Alpine Tunnel Construction Camps

I had certainly read about the construction camps at the east portal of Alpine Tunnel, but this was my first visit to the site of one of the three camps.  The amount of workers employed during the several year construction of Alpine Tunnel is truly staggering.  The amount of turnover in those workers as they worked year round above 11,000 feet is equally staggering.  

This photo shows the view from the east portal (behind me to the left) looking toward the sign telling of one of the camps.  This one was the closest to the east portal.  

This is the sign at the site.

This is the trail continuing past the sign.  This was once probably the main thoroughfare through the construction worker cabins.  This supply road continued downgrade into Tunnel Gulch then turned back to travel along Chalk Creek to St. Elmo.  Opposite of this point on the other side of Tunnel Gulch was another construction camp.  This trail facilitated the move of all the construction equipment as well as the mountains of redwood lumber needed to line the tunnel.

Here we are from the a part of the construction camp area looking back (at my fam!) toward the railroad grade in the center as it turns to the right to enter the (now collapsed) east portal of Alpine Tunnel.

The construction camps and the supply trail were rediscovered in September of 1962 by Dow Helmers, Bill Bruce, Rick Bruce, and Charlie Webb.  The story of their discoveries can be found on page 60 of Historic Alpine Tunnel by Dow Helmers.