Hobble Creek Avalanches These photos were taken on January 22, 2005, documenting what I regard as the most significant avalanche cycle in the area since 1983, when massive wet slides almost took out the Bartholomew Generating Station. My belief is corroborated by my observations at Aspen Grove earlier in January, where I noted the most remarkable avalanche devastation since I began observing in the early 1990s. Phil Lowry All images 2005 Phil Lowry Bartholomew Canyon multiple avalanches, NW through S slopes in what I call the three forks. Extreme edge of debris toe at 6600; start zone is off to the left, 3700 feet and one mile away Debris pile that jumped 30 out of drainage terrain trap into meadow; avalanches started on peaks at middle left, one mile away. Debris from slide starting on peaks in distance Debris scour Slide off Peak 9000, south edge of Bartholomew Canyon Detail of Peak 9000 slide The Luge. The walls are solid ice. Convergence of debris field from three different drainages that all slid. The force of the debris, gathering momentum over 3000 vertical, scoured the snow out of the drainage and peeled away soil, rocks and shrubbery. Much more efficient than a herring at cutting shrubbery. Crown of slide at 8000 on NW slope as I traversed ridge immediately above and to NW of three forks slides. Now visible are the NW slopes slides, which verified a wall-to-wall pullout. Next drainage to the NW of three forks shows a well-defined SE slab. Western and southern terminus of three forks slides. Looking SW. NE slope to the NW of three forks (Bartholomew headwall) To the NW of three forks, all NE slopes completely blew out. Overview of western end of three forks slides. Looking NE. Neighbor dog was pooped, and quit here. Would-be NW aspect slide crown at 10,000 Crown of NWernmost of three forks slides at 10,200 Detail of 10,200 crown. Fractures just above three forks slides. Overview of Bartholomew slide cycle Detail of Bartholomew cycle Detail of monster centerpiece of Bartholomew slides Right Fork Snowslide Canyon slide headwall. Yeah, thats its real name. Right Fork Snowslide Canyonslide detail North facing slide on Corral Mountain, taken from 10,200 Pass in background (note snowmobile tracks) is Kolob Pass at 8500 Avalanches on Lion Head east face, 8800. This is only the second time since 1989 that I have seen these pull out; normally very stable. Large E face slide in Left Fk Snowslide Canyon. Detail of Left Fk Snowslide Cyn avalanche. Fractures above Snowslide Canyon headwall. A good reminder not to stand too close to the edge in unstable conditions. Slab avalanche in S facing slope in Snowslide Cyn. South faces were definitely not immune from slides in this last cycle. This may have been a wet slab, though, and therefore be a bit more recent. Headwall detail in Snowslide Canyon slide. Overview from down lower of Lft Fk Snowslide avalanche. Snowslide combined forks avalanche debris when viewed from above. Track of Snowslide Canyon avalanches. Once they got their initial head of steam they powered over everything, eventually running over 3,000 and 1.5 miles Debris from avalanche in Snowslide Canyon. It started on both sides of the peak bisected by a lone tree branch in the photo. Detail of huge debris pile left by Snowslide Canyon avalanches.