[BeyondLost]

I just heard the first dynamite blast at 1:30 PM. It is very loud even nearly 3 miles away. It has begun.

[BeyondLost]

BOOM!!!!! Wow! They just set off a charge up there that shook our house and rattled the windows. And this is 3 miles away.

[Quark]

You know what this means...? It’s with bittersweet realization that it comes to me that Dead Horse Point will be sanitized, made sane, and readily driveable to all peoples of this world. Dead Horse Point will no longer be the gnarly, scary narrow boulder-infested death point we all know and love. A generation from now, no one will even know why it was even called Dead Horse Point.

[Stefan]

[Quark]

Stef you are so full of sh##.

[BeyondLost]

Since the enormous blast on July 12, there has been no more blasting at Dead Horse Point. I had dinner last night with a friend who always seems to know everything about what is going on in the valley. He told me the word/rumor is they blew out half of the road bed (not on purpose). There is nothing on the FS web page since July 6. The Methow Valley News is printed today so will see if any news there. If none an early morning trip up the road may be indicated to see what has really happened up there.

[ArcDome]

According to the FS web site, the W. Fork Methow trail has been reopened. This also might be an indication that they will not be blasting in the near future.

[BeyondLost]

As of this afternoon, this is what is happening at Dead Horse Point. I have this from a very reliable source. The entire top of the cliff wall and all the loose stuff up above has been blasted and slid down to and some over the road. As it went it knocked off a bit of the outer side of the road bed but not much. There is now about 3X as much rock on the road bed as before the blasting. Walking out on the rock is really scary as you can hear and feel rock moving. What is there is going to require really big equipment to move it. I guess they are waiting for that to arrive as nothing has happened for a week. The good news is the road bed is pretty much intact. Bad news, it won't be open for a while yet.

[ArcDome]

Latest update on the FS trails page regarding the new Deadhorse Expressway: "Demolition operations were conducted throughout the week of July 9-13, much rock was reduced. Crews are working now to clear the road for excavation work. This work could last for a further two weeks. The road will then be reassesed to determine if it can be safely opened to the public."

[BeyondLost]

[Snowbrushy]

BL, Do you have any information about if the Barron Mine people want the road open? And if they will contribute to the road work? Is this FS effort for the mine and the microwave facility on Slate Peak?

[BeyondLost]

[Snowbrushy]

I guess I'm thinking of another lookout. I've sat around Slate enough through the years that I should know, but I'm mistaken.

[marionthegoat]

There are still patented and unpatented mining claims held in the Barron and Slate Creek areas. The claims, while productive as recently as the 1980's, have been idle for a couple decades and the DNR considers the properties 'abandonded'. Hobby placer miners frequent Canyon and Slate Creek, but they don't really present an economic interest per se in terms of production. However, the recent high market prices for gold keep claim owners clinging to their interests in the region. Slate peak was leveled in the 60's, supposedly for a Stategic Air Command radar observation post which was obsolete the minute it was built. There's solar cells up there, but nothing as high-tech as a microwave or radar dish. Today, Slate Peak has the dubious distinction of sporting the highest parking lot in Washington. However, only VIP's get to park there, the rest of us have to hike the last 1/4 mile.

[BeyondLost]

I wasn't around here then, but this is supposedly the time line history of Slate Peak and the lookout "Located at the end of the highest road in Washington, Slate Peak Lookout was first constructed as a gable roof cupola in 1924. In 1954 an L-4 ground cab was moved intact from Leecher Mountain, and two years later the Air Force removed 40' from the summit (including the lookout) for a radar station that was never built. The lookout was put on a 41' tower. With stunning views of the North Cascades, it is maintained for emergency use."