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Heath Canyon Scarp
Heath Canyon Scarp
How is it that I don't have a better picture of this?! That big barren region on the hill above Wrightwood is prominent. When it snows, it is pure white and can't be missed. I can't even find a good picture online! Will fix soon!
How is it that I don't have a better picture of this?! That big barren region on the hill above Wrightwood is prominent. When it snows, it is pure white and can't be missed. I can't even find a good picture online! Will fix soon!
I also don't know if "Heath Canyon Scarp" is the best name, so feel free to correct me.
I also don't know if "Heath Canyon Scarp" is the best name, so feel free to correct me.
A "scarp" is steep slope produced by erosion or fault activity. Wrightwood actually has two. One at the top of Heath Canyon and one at the top of Sheep Canyon. I recently learned that the Heath Canyon scarp was caused by an enormous mudslide in 1941 that buried a cabin and an apple orchard.
This absolutely delightful article from 1963 describes the event. I'm going to share some gems from that article by Mary Frances Berkholz:
A "scarp" is steep slope produced by erosion or fault activity. Wrightwood actually has two. One at the top of Heath Canyon and one at the top of Sheep Canyon. I recently learned that the Heath Canyon scarp was caused by an enormous mudslide in 1941 that buried a cabin and an apple orchard.
This absolutely delightful article from 1963 describes the event. I'm going to share some gems from that article by Mary Frances Berkholz:
"Little could these mountain dwellers anticipate on May 7, 1941, that on that day they would witness 'geology in the making' as Old Mother Earth shifted her heavy burden of rocks."
"Little could these mountain dwellers anticipate on May 7, 1941, that on that day they would witness 'geology in the making' as Old Mother Earth shifted her heavy burden of rocks."
"With a tremendous roar, hundreds of tons of slimy mud, very much like wet concrete, began its descent. The flow was slow, licking along and smothering everything in its path."
"With a tremendous roar, hundreds of tons of slimy mud, very much like wet concrete, began its descent. The flow was slow, licking along and smothering everything in its path."
"This oozing mass crossed the highway, continued down Heath Canyon, and spread out like soft fingers on the desert floor. It traveled 15 miles and descended 5,000 feet in elevation."
"This oozing mass crossed the highway, continued down Heath Canyon, and spread out like soft fingers on the desert floor. It traveled 15 miles and descended 5,000 feet in elevation."
Why don't more reporters write like that today? 😍 I loved the part where she describes Wrightwood as boasting of an "energetic permanent population." 😂
Why don't more reporters write like that today? 😍 I loved the part where she describes Wrightwood as boasting of an "energetic permanent population." 😂
Here is a striking satellite image and more information about the Heath Canyon landslide that produced this stark feature of our local landscape.
Here is a striking satellite image and more information about the Heath Canyon landslide that produced this stark feature of our local landscape.
Several mudslides have happened since that 1941 event, including in 1969, though Wrightwood now has a flood control system in place to help prevent damage to property. Could anything as dramatic as the Great Mud Slide of 1941 happen again one day? Time will tell!
Several mudslides have happened since that 1941 event, including in 1969, though Wrightwood now has a flood control system in place to help prevent damage to property. Could anything as dramatic as the Great Mud Slide of 1941 happen again one day? Time will tell!
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