Bridge

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 009, Bridge 006 – The New Wawona Bridge

Team: YOLT

Date:  May 31, 2013

Location: Wawona

Description:
The day is getting old, the body is tired and the heat feels unbearable. But low and behold, a bridge comes before us! It is the new Wawona bridge across the South Fork of the Merced River. This newly erected bridge, at least new by the Wawona Covered Bridge standards, provides the entrance way into Southern Yosemite for those coming up Highway 41, also known as the Wawona Road, north of Fresno. There is a pedestrian walkway on the eastern side of the road. With the river flowing beneath you, even the sun is bearable.



Like was said earlier, this is the new Wawona Bridge. The National Park Service replaced the older bridge a few years ago. The original bridge was constructed in 1931, then destroyed in a flood and rebuilt in 1938. This bridge was deemed critically deficient in 1992. After a series of court issues, it was replaced in the late 2000's. For more information, see the NPS site.

Adventure 009, Bridge 005 – Wawona Covered Bridge

Gary Entering the Wawona Covered Bridge

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 009, Bridge 005 – Wawona Covered Bridge

Team: YOLT

Date:  May 31, 2013

Location: Wawona, Pioneer Yosemite History Center

Description:

Coming back from a backpack trip, we stopped in Wawona for a few minutes. We then remembered the two bridges in Wawona. The first is the main bridge which is in use, which guides traffic along Highway 41. But the truly “stop-and-look-at” bridge is the old Wawona Covered Bridge. It is part of the Pioneer Yosemite History Center. Occasionally a horse drawn wagon will still cross this bridge, but none today. We were the only ones here, except for one lady. It gives you time to hear the river running under the bridge, the waters reverberating amongst the rafters.

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.

Adventure 009, Bridge 002 – South Fork of the Kings River at Woods Creek

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 009, Bridge 002 – South Fork of the Kings River at Woods Creek

Team: YOLT

Date:  May 23, 2013

Location: South Fork of the Kings River at Woods Creek

Description:
Before 2005, the way which the trail crossed this river was on a large log. Back in 2009, when we did the Rae Lakes Loop, there was a crew putting the finishing touches on a bridge. We were so glad that we could cross on a bridge, rather walking a log, or worse, fording this river.

 

 

Adventure 009, Bridge 003 – Golden Gate of the JMT

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 009, Bridge 003 – Golden Gate of the JMT

Team: YOLT

Date:  May 23, 2013

Location: John Muir Trail at Woods Creek

Description:

This is a bridge which strikes fear in the heart of most backpackers. It sways! It groans! It bounces! Its narrow! You see the rushing waters below your feet. A sign says: “One Person At A Time”. And yet, it is a lot better than what was there before. If you were lucky, you found boulders to go across. Most of the time you crossed barefoot in freezing water. So the Golden Gate of the John Muir Trail was constructed, to scare the daylights out of those who dare to cross it.

Golden Gate of the JMT

Adventure 009, Bridge 001 - Pohono Bridge

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure:009, Bridge 001 – Pohono Bridge

Team: YOLT

Date:  May 14, 2013

Location: Yosemite Valley

Description:
When you look east from the Pohono Bridge, you see the Merced River rushing towards you, in a hurry to pass under your bridge. In the background, Cathedral Rocks and Spires loam over the scenery with an assortment of pines and blooming dogwoods providing life to the whole scene. But we are not the first to walk across Pohono Bridge. Built in 1928 for $29,081.55 with native granite, it has seen a lot of traffic-both automotive and pedestrian. It is recognized as part of the Yosemite Historic Bridge District. Seen from the the front, the arch seems a fitting exit for the waters of the Merced to leave the valley.