 |
| 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.
