Chugach State Park trekkers heading up to Hidden Lake or The Ramp at 5,240 feet can now cross South Fork Campbell Creek without getting their toes wet.
A volunteer project conceived by Hans Schwaiger and funded by the 80-member German Club of Anchorage has resulted in a bridge across the creek about two miles up valley from the Glen Alps Trailhead. A dedication ceremony in the park took place Saturday.
"I hike back there frequently, and I've thought for some time that to have some crossing would be nice," said Schwaiger, 73, who has lived on the Hillside for 25 years.
The bridge across the creek allows hikers a way across without hopping across rocks or getting wet. Schwaiger said the materials for the bridge cost $24,300.
"With labor," he said, "you could almost call it a $35,000 job."
To reach the bridge, hikers follow the Powerline Trail about two miles to a sign marking a turnoff to Hidden Lake on the left.
According to "55 Ways to the Wilderness in Southcentral Alaska," the popular guidebook, "Sometimes the stream can be crossed on rocks, but wading may be necessary."
No more.
"They did an incredibly nice job," said Tom Harrison, Chugach State Park superintendent. "It's pretty significant. It keeps people from tromping through the stream there.
"If it wasn't for the amount of volunteer help we get, there are lots of things that wouldn't get done in the park."
Schwaiger approached the park with the idea last March after getting unanimous approval from the German Club as part of its community service mission.
Schwaiger, president of the club, and state park ranger Mark Wedeking agreed on the location, engineering work was done and Schwaiger began work in his shop, supported by donations from Spenard Builders Supply, Allied Construction, Airport Machinery and Anchorage Sand and Gravel.
"It went a lot, lot smoother than I thought it would," he said.
After he finished, the bridge was disassembled, brought to the site and rebuilt.
"I think 98 percent of the people I talked to out there were really happy to see a bridge there. Maybe there were two people who said, 'I'm not sure if it's really needed.' "
But Schwaiger, who frequently hikes in the area, has seen inexperienced hikers fall in the creek and families with children get turned around by the sometimes-challenging crossing.
"We have plenty of opportunity to cross creeks without bridges," said Doug Van Etten of the Anchorage Adventurers Meetup Group, a local organization that helps organize hiking, paddling and ski trips among members. "If (the bridge) gets more people out there, so much the better."
For experienced hikers like Van Etten, "It was never a big deal to get across the creek."
At the same time, he said, opening up the front part of the state park to more people is always a good idea.
"The bridge is a wonderful addition," said frequent Chugach hiker Toshihide Hamazaki. "That definitely made Hidden Lake more accessible. The view from uphill of Hidden Lake is beautiful, especially in fall, with red and yellow colors on the ground."
Schwaiger said he's seen bear, moose, coyotes and hawks in the area.
But Hamazaki warns that the first quarter-mile of trail after the bridge is often exceptionally wet and muddy.
"I think adding boardwalk should be the next project," he said.
After Campbell Creek, climbers can ascend to Ship Lake Pass and turn left to The Ramp or right to The Wedge (4,660 feet) or continue on to Ship Lake.
Find Mike Campbell online at ad.com/contact/mcampbell or call 257-4329.
By MIKE CAMPBELL
mcampbell@adn.com