San Joaquin bridge washout?

[cburton103]

That’s great news! I’ll hopefully cross the S Fork this Friday afternoon. If things look a bit too swift, we’ll set up camp and check it out the following morning.

[cburton103]

It's a little late in the season for this update to be applicable to many, but I figured I would share my firsthand experience.

I crossed the S Fork of the San Joaquin a few hundred feet downstream of the broken (and now destroyed) bridge. My friend and I are both about 6'1 and we crossed in the early afternoon. The water was slow to moderate pace and up to about our knees. We spoke to several other hikers, male and female, ranging from probably 5'4 and up, and none of them considered the crossing dangerous or worthy of detouring around.

Towards the end of our hike after coming down from Mosquito Pass, we crossed the S Fork a few miles downstream of Piute Creek, which adds quite a bit to the flow. We found a spot that was moderate in its flow, and probably 4-5" above our knees. We crossed around 1 pm - wouldn't have wanted to cross if the water was moving much faster or deeper, and we specifically looked for a spot that didn't have a big rapid downstream of it.

[teddyinthewoods]

Any recent travel by the washed out South Fork San Joaquin Bridge? Last year people were fording the river in September. I have a trip planned for July 1 - North Lake South Lake Loop and I'm wondering whether we should find an alternative. Also curious whether microspikes are advised.

[rormisto]

I haven't been up there this season, but the aforementioned Skurka up & over alternate is really good. His whole page on alternates is useful: https://andrewskurka.com/detouring-san- ... lternates/ I would always advise studying up on alternates on any water crossing, especially one large enough to warrant a bridge (when the bridge is out).

More useful, maybe, is the good discussion of these alts on the previous pages! In terms of bringing spikes, things are melting fast, and Piute, Bishop, and Muir aren't known to hold snow late into the season, in my experience, at least! But, spikes are a pound, and it'd be much better to bring them and not need them if you can't get better info. Depends on your snow comfort and trip plan, too. Are you trying to get pre-dawn starts and crush miles on solid ice? Are you ok having slow mornings while you wait for things to get soft? I personally wouldn't bring spikes, but I would never advise someone else not to.

[jfr]

The most recent report (June 24) in the Far Out Guides PCT app is that a backcountry ranger stated that there is significant erosion occurring on the up-and-over Skurka route and that the river can be safely crossed 0.4 miles below (north of) the washed out bridge. It was hip deep. It should only get better as the snow finishes melting for the season. And here I was, all ready to do the Skurka route two weeks from now, with the track pre-loaded in my CalTopo app. Sheesh...