Tiny Calif. mountain community cut off as rains destroy bridge access

"A close-knit mountain community east of Los Angeles continues to dig out from mud and debris following torrential rains last week, with one small area cut off from the rest of the region almost entirely. The Happy Jack section of Lytle Creek in the mountains of San Bernardino County has been essentially inaccessible since Christmas, when heavy rains in the region caused a creek to swell so much that it washed away the roadway around the only bridge in that part of town."

"On Sunday, county workers managed to set up a temporary earthen bridge connection after the skies had cleared, the Los Angeles Times reported. However, that quickly constructed land bridge has not been confirmed safe by an engineer, though county workers did reportedly drive a fire truck over it as a test to see if the dirt was solid enough to provide emergency access. Some locals have been able to walk out of the affected area."

"The community comprises dozens of homes and cabins spread out across a handful of streets deep in the San Gabriel Mountains north of the Inland Empire and due east of Mount Baldy. The cool and usually water-rich area is popular with day-trippers from San Bernardino County looking to cool off from the summer heat, but can be difficult to access during storms due to its isolated position west of Cajon Pass and Interstate 15."

Heavy rains caused a creek to swell and wash away the roadway around the only bridge serving the Happy Jack section of Lytle Creek, leaving the area essentially inaccessible since Christmas. County crews constructed a temporary earthen land bridge to restore access, but engineers have not confirmed its safety; workers drove a fire truck over the dirt as a test and some residents have walked out. The community contains dozens of homes and cabins on a few mountain streets in the San Gabriel Mountains east of Mount Baldy. Nearby Wrightwood suffered greater damage, with about 50 homes heavily damaged and roadways impassible after recent storms and past wildfires.

Read at SFGATE