The Drunken Bear

Steve and I went to The Drunken Bear today to see any changes that have happened since the flooding in January.  We were struck by how much more light we now have coming from the east.  Not only is the neighbor's house missing, but so are many of the trees that were located around that house.  The river has moved further north from the wall, but the bend where the river turns is still going to be a problem unless something is done.  The riverbed in front of the cabin is littered with a huge tree; large pieces of concrete...most likely from the house that was taken by the river; and large boulders that had been moved during the flooding.  The view from our property has dramatically changed.  To view the mountain which I think is Merchant Peak, we had to go down to the riverbed and look up river...now we can see the peak from the property.  We hope something can be done so that this flooding and loss of homes can be stopped. Below are a couple of p...

  This was the neighbor's house before the flood.  This picture was taken on March 6, 2009.  They had already lost their gazebo and outdoor seating area and knew it would be just a matter of time before the house was taken.     Steps to the door are the only remains of the neighbor's home In January of this year, La Nina did her damage in the Pacific Northwest.  Rain was pouring down and the snow was melting...a deadly combination.  I knew the North Fork of the Skykomish River would be near flood stage and wanted to see what was happening at The Drunken Bear.  When I arrived at the property I immediately noticed a change...a neighbor's house was no longer there.  This house was located at the bend in the river just east of our cabin.  This neighbor had lost their patio and all of the land in front of their home last year.  The house was sitting on the bank of the river, but below it were some very huge bo...