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The better example of an abandoned route through the Cascades is the old railway route through Snoqualmie pass, which connects the metro Seattle area to the eas
by chabons 6y ago
The better example of an abandoned route through the Cascades is the old railway route through Snoqualmie pass, which connects the metro Seattle area to the east side of the mountains. It's now a state park, and you can hike or bike from one side to the other.
As technology improved, a longer tunnel was built lower down the pass to decrease the elevation gain for trains, and the old route became obsolete. I suspect that this is not a unique story, and the question would be whether the old railway routes are still safely navigable.
- ghaff 6y agoThat's a similar story to the old Cascade Tunnel. Part of the route is at least walkable (which I've done) but it's apparently closed at at least one point. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Tunnel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Tunnel I think it's the Iron Goat Trail that you take to walk along where you can. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/iron-goat-trail https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/iron-goat-trail
- ip26 6y agoYou can see a similar story with Loveland Pass & the Eisenhower Tunnel.
- ghaff 6y agoThe Eisenhower Tunnel is just an automotive tunnel. I believe rail always used the Moffat Tunnel since it was completed in 1928. The two aren't that far apart. (AFAIK it used the Rollins Pass--which had problems with grade/avalanche/etc. previously or just bypassed to the north or south.)
- iguy 6y agoThis happens a lot. But the new road/rail often shares the line of the old on the easy sections, so you may not get a continuous bike trail out of the old route. (Plus, as you say, old bridges/tunnels/steep slopes may be unsafe, or simply damaged & not repaired.)