This isn't a trail report as access to these areas is closed. It is a request for you to sign this petition to state government, especially Gov. Ferguson to make re-opening this access a priority. This link will take you to the "Friends of Carbon Canyon" Facebook group with access to the petition.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17AJaoiszk/
Currently the state is considering 2 options, one abandoning the bridge and buying out the landowners in this area. This would prevent access to many important recreational and hiking destinations, including the Carbon River Entrance, The Mowich Lake area, and the Forest Service Road leading to Summit Lake and Bearhead Mountains. This would eliminate 1 of the 2 winter access areas in the entire MRNP, along with permanent loss of the entire area. Eliminating access to this area will increase the usage of other areas of the park, as can be seen this year.
The second option being considered is replacing the bridge at a site further north of the current bridge. This option is more expensive to the state, and even if selected would not begin until funds are secured through the legislature. This project is not currently funded. This petition asks Gov. Ferguson tho declare this repair an emergency, and ask immediate funding for this project.
Please sign and support this request or we may risk losing this access permanently.
Comments
DK1998 on Tolmie Peak Lookout - Eunice Lake, Florence Peak
I have to hold my tongue lest this turn into a political rant, but the state really needs to step up and repair its own infrastructure. They claim they're broke but we all know that's either not true or is a sure sign of gross mismanagement. In the meantime I signed the petition.
Posted by:
DK1998 on Aug 26, 2025 03:17 PM
John on Tolmie Peak Lookout - Eunice Lake, Florence Peak
I absolutely agree
This bridge has had no routine maintenance for over 20 years. Any wonder that it failed. A few dollars spent on maintenance might have prevented this problem. It's very frustrating.
Posted by:
John on Aug 26, 2025 06:34 PM
slowandsteady2 on Tolmie Peak Lookout - Eunice Lake, Florence Peak
It is cost prohibitive to maintain/paint a steel truss bridge over a salmon bearing stream. That's why they quit doing maintenance 20 years ago.
The same thing is happening right now on the Levy Road bridge between Fife & Puyallup.
Posted by:
slowandsteady2 on Aug 27, 2025 08:21 AM
Lisa Elliott on Tolmie Peak Lookout - Eunice Lake, Florence Peak
done
Posted by:
Lisa Elliott on Aug 26, 2025 06:03 PM
rkjenner on Tolmie Peak Lookout - Eunice Lake, Florence Peak
Accounts circulate of a route on a gated forest road, controlled by NPS, that bypasses the bridge (I read 2 TRs on WTA). I wonder why this option hasn’t been offered as a way to provide public access.
Posted by:
rkjenner on Aug 27, 2025 07:17 AM
John on Tolmie Peak Lookout - Eunice Lake, Florence Peak
Yes, there is currently a residents only road. The story as I understand it is that it is an older unpaved logging road, that is not in good shape. It is resident use only with locked gates at both ends because the road is on private property and the owners did not want to grant public access to the lands. It took a lot of negotiating with the land owners to get use of the road, which I believe is only available for one year.
This is one of the reasons I am hoping many people support this petition, the easiest thing for the state to do might be to buy out the residents and permanently close access to this beautiful part of the state.
I will try to find more informative web sites and put them here.
Posted by:
John on Aug 27, 2025 08:31 AM
Jackie L. on Tolmie Peak Lookout - Eunice Lake, Florence Peak
Can a petition be accessed by other means than facebook? I would darn near sell my soul to be able to enjoy that very special part of the Park again but will not sign up on facebook!
Posted by:
Jackie L. on Aug 27, 2025 08:20 PM
John on Tolmie Peak Lookout - Eunice Lake, Florence Peak
This is a very wordy link, but when I copied and pasted it to my browser it took me directly to the petition on change.org. If I was tech inclined maybe I could come up with a shorter link. I will reach out to someone who may be able to help with that. But for now this link works. Thanks
https://www.change.org/p/governor-ferguson-rebuild-the-fairfax-bridge?cs_tk=A8n82mxNFwfYAS6_s2gAAXicyyvNyQEABF8BvDZlM2VmZTJlOGQwYTAxMThiMGI3NTRhOWMxMzUwMzA0N2UyMDY4YTljNTI0OGEwYzg1Y2FmNGM1ZmQ0NDk2Mzk%3D&utm_campaign=e54b64cf35a94c00819bbcfd4a1a4ff3&utm_content=initial_v0_2_0&utm_medium=email&utm_source=recruit_sign_digest&utm_term=cs
Posted by:
John on Aug 28, 2025 08:40 AM
John on Tolmie Peak Lookout - Eunice Lake, Florence Peak
Here is an easier link to use http://bit.ly/3JD26W3. Either link should take you directly to the change.org petition.
Posted by:
John on Aug 28, 2025 08:49 AM
Jackie L. on Tolmie Peak Lookout - Eunice Lake, Florence Peak
Thank you John - appreciate your time and effort!
Posted by:
Jackie L. on Aug 28, 2025 01:46 PM