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Today I traveled about 22 miles northwest of West Yellowstone to Earthquake Lake (aka Quake Lake). On August 17, 1959 at 11:37 pm, this area was hit by the most devastating modern geologic disaster in the Rocky Mountains. An earthquake of a magnitude 7.5 violently shook the earth, triggering a massive landslide, large surface cracks expanded and contracted, and fault lines - miles long - tore into the mountainside permanently altering the landscape, tragically resulting in the deaths of 28 campers. Many campers were also trapped in the canyon. They sought high ground where a registered nurse who had survived the landslide provided medical treatment and comfort while they waited for help.

The slide blocked the Madison River in the form of a natural dam causing a lake to form now called Quake Lake. It was rising at a rate of 9 feet per day and eventually caused worry about further downstream damage due to flooding. Within 3 weeks, the lake was 5 miles long and 190 feet deep. Only the brushy tops of the drowned trees remained to show where forest once covered the canyon floor. This is how some of those trees look today.

The slide can been seen on both the left and the right

As the lake rose, cabins that had been on the edge of the river were floated off their foundations. Racing the rising lake, the Corps of Engineers determined they had to cut through the slide to provide a spillway for the newly formed lake. Once that was accomplished, those floating cabins eventually settled on high ground and are now known as the "Ghost Cabins."


Spillway

View of the valley that would have flooded had the spillway not been cut through the slide

A year later, a plaque was placed on a large dolomite memorial boulder, that was a leading part of the landslide, and dedicated to those who perished in the earthquake and landslide.

It's a sobering fact to see the whole families that perished that night

Out of that tragedy came beautiful Quake Lake

Sandi

The older brother of the family where the two parents tent was crushed by the landslide was on a TV program not too long ago talking about how he had to tell his two younger brothers who were still sleeping that their parents were dead. Sad story, but very impressive place.

I came through that area a few years ago...very interesting, and I learned that the quake also affected formations in Yellowstone.

Fascinating. Mother Nature in this case creating such a beautiful lake with such a sorrowful history of its beginnings, can be terrifying in her moments.

When I was in West Yellowstone last month, I stopped there too. Very sad but interesting story. I wanted to see those cabins but couldn't find them before my Jeep started overheating again . Glad you got pics of them. There are still 19 people buried in that slide area.
The quake did affect many of the geysers at Yellowstone. Many dormant ones became active again, at least for awhile.

Oh wow, thanks for posting that Sandi, its very interesting, Maybe someday I'll get a chance to explore Yellowstone,

Sandi~ I've read and seen some stories about Quake Lake before, but your summary really is excellent about the devastation and loss of life. Really brings home the strength of mother nature's power. Great post.

This happened while I was whatever age..not figuring it out but I had spent a month in Utah at my relatives and mom and dad and fam came to pick me up so we were all in Utah when it happened...from what I understood they even felt it in Jackson ..it did affect lots I remember one of my favorite formation was one called Morning Glory sorta looked like the morning glory blossom and the bluest color became very murky haven't seen it for years but think I've heard it's clearing up...we have been in that are recently as well it is a beautiful area now....
sheila

Thanks for refreshing the memory. Excellent post. Lyn