Cable Car Removed

Mountain biking

A magazine story raving about the access an old cable car provided for mountain bikers east of Riggins, Idaho, has caused the Nez Perce National Forest to close the apparatus to public use.

The tram, built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, spans 360 feet across the Salmon River near French Creek with a 1-inch steel cable. After reading the story, Forest Service employees checked the structure closely and found that the tram is unsafe and partially on private property.

Chains and locks used to secure the cable car have been destroyed repeatedly, forest officials say, so they recently removed the cable car.

“The decision to remove the car will not be popular,” said Mike King, forest supervisor. “However, it is an action we must take in the interest of public safety, in fairness to the private landowners and in fairness to taxpayers who would foot the bill in the event of a lawsuit.”

, DataTimes