The newly rebuilt section of Index-Galena Road is pictured on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, near Index, Washington. (Jordan Hansen / The Herald)

The newly rebuilt section of Index-Galena Road is pictured on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, near Index, Washington. (Jordan Hansen / The Herald)

‘The best day in 17 years’: Locals revel in Index-Galena Road reopening

Closed for 17 years after a storm, a road connecting Index to the Wild Sky Wilderness has been restored.

INDEX — Bruce Kimball still remembers the storm.

The November 2006 rainstorm was biblical, Kimball remembered. Hour after hour, rain streamed from the sky.

“It was nothing but rain,” Kimball said. “I should have been building an ark.”

He was stranded at his cabin for weeks before getting out.

Seventeen years later, the mood was joyful Saturday aboard a school bus shuttling property owners, Index residents and county employees to a reopened 1-mile section of Index-Galena Road.

Residents have been without normal access since the 2006 flooding wiped out a section of the road, stranding some people for weeks. The damage made it much more difficult for property owners to access their holdings. Drivers could take a 40-mile detour using Beckler River Road, but the route shredded tires and added hours to their trips.

“Today was the best day in 17 years,” said Mick Meissner, who owns a cabin and sliver of property along the Skykomish River’s North Fork, along with her husband, Gary. “It’s a godsend that this is open.”

The new section of Index-Galena Road is smoother, and finally connects Index with expanses of the Wild Sky Wilderness and other parts of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest that have been hard to access for almost two decades. The project cost approximately $29 million, and construction took place over a three-year period.

The road was moved up the river bank 80 vertical feet. Rock and soil excavation totaled 52,500 cubic yards. A massive retaining wall spans the length of the new road as it hugs the side of the slope. Almost 5,000 feet of guardrails were installed.

Funding came, mostly, from the federal government. State and county funds were also used.

A new 180-foot bridge, left, helps connect Index to the Wild Sky Wilderness on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, near Index, Washington. (Jordan Hansen / The Herald)

A new 180-foot bridge, left, helps connect Index to the Wild Sky Wilderness on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, near Index, Washington. (Jordan Hansen / The Herald)

Legal issues held up construction and planning for a time, as the Sno-King Watershed Council appealed the shoreline permits to a state board in 2019. The appeals were struck down and the road is now widened and paved. There is a new 180-foot bridge. Asphalt from the old washout was removed and new culverts were placed. Trees were planted and habitat was restored.

Two campsites in particular — Troublesome Creek Campground and San Juan Campground — will now be far easier to get to. Blanca Lake will be too, with its stunning turquoise waters.

County Council member and state Rep. Sam Low spoke at the ribbon-cutting, as did county Executive Dave Somers.

“I’m looking forward to next year at Blanca Lake, I see it all the time from the airplane, you look down and you can see that beautiful turquoise,” Low said. “You can count on it this next spring, I’m going to get up and hike along the lake.”

Index Mayor Norm Johnson is also excited about newly available recreational opportunities.

“For my own selfish reasons, I love to hunt and fish, so I don’t have to drive around anymore,” Johnson said. “I can access it right out of town and cruise right on up. It’s been a long time since I’ve done the whole complete route.”

The road relocation required extensive cooperation between federal, state and local authorities. It was moved out of the floodplain, and in order to do that, it had to go through Forest Service property.

There is some lingering worry about increased visitors to the area.

“I’m a little concerned about what impacts we might have to the Wild Sky with increased access, but that’s part of the deal,” said Joe Neal, district ranger for the Skykomish Ranger District within Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. “We want people out to enjoy the wilderness and reconnect with nature.”

A sign stating the road is closed five miles ahead on Index-Galena Road, pictured here on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, near Index, Washington, will soon be removed. The road is now open. (Jordan Hansen / The Herald)

A sign stating the road is closed five miles ahead on Index-Galena Road, pictured here on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, near Index, Washington, will soon be removed. The road is now open. (Jordan Hansen / The Herald)

Neal said visitors to the area should remember the essentials checklist, including appropriate footwear, maps, extra food, extra water, extra clothing, emergency items, a first aid kit, a multi-tool or knife and sun protection.

Before the new road, first responders often had to use all-terrain vehicles to get to emergencies in remote areas, Sky Valley Fire Chief Eric Andrews said.

“Having this open is going to cut a lot of time off,” Andrews said. “Before we had to come around the Skykomish side and it’s going to give us a lot better access.”

Andrews said a grant to add Wi-Fi hotspots along the road will help improve response time. He’s worried too about what increased traffic will bring — hiking injuries, medical emergencies at campgrounds and drownings.

Many kayakers frequent the area and several SUVs with boats were already traveling Index-Galena Road on Saturday.

Improved access will benefit local property owners, like Kimball, who said it will now be far easier to get to his place. Prior to the repairs, it was a challenge to get to his property — it included bushwacking, hiking, and crossing the Skykomish River.

He’s kept his website, Skyko.org, updated with local conditions as well as road updates. Prior to the grand unveiling on Saturday morning, he had a countdown clock running with the time left until Snohomish County opened the road.

Kimball said property owners in the area have become used to the quiet. But everyone is glad the road is finally finished.

“Everybody talks about how nice it was, with the peace and quiet, the isolation,” Kimball said. “It’s been unique and interesting and enjoyable as well, but it isn’t practical for the long haul. We’re not always going to be young enough to come in on snowshoes and rock hop the river.”

Jordan Hansen: 425-339-3046; jordan.hansen@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jordyhansen.

Talk to us

More in Local News

The Safeway store at 4128 Rucker Ave., on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Mike Henneke / The Herald)
Police: Everett Safeway ex-worker accused of trying to ram customers

The man, 40, was showing symptoms of psychosis, police wrote. Officers found him circling another parking lot off Mukilteo Boulevard.

Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzell speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the 196th ST SW Improvement Project near the 196th and 44th Ave West intersection in Lynnwood, Washington on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Jarred by anti-Semitic rants, Lynnwood council approves tax increase

Three people spewed hate speech via Zoom at a council meeting this week. Then, the council moved on to regular business.

The county canvassing board certifies election results at the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office in Everett, Washington on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
General election results stamped official by canvassing board

In Snohomish County, one hand recount will take place. Officials said ballot challenges were down this year.

The Days Inn on Everett Mall Way, which Snohomish County is set to purchase and convert into emergency housing, is seen Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Over $130M for affordable housing set to be approved by County Council

The five-year investment plan of the 0.1% sales tax aims to construct 550 new affordable units.

Two snowboarders head up the mountain in a lift chair on the opening day of ski season at Stevens Pass Ski Area on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, near Skykomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ski season delayed at Stevens Pass due to minimal snow

Resort originally planned to open Dec. 1. But staff are hopeful this week’s snow will allow guests to hit the slopes soon.

Siblings Qingyun, left, and Ruoyun Li, 12 and 13, respectively, are together on campus at Everett Community College on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in Everett, Washington. The two are taking a full course load at the community college this semester. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Siblings, age 12 and 13, are youngest students at EvCC campus

Qingyun Li was 11 when he scored a perfect 36 on the ACT test. His sister, Ruoyun, was one point away.

Edmond’s newly elected mayor Mike Rosen on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mayor-elect Rosen wants to ‘make Edmonds politics boring again’

Mike Rosen handily defeated incumbent Mayor Mike Nelson. He talked with The Herald about how he wants to gather the “full input” of residents.

Outside of Angel of the Winds Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Police arrest Angel of the Winds arena worker accused of stabbing boss

The man allegedly walked up to his employer and demanded a raise, before stabbing him in the stomach, witnesses said.

Providence Hospital in Everett at sunset on December 11, 2017. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)
After strike, Everett nurses, Providence agree on tentative contract

Following a five-day strike, union nurses and the hospital met to negotiate for the first time in late November.

The terminal and air traffic control tower at Paine Field are seen on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in unincorporated Snohomish County, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett’s second-largest aerospace employer, ATS, names new CEO

New CEO Robert Cords will lead Paine Field-based Aviation Technical Services, which employs 800 people in Everett.

A sign showing the river levels of previous floods is visible along the Snohomish River on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Forecast holds: Flooding to hit Tuesday in Gold Bar, Monroe, Snohomish

The Snohomish River was expected to crest “just below” major flood stage late Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Chestnut mushrooms grow in a fruiting tent on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, at Black Forest Mushrooms in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Fungi town: Downtown Everett home to new indoor gourmet mushroom farm

Black Forest Mushrooms will grow up to 20,000 pounds of tasty mushrooms each month. Its storefront opens Saturday at 2110 Hewitt Ave.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.