The Rattlesnake Ridge slow landslide near Yakima, Washington, is still moving at about a foot-and-one-half a week but there’s very little media coverage. And geologists cannot say for certain when it will accelerate into a catastrophe. And they are powerless to stop it.
The fissure was first spotted in October on Rattlesnake Ridge in south central Washington State, overlooking Interstate 82 and the Yakima River. Since then, a 20-acre chunk of mountainside — roughly four million cubic yards of rock, enough to fill 25 football stadiums to the top of the bleachers, eight stories up — has been sliding downhill. Geologists can measure its current speed — about two and a half inches a day — but they cannot say for certain when, or if, it might accelerate into a catastrophe. And they are powerless to stop it.
Here one of the latest video showing the evolution of the crack between January 2018 and April 2018:
“The mountain is moving, and at some point this slide will happen — it’s just a matter of when,” said Arlene Fisher-Maurer, the city manager in Union Gap, population about 7,000, just north of the ridge.
“So we wait and see and prepare,” said Ms. Fisher-Maurer, who keeps a police scanner on her desk for alerts. “The preparation has been key, and I think it’s going to do us well.”
Thanks to Charlene Emerson for sending me the video link of a friend of her, who lives right in Yakima, just below this crumbling mountain.
[…] The Rattlesnake Ridge landslide near Yakima, Washington, is still moving heavily and geologists stil… […]
I would like to know what type of strip mine that appears to be in the video at the base of the slide area?. Did this activity contribute to the slide?
Yes most probably. The area of concern is located above and north of a quarry managed by Columbia Asphalt. The quarry is bounded by Thorp Rd. to the south and west. The landslide is currently moving south toward the quarry. There are large cracks in the ground above the quarry that were first noticed in early October 2017, suggesting potential for a landslide. Mining operations have stopped and monitoring instruments have been installed: https://www.dnr.wa.gov/rattlesnake-hills-landslide and this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Rattlesnake_Ridge_landslide and the links in the wikipedia article.
“Rattlesnake” represent reptilians = serpent people = vampires.
There are many places where reptilians gathers such as Rattlesnake Saloon in Tuscumbia Alabama.
There is also “The Capitol City of Rattlesnake” Wikieup, Arizona.
…when and if it becomes a catastrophe. Because experts have said repeatedly it won’t. I might do a little bit more research next time before fear mongering.
It is still moving fast. Cracks are widening. Hopefully, it will not come down all at once. For further details read: https://www.dnr.wa.gov/rattlesnake-hills-landslide and this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Rattlesnake_Ridge_landslide and the links in the wikipedia article.
I used to go with my Dad and his WW2 surplus jeep to play on this mountain. We never saw a rattle or any other kind of snake.
Having trained at the Yakima Training Center as an Army soldier, I can tell you there are Rattle Snakes in that arid Yakima desert and its surrounding.
Maybe a sign of things to come !