The following photos show how destructive Mother Nature can be along the North Cascades Highway.  These are only a few locations along the highway where creeks jumped their banks and destroyed the highway.  The flood damage was extensive. 


Damnation Creek jumped it banks, washed over the highway and 
eroded the shoulder causing severe damage to the highway.


The culvert under the highway at Pyramid Creek plugged up.  With
nowhere else to go but through the road, the creek washed out a large
 chunk of highway leaving the guardrail suspended in the air.   


The plugged culvert at Pyramid Creek forced water to run down the
highway.  The creek carried debris down the highway and tore it to
pieces.


Ketchum Creek forced tons of rock on to the highway, destroying the
road and the shoulder.