August 2011, Tropical Storm Irene – From 6PM Saturday, August 27, 2011 through midnight Monday, August 29, 2011 the White Mountain National Forest was closed because of Tropical Storm Irene. This tropical storm caused massive damage along the East Coast of the United States and the White Mountain National Forest was officially closed during the storm.
Tropical Storm Irene has caused massive destruction throughout New England. Many bridges, buildings and roads have been washed away, and officials are saying roads will be closed for weeks. Many of the rivers in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire have been badly eroded and are clogged with trees.
The photos included in this blog article show scenes during Tropical Storm Irene and the damage left behind. And the above two photos are of the Lincoln Levee, located behind the village of Lincoln, on the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River during the storm.
Deep in the Pemigewasset Wilderness, there is massive erosion damage along the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River. The above photo shows the piles of uprooted trees that line the river.
Trail washout is evident along the Lincoln Woods Trail. If you come across dangerous sections of trail or hanging trees, I recommend notifying the professional organizations who are involved with the clean up. This work is not for unauthorized groups who are untrained in disaster clean up.
Most of the areas along the rivers that suffered erosion damage are very unstable. As I was photographing the above section of erosion damage, near the junction of Lincoln Woods Trail and the Osseo Trail, the soil and rocks were dropping down into the river.
Somehow the old historical timber Trestle 16 (above), which crosses Black Brook along the old East Branch & Lincoln Railroad, survived the flood with minimal damage. One of the stone footings has been completely washed away causing a section of the trestle to drop about two feet. And there is an old landslide on the Hancock Mountain Range that looks to have slid again.
The destruction left behind from Tropical Storm Irene leaves me speechless. And this is the worst weather event I have ever photographed in the New Hampshire White Mountains. View more images of Tropical Storm Irene damage here.
Happy image making..
More Reading: Tropical Storm Irene before and after photos.
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Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC
Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society. He has written two photo history books about the White Mountains: the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad (2018) and Franconia Notch (2024).
Tropical Storm Irene damage along the East Branch of the Pemi in New Hampshire. http://t.co/fMqJewb