Eas-On Down The Road: Earthquake Lake and Sawtell Peak

Before I post my Yellowstone National Park Photo Blogs, I'll put up a post about our day trip to Earthquake Lake and our drive up the Sawtell Peak.
The photo below was taken from inside the USDA Forestry Service Earthquake Lake's Visitor Center. The Center, dedicated to inform the public about the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the lower 48 States in the 20th Century, was excellent. To learn more about how Earthquake Lake was formed on August 17, 1959, click HERE.

The Visitor Center's observation point, looking eastward here towards the town of West Yellowstone, offers sweeping views of the Madison River Canyon. Notice the ghost forest on the left bank. Earthquake Lake was created/filled when the side of Sheep Mountain in the narrow Madison River Canyon slid into the Madison River, suddenly banking up water. Triggered by a 7.3 earthquake on the night of August 17, 1959, this natural catastrophe made news worldwide. Several days later after the earthquake, the Army Corps of Engineers had to create a quick spillway to keep the lake water levels constant.

You can see Highway 287 as it travels along the shore of Earthquake Lake but that night, the highway was destroyed. Sadly, there were many tourists camping in the Forest Service Campgrounds along the Madison River, several losing their lives and many others badly hurt.

You can see where 80 million tons of earth slid down off Sheep Mountain stopping up the Madison River. Rock and debris traveling at great speeds up the other side of the opposite mountain side created a wind force of over 100 miles an hour.

Look at the new evidence of plant growth over the past 60 years.

That's the USDA Forestry Earthquake Lake Visitor Center at the lower right of the picture. In the center you can see one of the huge boulders that landed on the opposite side of the landslide. The Forestry Department created this public area as a means to inform the public but to also memorialize the lives lost that terrible night.

The Visitor Center presented a very informative film about the earthquake and some excellent graphics about the geology of this area. You could also read incredible stories from the survivors that were in this area that night.

This region is still active with earthquakes as we saw on the seismograph.

Listening to the film at the Visitor Center, it indeed was a Night of Terror. Unfortunately a total of 28 people were killed that night, some even as they slept in their tents and campers in the Rock Creek Campground.

Here is a view from Earthquake Lake from Hwy 287 looking back towards the landslide.

This large boulder landed here, it has not been moved. It also marks the final resting place that night of the 19 campers in this particular area.

The trail to the Memorial Rock and Observation Lookout wind upward to great sweeping views of the Madison Canyon, the Madison River, the landslide of the Sheep Mountain and Earthquake Lake.

Ronnie and I made our visit to Earthquake Lake on August 18th. Beside the Memorial Plaque listing the names of those lost was a white rose wreath marking the 60 year anniversary of the earthquake.

There are two boulders, the further one has a smaller boulder that amazing landed on its top.

Looking westward, opposite of Earthquake Lake you get an amazing view of the Madison River as it flows out from the Madison River Canyon. The Madison River has carved out its own route now as it leaves the Lake.

A closer view of the mountain slide.

Further up from the Earthquake Lake is Lake Hebgen. Created by the Hebgen Dam in 1914, this lake is about six miles from where the Sheep Mountain landslide is located. Amazingly the dam held during that quake although it was damaged internally. The sloshing of Lake Hebgen's waters during the earthquake that night created waves of almost 20 feet. That water over topped the dam flooding a number of vacation homes on the banks of the Lake Hebgen and downstream of the Madison River.

Here are two vacation homes that were flooded and floated off their foundations to land where they are abandoned now.

The surrounding area is quite beautiful but knowing of the tragedy that befell the vacationers and people living in this region makes one more reflective. It is also a blend of eeriness and sadness with in awe of the landscape. To learn more about the terror that night and read some interesting survivor stories click HERE and HERE.

Later that afternoon, Ronnie and I made the drive up to Sawtell Peak. To learn more about this mountain and the FAA Air Traffic Radar on its peak (that little dot on top of the mountain), click HERE and HERE.

The 13 mile long Forest Service Road was in excellent shape although a little dusty.

As the Forest Service Road traveled upwards of 3440 feet, we notice the weathered and worn evergreen trees. It must be harsh winters up here.

Open areas gave us peeks of what views were to come!

Off in the distance, you could see the Teton Mountain Range.

As we traveled above the tree line, I noticed there were NO guard rails..

At 9866 feet above sea level, there were no trees on the peak, only bare land and rock. We saw other folks up here exploring the area too. The radar dome is the FCC Air Traffic Control Radar System.

Off in the distance, I saw a family taking photos with the Teton Mountain Range in clear view on the horizon.

After they left, I walked over there to see their view..WOW!

Here, I discovered 2 other people looking out over the landscape. We are all enjoying views of Mount Jefferson, 10,203 feet. The mountain and snow bowl are considered to be the absolute headwaters of the Missouri River.