No one was injured or killed in the flooding in the Grand Canyon earlier this week. But there's little doubt the damage caused will hurt tourism in the small canyon floor village of Supai, Ariz. Reports the Arizona Republic: The trails leading to the village are not passable. The bridges crossing Havasu Creek are washed … Continue reading Supai attractions damaged by flood
Category: Weather
Floods hit Grand Canyon
It wasn't a good weekend to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Several hundred people had to be evacuated Sunday after a dam burst because of torrential rains. No injuries have been reported, but authorities still will be looking Monday for about 20 unaccounted-for people who might be in harm's way. A number … Continue reading Floods hit Grand Canyon
Threatening weather dampens bridge birthday party
Attendance at Trailnet's annual birthday party for St. Louis' Old Chain of Rocks Bridge (it turned 79) a week ago Sunday was down from the usual because of the threat of stormy weather, reported the Granite City (Ill.) Press-Record. It also rained during part of the events that morning, and flooding from a swollen Mississippi … Continue reading Threatening weather dampens bridge birthday party
Tornadoes kill six in Picher
NOTE: Many updates below. Tornadoes killed at least 16 people Saturday evening in southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma, including six in Picher, a former mining town just off Route 66. The Joplin Globe reports: John Sparkman, of Picher, Okla., characterized the damage done by a tornado in the Northeast Oklahoma community this evening as "complete … Continue reading Tornadoes kill six in Picher
Flooding closes part of Route 66 in Missouri
Route 66 enthusiast and radio announcer Joe Sonderman in St. Louis reports that parts of Route 66 through central Missouri are closed because of flooding after torrential rains, and waters aren't going to recede for at least another day or so. It seems the best resource to check on current conditions is this interactive map … Continue reading Flooding closes part of Route 66 in Missouri
Route 66 rescue
A woman apparently fell into the rain-swollen Vermilion River in Pontiac, Ill., on Tuesday and was swept downstream for three-quarters of a mile by the current. She was rescued by police and firefighters near the Route 66 bridge in town, and capturing it all on videotape was Mayor Scott McCoy, reports WEEK-TV. "I just so … Continue reading Route 66 rescue
Technical difficulties
Don't worry ... we're still alive. Entries to Route 66 News will be spotty for the next week or so because of the historic ice storm that has crippled half of Oklahoma. At one point more than 600,000 customers were without electricity, and more than 75 homes caught fire on Monday alone because of all … Continue reading Technical difficulties
More videos from Dwayne, Part 3
Here's a few more videos from Dwayne of New Zealand. Most of the footage here is in Oklahoma. It's interesting to watch his companion get a bit freaked out by a severe thunderstorm in the western part of the state. It's routine stuff for locals, but foreigners and non-natives tend to become frightened by them. … Continue reading More videos from Dwayne, Part 3
Waiting out the wildfires
A few of you roadies probably know that David Knudson, executive director of the National Historic Route 66 Federation, and his wife Mary Lou are based in Lake Arrowhead, Calif., in the mountains above Los Angeles. Hearing about the grave conditions caused by wildfires in Southern California, including Lake Arrowhead, I called David on Tuesday … Continue reading Waiting out the wildfires
Cool Springs Camp damaged by storm
A severe storm in early September damaged the restored Cool Springs Camp on Oatman Road, aka Route 66, between Kingman and Oatman, Ariz. Cool Springs owner Ned Leuchtner said the storm ripped off part of the roof and dumped about two inches of rain on parts of the store's interior. Fortunately, he said, the artifacts … Continue reading Cool Springs Camp damaged by storm