Double Eagle Scouts!! WOO HOO!!

October 23rd 2010 was a day that has long been waited for. Jd and Roman decided in the fall of 2009 what their Eagle Scout Project was to be. Let me give you all some background information: In 1920 Dick Carter settled above the Kirkwood Ranch in Hells Canyon. He made a spectacular house that is now called the Carter Mansion. The trail going up to the mansion had the remainders of bridges that were rotted and in such poor condition that it wasn't safe for visitors and forrest service employee's alike. By the time we got there the bridges were gone, we only found bits and pieces along the sides of the creek. Because of it's remote location up the river we needed to use a jet boat to haul volunteers and supplies including the logs to the site. Our plan was to make gabion baskets made of 2x4 wire to place on both sides of the stream so the bridge does not get washed away or have any long term damage. I order to build the bridge we used a 16 foot log with a diameter of 16''. We used a chain saw to fashion a flat side to the log for the people crossing it to walk on. We then fastened 5 vertical 4x4 supports to build a hand rail on the side of the log that ensured safety to it's crossers.