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Opus
Wannabe
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 3700 | TRs | Pics
Location: The big rock candy mountain |
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Opus
Wannabe
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 Thu Oct 08, 2015 12:01 pm |
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Amazing how fast it happens! Everyone was ok thankfully. Don't watch if you plan to cross any of our bridges in the near future...
| Quote: | | A manufacturing defect is being blamed for a bridge that gave way, plunging four French tourists into the water.
In a report released on Thursday the Department of Conservation found cracks and brittleness in the heavy metal chains supporting the bridge.
On September 9, the 65-metre Hopuruahine✓ bridge on the Lake Waikaremoana Track in Hawke's Bay gave way, with the trampers falling eight metres into the water.
The trampers escaped serious injuries. At the time, Labour blamed budget cuts for the failure and said it was only good luck that prevented death.
But Mike Slater, DOC's general operations deputy director, said the chains defects would have been difficult to detect.
The batch of chains used on the bridge had not been used on any other bridges, and inspections of DOC track bridges around the country had not revealed any other defects.
DOC would be working with the local iwi Tuhoe to repair the bridge in the next few weeks. |
Defective chains blamed for bridge failure on Lake Waikaremoana Track
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Bernardo
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Joined: 08 Feb 2010
Posts: 2174 | TRs | Pics
Location: out and about in the world |
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Bernardo
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Thu Oct 08, 2015 5:30 pm |
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Wow! That is an amazing video. They were very lucky. What an experience. That would wake you up.
My take away: Never speak French while hiking!
Another one might be: Cross bridges one person at a time.
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grannyhiker
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Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 3519 | TRs | Pics
Location: Gateway to the Columbia Gorge |
Good thing they were over the deep water and not the rocks at the edge!
Reminds me of Thornton Wilder's "Bridge of San Luis Rey" but with a happier ending.
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.--E.Abbey
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.--E.Abbey
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
Joined: 13 Feb 2007
Posts: 7220 | TRs | Pics
Location: Stuck in the middle |
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
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Thu Oct 08, 2015 8:51 pm |
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The video makes it much more compelling than simply a story.
I'm glad I didn't know about this when we crossed a bunch of similar bridges last February in New Zealand. I often thought "so this is what hiking looks like when there is a well funded government recreation program". I guess no amount of money can prevent every accident.
 Falls River swing bridge on the Abel Tasman trek
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006
Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics
Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Thu Oct 08, 2015 8:55 pm |
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Whoa! Holding my breath during the video.
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tigermn
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Joined: 10 Jul 2007
Posts: 9242 | TRs | Pics
Location: There... |
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tigermn
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Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:06 am |
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Yea in my experience most such bridges have a one person at a time limit.... Dunno if this one did but they were definitely crossing it in a line.
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Ringangleclaw
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Joined: 01 Sep 2010
Posts: 1559 | TRs | Pics
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| tigermn wrote: | | Yea in my experience most such bridges have a one person at a time limit.... Dunno if this one did but they were definitely crossing it in a line. |
The video seems to show a sign where a SWL of ten people is given
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wolffie
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Joined: 14 Jul 2008
Posts: 2693 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle |
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wolffie
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Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:54 am |
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I'm told that soldiers customarily break step while crossing bridges because rhythmic marching might set up harmonic vibrations.
<sigh> Crossing that suspension bridge over Tahoma Creek on the Wonderland Trail will never be quite the same for me...
Some people have better things to do with their lives than walking the dog. Some don't.
Some people have better things to do with their lives than walking the dog. Some don't.
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touron
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Joined: 15 Sep 2003
Posts: 10293 | TRs | Pics
Location: Plymouth Rock |
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touron
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Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:22 pm |
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| wolffie wrote: | | I'm told that soldiers customarily break step while crossing bridges because rhythmic marching might set up harmonic vibrations |
I was thinking the exact same thing.
Touron is a nougat of Arabic origin made with almonds and honey or sugar, without which it would just not be Christmas in Spain.
Touron is a nougat of Arabic origin made with almonds and honey or sugar, without which it would just not be Christmas in Spain.
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