Rae Lakes loop: Upper Paradise Valley bridge damaged

[pilcorito]

Here is the downstream tree that was being used to cross on September 09, 2017. The tree made it all the way across the river, and the water lever was such that it was only covering half the river bed, so you were only exposed for halfway across the river (which was easily fordable as well).

[schmalz]

I think I am going to try to hike the Rae Lakes Loop this Memorial Day weekend, if the low snow year continues at least. It's looking like this tree will probably still be the crossing at that point. Looks pretty solid?

[Flamingo]

I'm bumping-up this thread. Does anyone else have photos / TRs / first-hand experience crossing South Fork Kings River at Upper Paradise from last season?

[maverick]

http://qwm.congshuo.top/DBgNB3uf6HA/Sep ... layer.html

Between 5:53 - 6:18 Flamingo.

[jeremiahkim]

Crossed in mid-September and found the log quite manageable. With higher water levels though, would have been a bit spooky.

As the video that Mav posted shows, the log doesn't quite bridge the entire gap, and one must traverse the root clump when traveling west to east with the water channel beneath fairly deep.

[Flamingo]

Thanks for the links + photos, @maverick and @jeremiahkim.

I also found this Rae Lakes Loop video from August 2017 (link below), which shows a unique perspective on the Upper Paradise log situation.

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNFWC3GVZKI

[maverick]

SEKI NP:

The South Fork Kings River Bridge above Paradise Valley washed out during the winter of 2016-2017. Construction of a replacement bridge will not begin before 2019. Depending on conditions, crossing the South Fork of the Kings River can be extremely hazardous. Observe conditions carefully and then evaluate the risk of crossing. Be prepared to turn back. If you hike the Rae Lakes Loop beginning from Bubbs Creek, plan for the possibility that you may have to backtrack to safely reach Cedar Grove.

https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/ ... s-loop.htm

[evensteven]

Curious if anyone had a recent report about this crossing? SEKI Trail Conditions has not posted any info on this section in quite a while. I have a permit reservation for the beginning of September. Thank you.

[robow8]

Curious if anyone had a recent report about this crossing? SEKI Trail Conditions has not posted any info on this section in quite a while. I have a permit reservation for the beginning of September. Thank you.

Had a friend and his two teen aged sons do it a couple of weeks ago and said it was no problem wading across.

[evensteven]

Thanks for your reply. Did they mention anything about possibly crossing at a logjam that may still exist downstream from where the bridge was located?