The Gros Ventre Slide was not far from our campground. We continued our auto-hiking further up the Gros Ventre Road where we found this unusual major landslide. It is obvious to anyone that something significant happened to this side of the mountain. You see this large swath of exposed rock, appearing like part of the just mountain slid off somewhere.
This pull off signage confirmed our thoughts. On June 23, 1925 one of the largest landslides ever recorded occurred here. Caused by heavy rains and rapidly melting snow, it saturated the deep shale rock layer of the earth (Sheep Mountain) and it just gave way. The second photo below of another info sign states that 50 million cubic yards of earth slid down and created a natural earthen dam on the Gros Ventre River. The Lower Slide Lake was formed and still exists today.
Lower Slide Lake also has this eerie ghost forest in the center. Notice the dead tree trunks center right, standing in the lake water.
Unfortunately on May 17, 1927, after another rain spell and melting heavy snow pack, a portion of this earthen dam holding back the Gros Ventre River broke. It sent torrents of water into the little community of Kelly. Stories recorded from locals describe a bad scene of floating homes, people holding into trees with several people lost or drowned. To learn more about this historical event, click this link here:
Continuing on, we drive towards the Red Hills area in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. That's the Gros Ventre River below, as it winds through this scenic valley.
Coming up upon this view of the smooth red hills was overwhelming and inspiring. These are the Red Hills of the Gros Ventre Mountains. Internet research describes this unusual area of a sandstone deposit leftover from a shallow sea over 50 million years ago! The lush green pasture area was filled with a large herd of horses, the perfect ranch location.
Hard to imagine, we are so far away standing here on this hilltop that you can barely see the horses in the pasture below.
After driving the Jeep down the very scenic Gros Ventre Road for about 15 miles, we turned around to return back to our campsite. We were struck by this view of the storms gathering over the Teton Mountain Range.
While driving along the Gros Ventre Road, we also passed by this old abandoned log cabin. Internet research tells us it is the "Shane Cabin". This old cabin was actually built by Luther Taylor in 1923 and leased to a movie company to be used in the 1953 western movie "Shane". This cabin was only used in the movie for a few minutes. The Park Service now deems it as "ruins" and is allowing it to deteriorate.
We actually made a couple of drives up the Gros Ventre Road to also see the Big Horn Sheep.
We also enjoyed our drive through the National Elk Refuge. This dirt Forest Service road, destination Curtis Canyon Campground, took us up over 10,000 feet. Our last week in Grand Teton National Park was a chilly one. A cold front dropped down from the north, clouds and storms surrounded the mountain range for our last few days.
More later.
Just a few more of my favorites.
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