Had some time to spend hiking in Rocky Mountain today, and spent some time exploring the Alluvial Fan area, or what’s left of it. The Alluvial Fan is a lovely waterfall where the Roaring River comes down a series of rocks and then winds under a footbridge going out into Horseshoe Park, or at least that’s what it used to be. It was originally formed when an earthen dam gave way in 1982 and spewed rocks and debris out into a fan shape. Well, the 2013 flood of last September has competely rearranged the Alluvial Fan as well as the path of the roaring river. The river makes a hard right turn on an entirely new channel and actually carved its way across the road leading to Endovalley Picnic Area. The footbridge has been completely wiped out and now forms a small drop where the river cascades over what’s left of the concrete. Pieces of asphalt are littered throughout this extreme landscape.
If you ever doubt the power of water and what it can do, go see this for yourself. Also, if people are wondering why Old Fall River Road isn’t open this year, this should bring home the immense amount of damage done and make people realize how much work and at what cost it will take to reopen the road. It’s a stunning reminder of the fact that us humans are not in charge, and the power of weather and nature and what it can do in the span of just a few days.
