Lots of Snow to Plow

Just a few miles to the west of me...

The biggest snowpack that anyone can remember means it will take at least 10 days to plow the snow on Bear Camp Road leading to the lower Rogue River, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.

ODOT sent a crew up Monday, and most likely will begin Tuesday morning, said Gary Leaming, ODOT spokesman in Central Point.

"They're thinking that the drifts are 10 to 15 feet deep," Leaming said.

Some years the snow at the highest sections of road over 4,000 feet is only a few feet deep and covers only a few miles by early May.

But this year 12 1/2 miles must be plowed. ODOT's estimated cost of up to $25,000 is about three times the usual cost.

Yes, that's the same road that the Kim family tried to take to Gold Beach.  Rugged route, snowstorm, wrong turn...tragedy.  But in better weather, the Bear Camp provides access to some neat places, and it sure makes rafting trips more convenient. 

The road, which connects to Galice Access and Peavine-Serpentine Springs roads, is used by rafters who float the lower Rogue River. Until the road is plowed, lower Rogue rafters are forced to travel on the Redwood Highway and go through Brookings and Gold Beach, nearly a 400-mile round trip from Grave Creek, the beginning of the 34-mile Wild Section of the river.

The northern route of BLM and Forest Service roads that connects to Eden Valley is also snowbound for now.

ODOT and the agencies made an agreement years ago that Bear Camp plowing would be paid for by rafting permit fees, paid by outfitters and by private citizens who earn spots on the Wild Section between May 15 and Oct. 1. Each private rafter pays $10 for a permit.

Despite the increase in cost, Burel said the money is still coming from the same source.

Let's hope they don't encounter rock slides or other issues which cause lengthy, expensive repairs.