Gorilla Rock Blast

Gorilla Rock Blast, October 1994

Bryan Saul adds, "Destroying Gorilla Rock upset a lot of members in the rock climbing community. However, I was relieved, having had way too many near misses involving climbers in the right-of-way."

Rick Leggett says, "This large rock has an interesting history. Up until the early to mid-90's, it was a vertical face only about 15' from the tracks, that constantly attracted rock climbers. In fact, it was even in a published book for Alaskan climbers, as a location that they should try. A track inspector in his hy-rail truck came around the curve southbound one day, when he saw a climber about halfway up the vertical face. Only at the last minute, did he realize the climber had actually wrapped his belay rope around the west rail and his hy-rail would have hooked the rope if he had not been able to stop short. Shortly after that, the contractor who was working further south on the new Seward Highway reroute to the bottom of Bird Hill was hired to blast the rock face, to stop rock climbers from utilizing this very dangerous location."