The Hope Slide
Apparently triggered by a minor earthquake, the slide, consisting of more than 46 million cubic metres of earth, rock and snow, crashed down in seconds from the 2000 metre high mountain ridge forming the north side of the valley. It filled the valley bottom with debris 70 metres thick in places and completely buried Outram Lake at the foot of the slide.
The water and soft clay of the lake bed and the adjacent land were displaced and cast violently up the opposite mountain side and then back into the valley, spreading out in a south easterly direction and back up the north slope to a height of 30 to 60 metres. The boundaries of the area swept by mud and slide debris are visible along the south side of the valley where the mature forest cover was wiped out leaving a scarred path. Four persons in three vehicles, stopped by a small snow slide earlier, were caught in the wave of mud which swept back into the valley from the south and all were killed. Two of the victims were never found.
Seismographs recorded two earthquakes that morning with epicentres in the Nicolum Valley area. The second of these was at 6:58 a.m. the approximate time the big slide occurred.
The new highway and this viewpoint are built on slide debris approximately 55 m above the original ground level.Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is January 9, 1965.
Location. 49° 17.91′ N, 121° 15.749′ W. Marker is in Hope, British Columbia, in Fraser Valley. Marker can be reached from Crowsnest Highway, on the right when traveling west. The Hope Slide viewing area is off the highway. There is ample parking. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hope BC V0X 1L0, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 1 other marker is within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Tashme (approx. 3.2 kilometers away).
Credits. This page was last revised on December 9, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2020, by Doreen Thomson of Calgary, Alberta Canada. This page has been viewed 143 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 5, 2020, by Doreen Thomson of Calgary, Alberta Canada. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.