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Branscomb
Trad climber
Lander, WY
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 29, 2016 - 07:43am PT
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El Dorado County is considering building a new bridge across the S Fork of the American River to bypass the old Mosquito Bridge.
Climbers in Placerville are concerned that as well as destroying the historic old bridge (apparently the 2nd oldest working bridge in CA), the climbing area around it, with a long history of difficult ascents dating to the mid 70s, will be damaged or destroyed.
American White Water Assoc is concerned about a loss of river access and access for cyclists at that point as well.
Both groups are negotiating with the El Dorado County Supervisors to preserve the old bridge and the climbing area, and provide an access point to the area for climbers, white water people, and cyclists.
Your comments would be very helpful in convincing the Supervisors to seriously consider these requests.
You can support this effort by getting online and filling out the form provided by American Whitewater Assoc.:
https://secure.everyaction.com/rVlBLdNSnkGMhllm0V7XxQ2
Thank you................Bob Branscomb
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Branscomb
Trad climber
Lander, WY
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 29, 2016 - 08:30am PT
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Well, gee I had heard it was built in the late 1800s (originally--the county replaces timbers in it every year)so, ok, I learned something there. Thanx!
It is a cool bridge in any case and it would be a pity if they just dropped it in the drink.
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Branscomb
Trad climber
Lander, WY
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 30, 2016 - 09:35am PT
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thanks for the bump, Dingus...we want people to be on this...
the crack up the overhanging prow beneath the bridge is Twist and Shout...10c crack that goes from fingers to fist/small ow in 40 feet of total pump...FA by Don Garrett and Ron Vardanega in the mid70s with hexentrics.
lots of pictures and descriptions of the main attractions on Mountain Project: Tahoe region/Hy50 corridor/Mosquito Coast.
Everyone please do the easy to use input form for the El Dorado County Supervisors...this place is hard core and needs to be preserved...thank you!
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Nov 30, 2016 - 09:53am PT
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El Dorado sups are hard asses, and will require a big push to move the smallest mountain.
signing in 3.2.1...
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Killer K
Boulder climber
Sacramento, CA
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Nov 30, 2016 - 10:13am PT
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As the road continues past the climbing area it gets really skinny and can be a puckering experience when locals fly down the hill. Not to much room to turn around either.
Such a cool area though. Twist and Shout is great.
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Branscomb
Trad climber
Lander, WY
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 1, 2016 - 07:19am PT
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Bump this thread up the list so people see it and sign on...........thank you..........Bob
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RonV
Trad climber
Placerville
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Thanks Bob
Here is a copy of a letter I submitted this summer:
8/15/2016
To the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors,
Regarding the Swinging Bridge on Mosquito Road. I congratulate the progress made in the planning for a new bridge thus far.
I would like to respectfully suggest that the Historic Swinging
Bridge be left in place and parking be made available at the closer points.
I started developing rock climbing routes on the crag that forms the north abutment of the Swinging Bridge in 1977 with a small group of locals. The year I graduated from El Dorado High School. These climbs were first described in a guide book published by Bob Branscomb in the early eighties and then in the Cosumnes River Guide (2003) by Will Cottrell. Will coined the name Mosquito Coast for the area we just called Swinging bridge.
The climbs are steep cracks on high grade granite and makes a great training area for climbers preparing for the steep cracks of Yosemite. Several difficult climbs are found here so climbers come to test their strength and technique. To be fair Mosquito Coast/Swinging Bridge sees few climbers, but periodically locals make regular visits.
From a climbers perspective as long as there is parking, we can get to the climbing by walking down the road to the bridge.
As a native Californian I would also plead that Swinging Bridge is a piece of history that deserves consideration for preservation. I have heard a rumor that it might be the 2nd oldest bridge in California.
As a resident of the town of Placeville I would like to point out that access for emergency vehicles to one more bridge is an asset in this age of catastrophic wild fires not a liability.
This is a special place for me and many of my friends, as a climbing area and a great place to take a dip in the cool waters on a hot day. Because currently there is too much traffic on this old narrow road, I think moving traffic onto a new bridge is overdue and could help make the Swinging Bridge a great recreational destination as long as access and parking were preserved.
Sincerely,
Ron Vardanega
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Branscomb
Trad climber
Lander, WY
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2016 - 06:35am PT
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Another bump this thread up...please submit the online form and help preserve the Mosquito Bridge...thanx.............Bob Branscomb
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Branscomb
Trad climber
Lander, WY
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2016 - 07:54am PT
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You'll see the joint in the beam to the right in Dingus' picture. The entire span is built of short wood sections with that joint in between each one. When a car comes onto the bridge, the joints close up, meshing the individual sections together and forming two long, rigid beams across the length of the bridge: a pretty strong structure. When the load is removed, the beams ease back up to their original sectional configurations.
This is part of the load bearing structure of the bridge, along with the cables and the undercarriage structure.
Many a time I've sat underneath watching it work...it makes an awful noise but it's cool to watch.
Those ol' guys were pretty foxy when they built this one...be a shame to lose it.
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plasticmullet
climber
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Unfortunately, while the bridge is indeed old, it is not "historic" within the context of CEQA and NEPA. Because it is neither a historical resource or historic property (respectively), the County is under no obligation to preserve the bridge. The best and really only hope would be for a private entity/organization to adopt the bridge and maintain it for perpetuity.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Since it seems to still do the job it was designed for why do they want to replace it, one of the
supes have a brother-in-law in the bridge business?
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plasticmullet
climber
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This page appears to have much of the CEQA information.
https://www.edcgov.us/MosquitoBridge/
The bridge is structurally deficient, a rating of 12.5 is very low, something needs to be done to bring the bridge up to current design standards.
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RonV
Trad climber
Placerville
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The community of Mosquito and Swansboro have grown far beyond the capability of this bridge and road. Nothing more than an old tractor cut that has been paved. The bridge is one lane with no room to pass before and after. Cars have to stop 200 yrds on either side to take turns. The bridge is also so narrow that modern SUVs barely fit. In fact cars constantly hit the bridge and damage it requiring a one month shut down for repairs every year. The alternative access to these communities is Rock Creek Rd, which is many miles longer and contains its own dangers.
The bridge is so narrow, local fire and ambulances have to be special ordered to fit. This was not a problem years ago when few people lived there, but now everyone wants to live in the sticks and commute for hours to work.
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chainsaw
Trad climber
CA
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Please contact CRAGS. Thats Climbing Resource Advocates of Greater Sacramento. They still have two or three lawyers on the board. CRAGS is an access fund affiliate and works to preserve climbing access from Auburn to Lovers Leap. No promisses. But perhaps my old board of directors could write a letter to ED Co Supes on this subject. I would endeavor to contact them for you. But Im done with community sevice for the time being. Cost me too much time and money. Not to mention I got tired of others claiming all my accomplishments. Good luck with your plan. I dont know if Will Cotrell is still around. Thats his area. He would be another person to contact. He wrote the guidebook on mosquito and consumnes.
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RonV
Trad climber
Placerville
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Thanks Chainsaw,
I did get the Access Fund involved and they have taken action. Another organization could help. We thought getting the community at large involved was also important which is why Bob posted this on ST. Will is around, but has been flying under the radar these days.
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Branscomb
Trad climber
Lander, WY
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2016 - 10:34am PT
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Ron V hit it on the head that there are so many people out there commuting everyday to work that the present bridge and the road is pushed way beyond what it was built for. Going out Rock Creek Road to Chili Bar is even longer and as narrow and windy as Mosquito Road and going out to Georgetown is pretty much a backwoods adventure on dirt roads.
I can understand why the Swansboroians would like a new bridge...it would save money on relining their brakes twice a year at least was well as the nervous wear and tear of driving that old road. The other big consideration that Dingus correctly cited is the fire danger out there...I remember watering down my parents roof when the big Mosquito fire came roaring up a ridge away from their house in the 80s, until they turned the place pink with borade...and we were on the S edge of that monster...it came real close to taking out all of Swansboro and the threat has not diminished over the years...it's nothing but dry brush and parched trees out there in the summer and fall. I can see why they want a fast exit outta there.
It is maybe a stretch to get the El Dorado County Supers to leave the old bridge in place, but it's worth a try.
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chainsaw
Trad climber
CA
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It is excellent to see folks rallying to protect mosquito. Like so many other local crags, it is a good spot to get on rock without driving all day. Part of the art of staying fit for bigger climbs is making the most of little spots like mosquito and consumnes. There may be some precedent for protecting the climbing at least since its part of a watershed which limits how much damage can be done to it. As for the bridge, its a tough call. If it is unsafe or inadequate, the county and state are obliged to act. There may be a middle ground. Our efforts to preseve climbing there may depend on how we are viewed by the supervisors. If climbers are willing to be supportive of their needs, they are more likely to embrace ours. If climbers make their life hard, they will remember it for decades. El Dorado Co controls places like consumnes and spires and leap. Yes those are National Forest and or private. But the County has alot of weight with them. We need to foster a positive relationship with these regulators lest they adopt an adversarial position vs climbing, which could be bad for future climbing area concerns down the road.
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Branscomb
Trad climber
Lander, WY
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2016 - 11:25am PT
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Yeah, I'm acquainted with some of the former El Dorado County Supervisors through my Father, who knew all of them through his work (he was District Superintendent for PG&E)and, yeah, you don't mess with those people. Be respectful and polite and try to work with them and you'll get a lot further. Need to keep it civil.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Cool bridge but I am not sure how the loss of the bridge really affects climbing access. The bridge sounds like an expensive asset to maintain.
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