FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Access to a part of the Sierra National Forest has been restored after blasting the side of a mountain, the U.S. Forest Service announced Tuesday. The Sierra National Forest (SNF) announced they successfully cleared a major rock landslide on Garnite Dike Road which restored access for both forest management and recreation. Forest officials say the project began following the Basin Fire that occurred this past summer. The blockage had severely limited access for essentially agency operations, highlighting the urgent need for intervention. ‘It’s a very difficult job’: How fire crews stay cool while fighting Basin Fire Engineers, fire officials, and rangers worked to develop unique strategies for clearing the road and eventually decided to blast the area. After clearing the slide, SNF says crews touched up on refining the roadbed, adding culverts, and updating signage for safety. Officials say overall, the project took about four months to complete.