Galloping Gertie Letterbox
Tacoma
Pierce County
Washington

Level of difficulty: Level to steep, steep, steep dirt/gravel trail
(portions are mucky in rainy season). Clues easy.

Setting: War Memorial Park under the East side of the Tacoma
Narrows Bridge.

Highlights: Offers an incredible view of the bridge and the Tacoma
Narrows. An excellent site for scuba diving & fishing although you
have to brave the trail down the cliff to get to the water!
Galloping Gertie was the 5th largest suspension bridge in the
world. Completed on 1 Jul 1940, she spanned 5,939 ft. During high
wind storms, she suffered unusual undulations. During a 42 hour
wind storm, she ultimately collapsed on 7 Nov 1940 taking with her
several cars and an unfortunate dog. Fortunately, no human was
killed during the disaster. Her replacement (the current bridge
whose name is hopefully Sturdy Gertie) was built 10 years later and
opened officially on 15 Oct 1950 at a cost of $14 million and
spanning 5,979 ft. She will soon be joined by a twin bridge which
will be built on the South side directly over this park with plans
to complete the new span by 2008!

Facilities: Picnic tables. Open from dawn-dusk.

Restrictions: Leash and scoop laws in effect for pets.

Length of trek: mile roundtrip

Directions: Take I-5 to Exit 132 and head West on Hwy 16. Take the
Jackson Ave Exit (just before the bridge) and at the intersection,
go straight. The park's entrance is down the hill in front of you
at the base of the bridge. Park near the War Memorial garden and
picnic tables.

Galloping Gertie Letterbox:

Facing the War Memorial Park sign, head left to the USS Copahee
Memorial. Continue left to the see the bell from the USS Tacoma.
Head to Old Glory and salute it. See the trail at 240? Continue
down the trail (through the gap in the fence) down a steep, steep,
steep hill. I'm warning you this is steep! Keep a good handle on
your young children (you might want to leave them in the car for
this one)!!! At the `Y' (to the left, the trail continues down an
even steeper, switchback-y trail toward the water) go right (approx.
270 degrees). See the large fallen tree caught among other trees
before it slides down the cliff? From it at 45 degrees is a cluster
of trees. Behind it is another cluster of trees. CAREFULLY,
CAREFULLY, CAREFULLY walk to this second cluster avoiding the sheer
cliff on your left or you might suffer the same fate as Galloping
Gertie did in 1940. Within this cluster to the back is the twisting
Galloping Gertie just before she collapsed.

Placed 19 Dec 2002
Placed by: dvn2r ckr