AVALANCHE ALLEY
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YearMonthDayJulian DayTimeLocationTriggerTypeSizeDepthDebris RSDebris RDSourcesPhotosNotes
2004January2828-Shed 11NSS3.0OSyes-GCAC Obs Page, Reardon obsyesNarrow swath of debris over shed 11 roof through aspen to Highway 2. Debris across both lanes?
2003March12712130Shed 10.7NS3.0-YesNoSteiner obs.-Upr.-Trk. [Start Zone], Runout [Terminus], Debris deposited on Shed. Air Blast On Evening of 3/12/03 damaged Mature Trees....[sic] Viewer's Left Flank. Tree Hit passing Locamotive - No Damage to Locomotive.
2003March1271-I-BeamN-3.0-NA-Steiner obs.-Mid to Upr. Trk. [Start Zone], Lwr Trk above Hwy. [Terminus], Hang Fire in Upper Trks. Active Ridge Wind Loading, Fracture wraps around low angle ridge on viewers R.
2003March1170-Shed 11NS2.0-NoNoSteiner obs.-Mid-track [start zone], Lwr. Trk. Above Shed [Terminus].
2003March1170-Shed 10.7NS2.5-YesNoSteiner obs.-Mid-track [start zone], Lwr. Trk. [Terminus]. Active Ridge Wind Loading. Debris Deposited on Shed.
2002January25250.625Hanging Tree MainN---yes-Reardon Obsyes-
2002January2525-I-BeamN-----Reardon Obsyes-
1997January11-variousNW?--yesyes1997 Bones-Tuesday (12-31-96) night and Wednesday (1-1-97) morning another series of wet avalanches fell upon the highway and rail tracks as more rain was received in the area. None of these hit vehicles or trains and after clean up traffic resumed. Traffic by BNSF during this time of instability was confined to the outside Main 2 track until refreezing temperatures occurred (1-3-97).
1996February940early AMHanging Tree MainN--12-15 ft-yesButler 1996; Butler Personal Comm. 2004; Butler notes-During the evening and early-morning hours of February 8-9, 1996, numerous snow avalanches (associated with heavy rains in the Pacific Northwest of the United States) were triggered along the southern boundary of Glacier National Park, Montana. These avalanches buried a portion of U.S. Highway 2 (US2) approximately four miles east of the village of Essex, Montana, as well as the mainline tracks of the Burlington Northern and Sante Fe Railroad (BNRR). US2 is the only east-west link across the Rockies in northern Montana; when closed, a 180-mile detour from East Glacier Park to West Glacier is required.US2 was closed during the evening of February 8 and into the morning of February 9 by snow avalanches blocking traffic. Additionally, approximately 75 yards of track of the BNRR were blocked for about eight hours, shutting down all freight traffic as well as the eastbound Amtrak passenger train from Seattle to Chicago.Notes from 2-21-96:Goat Lick Channel no avalanche, south-facing slope nearly bare of snow.Snow deposit of big balls that oozed slowly onto highway. Ripped out lots of trees. Fresh soil and snow pushed out to side by avalanche deposit, into flanking rampart on right side. Avalanche about 20 m wide, 4-5 m high
1996December30--Shed 10.7N-----9/97 Jacobson Interview-Came down in 96-97. Didn't run to shed - typical
1990January3131-Hidden? Hanging Tree Main?N--4-6 ft-yesHH News 2/1/1990--
1985?---?------Wallstreet Journal, March 18th 1985-MDT Snowplow truck hit by avalanche. Crew escaped through window. Incident occurred previous to date of published Wallstreet Journal article.
1982February15461715Goat LickNW---underMartinelli, 1984-a moderate -size wet avalanche passed under the new bridge at 1715 hours. It appeared to have started in area 2 of the starting zone. Additional snow came from area 6....photographs and a few quick measurements, however, show considerable debris above and below the bridge, with the terminus extending 20 feet into the river. Clearance was measured at 5.8, 11, and 20 feet under the south, middle, and north part of the bridge. Rain had started falling the day before and was still falling at the time of the avalanche.
1982January2323-variousNW-6-14 ftyes-Martinelli 1984, Panebaker Atlas, undated-Other avalanches crossed U.S. Highway 2 and the railroad, stopping traffic on both. (Martinelli) Five avalanches across the Burlington Northern tracks along the park boundary with depths varying between 6 to 14 ft. (Panebaker)
1979February13440715-0915Goat LickNW-------
1974January1515-1/2 mile west of JavaN--15-yesWalton RS Log-40 deg rain 23 snow base icy road...Snow slide last night1/2 mile west of Java 15 ft deep and 300 ft long. It ran down gully taking out 5 trees. The debris deposited new sliding snow on top of old sliding snow ie took the snow on the bottom of the slide and pushed it on top. This area slid three years ago. Bill Sands and Don McCloud cleared slide off road with end loader. Worked until 7 PM.
1971January1515-1 mile east of Goat Lick bridgeN----yesWalton RS Log-Two snowslides. 1 mile east of Goat Lick Bridge. Hanging Tree Main? I-Beam? Jan. 15 1974: This area slid three years ago.
1971January1010-Shed 11N---yesyesWalton RS Log-Snow slide at mileage marker #186 2 1/2 miles east of Java (Nimrode[sic]) underpass. US # 2 closed. Jan. 11: Highway plowed thru but not open to public.
1969February334-E of NimrodN---yes?Walton RS Log-P. cloudy, calm .1 1 snow 61 on grd 35 deg & 19 deg.Road closed east - slide on railroad E of Nimrod. 3 goats killed in slide.
1966January55-variousN----yesWalton RS Log-Avalanche on #2 highway. Give whatever aid was necessary...6 avalanches in all...saw mule deer jump out from road bed into powder snow and disappear except for antlers and nose. 1 1/2 inch moisture in last two days.
1963February334-I-Beam? Hanging Tree?N--20-yesChief Ranger Report-On February 3, an avalanche blocked U.S. Highway No. 2 in the Park, between Walton Ranger Station and the Summit, until the afternoon of the following day. The mass of snow averaged 20 feet deep and 180 feet long. I Beam? Hanging Tree? Same incident as Feb 3 1961?
1961February334-1.5 mi E of Goat LickN--20-yesWalton RS Log-Well, it has been a long day. We had rain last night and hell this morning...20' by 230' avalanche closed the road 11/2 mi E of Goat Lick. Feb. 4: 51 deg. Today...roadway cleared at slide by 1:30 pm.
1960January2727-2.5 mi E of Walton RSN---yesyesChief Ranger Report-U.S. Highway 2 was blocked for about 18 hours on January 27; there were three small snow slides about 2 1/2 miles east of the Walton Ranger Station. The Great Northern Railroad running parallel to the park in some places in this area was also covered by snow as a result of the slides and train traffic was detained for several hours. Hidden? Hanging Tree Main? H. Tree N.? Java Gauntlet or Shed 11?
1960January2626-E of Goat LickN----yesChief Ranger Report-On January 26, two accidents occurred on a stretch of road east of the Goat Lick on Highway No. 2, where two snowslides covered the road. One car slide [sic] off the road, and later a truck slide [sic] off at the same location and landed on the car. Both vehicles were a total loss. Jan. Chief Ranger Report
1958March867-variousN--60 ftyesyesPanebaker Atlas, undated-Fifteen avalanches across Highway 2 within a 1.5 mile section between Essex and Summit. Some of the slides were 60 feet deep. Great Northern tracks also blocked.
1958February1849-variousN-----Walton RS Log-Warm today. Snow slides off Running Rabbit & Snowslip.
1957February940-Shed 11N---yesyesWalton RS Log-4 more slides today...2 the other side of Java from Snowshed #11 & 10-7 which took part of the snowsheds out to the highway below. One slide about 300 yds long up to 20 ft deep. The other about 30 to 40 ft. deep.
1957February940-Shed 10.5N---yesyesWalton RS Log-4 more slides today...2 the other side of Java from Snowshed #11 & 10-7 which took part of the snowsheds out to the highway below. One slide about 300 yds long up to 20 ft deep. The other about 30 to 40 ft. deep.
1957February940-btwn Goat lick and JavaN----yesWalton RS Log-4 more slides today. 2 between Goat Lick and Java
1957February637-variousN----yesWalton RS Log-Road closed all night and most of the day due to slides...Snow all day and hard this pm. NAME spent the night in his plow near Goat Lick. 3 slides the other side of Goat Lick bridge toady. Trains ran early this morning from yesterday afternoon.
1956March464-Near Shed 10.5N--60yesyesWalton RS Log-Made foot patrol from Goat Lick to slide near Snowshed 10 1/2. Lots of snow. New slide about 60 ft. deep and 500 ft. long.
1956March363-Shed 11N--50yesyesWalton RS Log-One came down at Snowshed #11 and took out about 60% of it. Went onto highway about 50 ft. deep. Crews quit working due to bad instability and blowing snow.
1956March161-Shed 11N--15 ftyesyesWalton RS Log-Road closed all day. Slide came down at Snowshed #11 and onto road about 15 ft. deep 100 yds long. Train stuck in shed.
1950January2020-above JavaN----yesPanebaker Atlas, undated/ HH News 1/27/1950yesTwo Montana Highway Department employees were buried by a slide while working outside their vehicle. Both were recovered alive.While bull dozing out a slide on the road above Java an unforeseen slide came down and buried Bill Norris and Larry Hart under 12 feet of snow and ice. Harry Andrews, an Intermountain Bus driver, who was waiting for the road to be opened was also rolled in the slide and received bruises and a badly sprained knee. Ernie Johnson, the Foreman from Summit, saw the men buried. He saw the spot where Larry went under, and recued him in a short while, but didn't know definitely where Bill was so had to dig blindly and it took an hour and 20 minutes before he could get him out. Bill was unconscious and artificial respiration had to be used.A highway pickup was carried into bear creek by the slide. The cat is still under the slide.
1950January19?19--N---yesyesButler/ USDCom 1950/ HH News 1/20/1950/ / HH News 2/3/1950/ HH News 2/10/1950-Highway 2 between Summit and Walton blocked early in month, remained closed at month end; railroad service interrupted for periods of a day or more.Trouble, trouble. Those are the only words to describe the Middle Fork country this past week. Such a blizzard that even the old timers are stumped to think up a worse one.Thursday had to turn around on account of the trouble on Java hill.the slide came down at the end of a snow shed, lifted the diesel engine off the rails and machinery had to be brought in from Whitefish to extricate it. If there was more space we could tell the rest but we really had a week of trouble.U.S. Highway No 2 is blocked from this point at Essex to the continental divide by snowslides.Walton ranger station with 59 inches of snow on the level and 224 inches as having fallen so far this winter. No attempts are being made to reopen U.S. No. 2 at this time.A characteristic of the past month before the extreme cold days was more wind.No. 2 Still Blocked. U.S. Highway No. 2 remains closed form [sic] Essex to the continental divide. This northern Montana transcontinental highway has been blocked for three weeks. It has disrupted communications with central and eastern Montana, and worked hardhips on a number of Flathead county businesses. Thursday morning information was that the highway department had no defintie plans except to open the road late this month. Thursday noon information from governere John Bonner is that he will get something done.
1949December28?362-near Bear CreekN----yesHH News 12/30/1949-Spring-like thaws blocked U.S. highway No. 2 with snow slides this week. Five slides occurred near Bear creek this side of the continental divide where in the mid-1930s a slide moved a whole new concrete bridge more than 100 feet. Report from division highway offices is that No. 2 was opened to traffic at 8:30 Thursday evening. Elsewhere same issue notes record snows and 42 deg warming on Weds. Dec. 28.
1949February2253-Shed 11?N--50 ft.yesyesWalton RS Log-A large snow slide 1 1/2 east of Java. 50 ft. deep 150 ft long (22/23)
1949February2152-variousN----yesWalton RS Log-US No 2 blocked til 4:30 P.M. Snow slide(s?). 38 deg 24 deg .22 precip. 1st day > freezing after cold arctic front.
1949February1748-Goat LickN----yesWalton RS Log/ HH News 2/18/1949-In all this has been a bad day - U.S. No 2 blocked. Slides at Crystal Creek Slides at the Goat Lick. And a blizzard blowing on top and the drifts up to 8 ft deep...I made two tripes [sic] to the Goat Lick to help the men stranded there telephone calls etc. By 4:00 p.m. the blizzard had hit here and we had 30 to 40 mile wind and lots of snow.Rain in am Snow in P.M. 1.35 in precip. 38 deg 10 deg Snowslides were blocking U. S. Highway No. 2 near Essex.
1949February1647-variousN----yesWalton RS Log-US. No blocked by snow slides from 10:00 am to 4:00 P.M. Rain all day .76 precip. 19(?) deg 38 deg
1949February1041-variousN----yesWalton RS Log, HH News 2/11/1949-No 2 blocked by snow slides east of Goat Lick from 1300 to 1630...41 deg, .59 precip.Slides, and U.S. Highway No. 2 up the Flathead's middle fork usually gets a few, made their appearance in the area Thursday. Note: 3 incidents & 1 fatality on HH Dam construction same day.
1949February---variousN----yesHH News 2/25/1949-The weather has caused big trouble this week. Wednesday our below zero broke and Thursday it rained and that afternoon the slides began. The highway closed with slides just beyond the goat lick [sic], at the Silver Stairs, and a big one at Devils Creek. To date 14 slides have crossed the highway from Essex to the Snow Slip since January. The railroad had a number of slides but was able to keep open by working three snow plows night and day. Highway travelers were stranded at the Walton hotel until Saturday when the crews suceeded in opening the road. Thursday afternoon at 4: 00 p.m. a regular old time blizzard began and continued until after midnight, so all hands worked clearing drifts,. Oh, it's been a great week.
1948/9----Goat LickN---yes-Butler/ Panebaker/ Martinelli-Avalanche debris approximately 30 feet deep piled up against the east side of the Goat Lick Bridge (Panebaker).
1948March464-near Goat Lick-----yesHH News 3/5/1948-Highway No. 2 traffic east of Essex was delayed most of Thursday as the result of a snowslide near the Goat Lick. Thursday =Feb. 26?
1948February2658-Hidden? Hanging Tree Main?N----yesWalton RS Log-The Bus Driver from Kalispell reported a big slide about 1/2 mile beyond the Goat Lick about 8:30 AM. I contacted the Highway headquarters and Glacier Park. Naturalist Beatty and wife were stopped on this side and forced to cancel a talk at Great Falls. It was 7:30 PM before the slide was cleared.
1947March1473-1 mile E Goat LickN----yesWalton RS Log-Hanging Tree main? I-Beam? Found a snow slide had blocked the road about one mile beyond the Goat LickMelted quite a lot today. March 15: Traffic resumed shortly after 4 P.M.
1947March463-east of JavaN----yesWalton RS Log-the [plow] from Glacier Park came through about 4 P.M. They spent about 4 hours removing a slide the other side of Java. .2 precip 1 deg, 19 new snow/ .83 precip previous day.
1947February334-Near JavaN--10 ftyesyesWalton RS Log-Shed 10.5? "It was reported that a snow slide near Java crossed the highway and R.R. 1" new snow .13" precip. 4" new snow 1.57" precip 60" on snow stake with settlement of 6" previous day. From Feb 5: "slide above Java. Found it to be about 150 ft. long and 10 ft. deep in the deepest place. It came down from the Park side across part of the second snow shed above Java on to the highway just above the second bear Creek bridge or just opposite the one which usually comes from the south and took the cement bridge out several years ago.
1947January2121-I-BeamN--12 ft-yesWalton RS Log-A snow slide about 100' long and 12' deep blocked the road a mile beyond the Goat Lick...they will not open it until tomorrow. Quite warm and settling the snow. Jan 22 - Went up to see how they were coming with the snw slide. Got it open about noon.
1946December15349--N---?yesWalton RS Log-a great many snowslides came down on both sides of Bear Cr yesterday [Dec. 15]...one across the highway. Saw a dead deer in one of them.
1946December15349--N---yes?Walton RS Log-a great many snowslides came down on both sides of Bear Cr yesterday [Dec. 15]. Once across the R.R.
1935January---Shed 10-7N-----Monthly Ranger Report-From March Lake McDonald Subdistrict Ranger Report: On the 15th I found the remains of a mule deer buck and doe at snow-shed 10-7 along the railroad about 2 miles above Java. They evidently came down in a snowslide during January. The coyotes had the stomach contents scttered so badly that I couldn't find enough to gather up for samples.
1933January55-Shed 10.7N--10? Ftyes-Jenks/ Kenny Map-Map difficult to read. Appears to show slide at W end of Shed 10.7 200' Jan. 5, 1933 [illegible] 10' Dp. {2nd line illegible]
1932February2657-Shed 11N---yes-Jenks/ Kenny Map-Map shows slide ~350' wide extending ~75' past either end of shed.Feb. 26, 1932. Light slough. No tim or rocks. Map shows several mud slides occurring same day elsewhere on tracks.
1929March463-Shed 10.7N--8-12 ftyesNAJenks/ Kenny Map-Map shows slide at W end of Shed 10.7. ~350' wide. On tracks for 50' at W end of shed - this part labeled Slough, No Timber. 12' on W.B., 8' on E.B. Remaining 300' labeled Mar. 4 Aval., Some Timber.
1927February233-Shed 11N--20 ftyesNAJenks/ Kenny Map-Map shows slide at W end of shed and ~75' past. ~125' wide.Slide 20' deep Feb. 2, 1927. timebr in slide.
1925February637-Shed 11N--7-8 ftyesNAJenks/ Kenny Map-Map shows slide ~250' wide.Feb. 6. Slide over Shed 7'-8' Deep on each end. Covered 30' Trk. W. end. 40' [Trk] E. [end].
1922April21111-Shed 10.7N--24 ftyesNAJenks/ Kenny Map-Map shows slide at present Shed 10.7. 595' wide.Apr. 21 - Slide 24' Deep on W. Bd. [westbound] - 15' Deep on E. Bd. [eastbound]. Some rock and timber.
1921March1877-Shed 10.7N--30 ftyesNAJenks/ Kenny Map-Map shows slide over both ends of present Shed 10.7 (Built 1923, 652' long). ~25' past W end and 150' past E end. Slide 828' wide.Mar. 18 - Slide 30' Deep - contained rock and timber.
1919----Shed 10.7N--20 ftyesNAJenks/ Kenny Map-Map shows slide at W end of Shed 10.7. 130' long.1918-19. Slide 20' Deep.