What Caused This Side Hill Slide?

Cariboo5

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Oct 27, 2011
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Thoughts on what event in nature that could have caused this slide. Is there more to this than normal erosion? Rest of creek and
side hills are normal with the exception of this horse shoe shaped area. Pictures are blurry to start with and this is about the clearest
I can get. Thanks to all in advance for your opinions....

Creek Slide.jpg ....... 1984 to 2016 View.jpg
 

Driftwoood

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From what I can tell, it could be a clay lens that gave way during a flood or heavy rain... or, depending on the geology, it could have been caused by the collapse of a cavern (likely filled with water, as in a spring). Those are my guesses. I've seen whole huge mountainsides slide away because of an underlying clay layer... once it starts going, with trees and boulders mixed in, there is little that will stop it.
 

Kenmitch

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22yrs of vegetation growth? 22yrs of improvements on satellite cameras?

Maybe I'm not using my imagination or squinting enough? The 84 image is just too blurry and pixelated to get an accurate comparison.
 

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Peyton Manning

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looks like a localized collapse in a subduction zone
 

Kenmitch

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I was thinking we were comparing the 84 to the 16 photo....My bad :(

Is there any history of hydraulic mining in the past in the area?
 

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Cariboo5

Cariboo5

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Driftwood,.. you pretty much nailed it with your clay layer as this area has post-glacial gravel and clay layers. I think you are also on track with your water. I'm hoping this turns out to be a high bench channel that was filled with water and the pressure blew out the bank causing the rest of the hill side to slide down.

jeff-Gordon,.. your mention of a subduction zone is also pretty much a possibility as there is a fault line that runs through this area.

Kenmitch,.. No hydraulic mining in this area.
 

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OregonGold76

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Looks like a logged section of timber to me [emoji16]
 

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Cariboo5

Cariboo5

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OrgeonGold76, there was no logging in this area...

russau, probably the fault of both owl & lynx ... L O L. There is a fault line that runs in the middle of this. Will check out this summer and see what I can find..
 

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