A replacement for one of the most well-traveled and iconic bridges in the Adirondack High Peaks was completed and opened to hikers June 17th as crews continue to repair backcountry trail damage from Tropical Storm Irene in August.
The bridge across Marcy Dam in a popular hiking region near Lake Placid has been a favorite photo spot for generations of hikers who would pause to savor the view of Adirondack peaks mirrored in Marcy Pond. The bridge was destroyed by Irene’s floodwaters and the dam breached, leaving a shallow stream meandering through mud flats and gravel bars.
Members of the Adirondack Mountain Club’s professional trail crew completed work on a new bridge across Marcy Brook about 250 feet downstream from the dam. The Department of Environmental Conservation plans engineering studies to determine the feasibility of repairing the dam.
Four trails remain closed in the Adirondack High Peaks and there are still numerous detours, rock-hop stream crossings, and rough conditions, the DEP said in a trail condition update. In the Catskills, Irene caused less damage to the backcountry, but crews are still working to repair or replace some foot bridges and board walks.
More than a dozen bridge replacement projects are planned this summer.
I am Jeff Clark, founder of Internet Brothers, producer of this blog, and passionate about hiking. I live in Western NC near the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are just out my door, so the content will focus on these areas, but let me know what you would like to see on the site. 
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