C a s e

H i s t o r i e s

I called the Utah AvalancheForecast Center to suggestthat
they update theirforecast to include an avalanche warn-
ing for Bridal Veil Falls and they did. I receiveda message
from the sherriff's office in the afternoon of theirplans to
put up warning signs on the morning of the 31st.
At 1:01 A.M. on January31, 1996 the Utah Power & Light
dispatchoffice receiveda complaintof a power outagefrom
thevillageofSpringdell,acommunityinlowerProvo
Canyon.ThelinesthatsupplypowertoSpringdellare
located about 60 meters north of US Highway 189 on the
north side of the canyon. On the south side of the canyon
the starting zone of Bridal Veil Falls avalanche path is at
3170 meters. On the canyon floor at 1524 meters the Provo
River runs nextto a two lane countyroad. As the avalanche
crossed the canyon floor, it blew a railroad boxcar into the
river, dammed the river with snow, and severely damaged
thebaseterminalofthefourpassengertram(usedby
touriststoviewthewaterfallinthesummer).Another
railroad car wasblown about fifty meters across the county
road and deeplyburied under avalanche debris.
Thiswasadryslabavalanche travelling atveryhigh
velocitythatwasprobablyprecededbyadestructive
airblast.Aftercrossing the canyon floorthe slide contin-
ued up the opposite side of the canyon,and crossed the
scenic view parking lot (capacity 52 cars). Still moving at
highvelocitythe avalanche crossedallfourlanesofUS
Highway 189 and continued uphill destroying the power
lines.A section ofwall was blown off the tram terminal
and across the county road, the parking lot,and the high-
way to it's final resting place thirty meters past the power

Bridal Veil Falls Closeup