We have visited Snoquera several times the last few years. In January 2008, just prior to one of the major snowstorms, we observed a huge rockfall had taken place. The fellas at the boyscout camp told us it happened in Nov. 2007, and they could hear the rumbling for over a minute. We saw bowling ball sized chucks of 'blue ice'. Literally, sky blue colored pieces of ice. I later learned that this can only form under conditions of extreme pressure. Went back to confirm what we saw. The trail at the top was wiped out, all the brush was gone, the trees nearest the bottom of the cliff have been physically stripped of all their branches, there are gravel piles heaped along the uphill side of existing trees, and there are scars on existing trees as much as 40 feet up their trunks. We also noticed much forest floor detritus mixed in the very loose rubble. This must have come from above. Also a large portion of the rock face is missing its moss and lichen ""coating"". I approached the top of the new rock pile, and there were small bits of gravel landing around me. USE CAUTION ON THIS NEW SLOPE UNTIL IT STABILIZES.
Comments