Budu Trek traveled to the site of the St. Francis dam disaster of 1928 recently. The dam collapse was the second worst dam disaster in the U.S., only surpassed by the Johnstown dam flood of 1889 for loss of life and property.
The dam remnents were dynamited after the collapse and little remains of it. Some very large chunks and slabs of concrete lay where the dam filled the gap between the ridges and the wall that capped the ridge to the left in the image below remains but much lowered and reduced to rubble. Over the years we have visited the location which has become increasingly overgrown and difficult to locate the trail to the top of the ridge. Walking staffs and long pants and shirtsleeves are highly recommended!
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| The dam prior to the collapse. Our trip was to the ridge on the left which still remains today. |
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| After the collapse. An abandoned road now runs through the gap between the ridge on the left and where the single upright slab is in this image - the slab is gone, turned into rubble. A creek now runs through there. |
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| Approaching the ridge with the remanins of the left wing of the dam on the crest. To the right is the gap originally filled by the dam. |
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| Two of the trekkers reaching the crest of the ridge. |
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| Looking down the valley that filled with water from the dam collapse and ran all the way to the Pacific ocean, sweeping people, buildings, and vehicles in its path |
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| It was a cold and very windy day! |
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| Not your typical SoCal winter weather! |
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| Looking towards the gap filled by the dam |
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| Trying hard not to blow away |
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| Another successful Bundu Trek journey! |
Cute dogs! Oh and a fun but cold trip.
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