Jackson Hole Landslide Slowly Approaches Town
Jackson, Wyoming town officials first noticed significant hill movement April 4, 2014. They evacuated 42 homes and apartment units April 9.
A landslide has been active south of Yellowstone National Park for a couple of weeks. Jackson, Wyoming town officials first noticed significant hill movement April 4. They evacuated 42 homes and apartment units April 9.
By Saturday morning, the shifting earth had bulged a road and a parking lot at the foot of the hill by as much as 10 feet. The groundswell pushed a small town water pump building 15 feet toward West Broadway, the town’s main drag.
The landslide continues to move slowly toward town, and it is unlikely that it will lurch forward unexpectedly. The slow progression of the slide has given people and wildlife enough time to get out of the way.
Landslides are common in the Rocky Mountains as the snow melts in spring. However, it is probable that this is not a natural occurrence, rather a man-made one. The recent construction at the bottom of this hill excavated the soil base to create space for businesses. This may have weakened the stability of the mountainside and created this disaster.