Yesterday they closed the Basin Road Trestle Bridge to automobiles so no one can drive to the Perseverance Trailhead.  Basin Road is now a quiet walking path into the woods.  Aki and I head out to measure the impact of the bridge closure.

It’s a day with full sun, no wind, and the temperature at 37 degrees and climbing. The first thing noticed —- we know almost everyone we pass — all are Downtown Juneau neighbors. Owners of the Craftsmen houses on Lower Basin Road are outside cleaning and repairing in preparation for winter.  They squint and smile hello as we pass.

The change from town to country that comes when we reach the trestle bridge is more dramatic today because of the sun, which floods Mt. Juneau down to the old water flume with light strong enough to wash out the remaining fall color. The cottonwoods lining the flume are half in shadow, the rest light. They have dropped many leaves, allowing for greater appreciation of the strong curves of their limbs.  Beneath this line everything is in deep shadow. Minutes later, when we climb out of the shadow of Mr. Maria everything is bathed in sun.

We start climbing now, gaining downward views of a sloping spruce wood decorated by bright yellow devil’s club plants. Their leaves look as spread out as tourists on a Mexican beach.  A steady stream of hikers begin to pass us. I mess about with the camera, Aki with the hiker’s dogs. Wanting a little solitude we drop down to the trail head parking lot and for the first time find it empty of cars. The road leading to it is empty of people for everyone has taken the more direct footpath to the mountains.

Gold Creek spreads out here forming a braiding of channels over gravel tailings from the old mine. Light sparkling off the water gives me a head ache so we move back into the woods to a little used trail where we only hear the creek and an occasional raven complaint. Fall has advance enough here to shrink devil’s club leaves and reduce other leafy pants to nude stalks. For the first time since last Spring I have no problem finding the way home.