The Trestle Bridge Reopens
December 2022
In March of 2021, an estimated 6 tons (12,000 pounds) of rockfall released from the cliffs in the Ouray Ice Park, resulting in a catastrophic collapse of the penstock and the trestle bridge, the historic entrance to the School Room. The rockfall also took out our water supply line that feeds the ice farming infrastructure to the south end of the Ice Park. A GoFundMe was immediately launched, and over $100,000 dollars was raised to help the Ice Park remove debris and get this bridge back online.
Over the course of nearly two years, and thanks to the hard work of dozens of individuals - as well as the generosity of the ice climbing community - the wreckage was removed from the gorge, a new trestle was engineered and constructed, and the penstock was restored and brought back online. This new trestle bridge, built to modern standards, is a notable improvement over the previous bridge, which was originally constructed in 1923.
The trestle bridge has remained closed to climbers during the final phases of construction, but is now open to park users climbing in the School Room as of December 2022! In order to minimize hazards to climbers rigging and climbing in this area, access to the bridge will be controlled, and limited to incoming School Room traffic only. All other traffic into the south end of the park, as well as all climbers exiting the Ice Park, should continue to utilize the Black Diamond Access Trail.
As with all climber-only areas in the park, crampons and a helmet must be equipped before entering. Harnesses are also recommended for this approach, as climbers are strongly encouraged to clip to the safety cable when crossing the bridge.
Thank you to everyone for their contributions to this project. We could not do this without you!
Trestle Bridge Update: December 19th, 2023
On December 19th, 2023 Ouray Ice Park Executive Director Peter O’Neil, City Administrator Silas Clarke, Ouray Hydroelectric Power Plant owner Eric Jacobson, and Deputy City Clerk Bev Martensen signed an agreement permanently preserving public access in the Uncompahgre River Gorge. Click below to read the full article.
Rebuilding the Trestle Bridge
Rebuilding the trestle bridge has been a huge project for us over the past two years. After the collapse in early 2021, the hydroelectric penstock that the trestle bridge was connected to had to be reconstructed. Helicopters were brought in by the hydroelectric plant to remove the debris in the bottom of the gorge, and pour concrete for the reconstruction. This concrete was used to make new towers to support the new section of the penstock. On top of that is where the new trestle bridge was then built.
The rock fall not only took out the penstock and the bridge, but also our water system to the south end of the Ice Park. Once the penstock was rebuilt, our Ice Farmers had to place new yelomine pipes on top of the new penstock and reconnect the water system so we could run water again to the south end.
Multiple other infrastructure projects took place during this time. Our staff constructed the Black Diamond Access Trail, which takes you up and over the bridge and reconnects you to the other side of the School Room. This trail was made possible by a very generous donation from Black Diamond, and helped us provide access to the School Room while the bridge was being rebuilt.
The “2021 Access Initiative” led by Pete Davis. Pete, with the help of volunteers, board members, and other staff including Jacob Rabb, built two new trails as well: one to the School Room and areas further south as a result of this bridge collapse, and new walk downs for the Scottish Gullies, the Stump Wall, and the Five Fingers areas. Pete also upgraded existing trails to make them easier, adding new trail steps where needed and rebuilding deteriorating and broken walkways and ladders.
